I want to do some research with a professor on campus, but I'm having a lot of trouble composing this e-mail. She sent me a long e-mail with stipulations for joining her lab and at the end it basically says "If you agree to all this, let me know and we'll set up a time and talk more about your project".
I'm having trouble saying "Yes, I agree to everything. However, I can't really meet until I get back to campus which is the week of the August 16th" in a professional manner.
Can you please help? Thank you.
Thank you for the email. I have read it and understand, and I agree to the stipulations you outlined. Can we meet the week of August 16th, when I return to campus?
Thank you so much.
Oh wow, thanks a lot. I guess I was looking for something longer, because her e-mail was a good 6 paragraphs or so.
When writing these sorts of e-mails, is there a trick to make it seem more formal and not informal?
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/681/01/
This is an excellent place to read about all types of business writing. Scroll down to read about email.
You should also read through the section on Tone in Business Writing.
Thanks a ton for the link, I really appreciate it!
You're very welcome.
Of course, I can help you compose a professional email response. Here's a suggested template:
Subject: Request for Research Opportunity Meeting
Dear Professor [Professor's Last Name],
I hope this email finds you well. Thank you for providing me with the comprehensive details and stipulations regarding joining your lab. After careful consideration, I am pleased to inform you that I am enthusiastic about the opportunity and I agree to all the conditions outlined in your email.
I am genuinely excited about discussing my project further and exploring the potential for collaboration. However, I regret to inform you that I am currently away from campus and will not be able to meet until the week of August 16th when I return. I hope this inconvenience does not cause any inconvenience in scheduling our meeting.
I would greatly appreciate it if we could schedule a time to meet and discuss the project in more detail at your convenience once I am back on campus. Please let me know of your preferred time and location so that we can set up a meeting that suits both of our schedules.
Thank you once again for considering my research interests and I look forward to speaking with you soon.
Best regards,
[Your Name]
[Your Contact Information]
Feel free to personalize it, but make sure to maintain the professional tone and convey your agreement and excitement clearly, while also specifying your unavailability until the week of August 16th.