Tips for a Better Research Internship Application

[dingzeyuli]

Since I posted the hiring message on X, Threads, and LinkedIn, I’ve received a lot of DMs and emails 🔥🔥🔥! While I’d love to reply to everyone, it’s unlikely I’ll be able to get back to all messages.

Here are some tips to help me skim through your message more easily:

• 🌐 Include a link to your homepage in your Threads/Twitter/etc. profile
  • If you don’t have a webpage yet, please set one up. It really helps!
• ✉️ When emailing researchers, please make sure to include:
  • Your updated CV, with your education background and publication list
    • Use PDF format. Avoid using word docs, markdown, html, or other format since they might not display properly on everyone's screen.
  • A brief summary of your research interests
  • How your research experience relates to the ideas I’ve shared
• 🔄 Keep things up-to-date in your application materials:
  • Update your CV with your latest paper, education, or experience
  • Refresh your website
  • Update your LinkedIn, if you have one

Thanks, and looking forward to learning about your work! 😊

Update

As I receive more emails and DMs, I'd like to share a few “don’ts” to keep in mind:

• Don't use ChatGPT to replace your own thinking and writing. If a DM or email reads like a generic ChatGPT response, it’s unlikely to get a reply from me.
• Don't send a very short message with minimal information, ending with something like, "Hey, if you want to learn more about me, feel free to reach out for my CV or webpage." Just include those details in your initial email. Emails with too little context or information make it hard for me to engage.
• Don’t use too many acronyms. While I’ll try to Google unfamiliar acronyms, if I can’t find them within a few seconds, I likely can’t make an informed judgment. To help me better understand, please limit the use of acronyms.
• Don't ignore my social media posts on research ideas. Many emails I receive mention nothing about how someone’s research aligns with the ideas I've proposed. This makes it difficult to evaluate potential connections.
• Lastly, don’t attempt to make up nonexistent or overly weak connections. It’s often clear when research doesn’t genuinely align. If your research isn’t fully aligned with mine, that’s fine—try reaching out to another researcher at Adobe Research instead.