Sebastian24

For those of you who applied to EAPSI in previous years, would you be willing to provide some advice to those of us who are just getting started on our applications for the 2017 program? My specific concern is how to handle the initial contact with prospective host researchers. I can't decide which of the following options is more appropriate and likely to be well-received: "I propose to research XYZ using methods XYZ. Would you be willing to host me and fund the proposed research?" "My general interests are XYZ. Do you have any ongoing projects in this research area that I could participate in during summer 2017?" I feel like Option 2 is more polite, but Option 1 conveys a "go-getter" perspective that could be desirable in certain circumstances. Unfortunately, my field of study/research methodology (field-based environmental science) requires costly equipment and support personnel that would not be covered by EAPSI funding, so asking the host to provide these (boldface in Option 1) is an elephant in the room that cannot be ignored. How have other people handled this?

For any current or former EAPSI applicants, how did you word the initial contact with prospective host researchers? I can't decide which of the following options is more appropriate and likely to be well-received: "I propose to research XYZ using methods XYZ. Would you be willing to host me and fund the proposed research?" "My general interests are XYZ. Do you have any ongoing projects in this research area that I could participate in during summer 2017?" I feel like Option 2 is more polite, but Option 1 conveys a "go-getter" perspective that could be desirable in certain circumstances. Unfortunately, my field of study/research methodology (field-based environmental science) requires costly equipment and support personnel that would not be covered by EAPSI funding, so asking the host to provide these (boldface in Option 1) is an elephant in the room that cannot be ignored. Does anyone have an opinion and/or insight into how you handled this when you were applying? Thanks in advance!