Can someone educate me on finding lab rotations?

[labrotationquestion23]

Hi guys,

 

I'm sure many of you have experience with lab rotations. For me, I have to do 3 lab rotations and have been having trouble finding professors that will allow me to rotate in their lab. I am in a small program at a big school, so figured this would be easy yet I have been faced with difficulty.

 

I have one lab rotation set up, so two more to go.

 

One professor had met me before and was happy (and had funding) to have me, and I will be doing a lab rotation with her. 

One professor I have emailed has said he wants to meet me in person, do a lab tour/in person interview, then decide if I can do a lab rotation.

One professor said that she would love to have me (I have met her previously) but does not have the funding so it is up to me. 

Two professors did not respond to my email.

One professor responded, said to get back to him in a few weeks for he would be less busy then, but when I emailed back a few weeks later, I got no response.

One professor responded, we spoke about a lab rotation, but she is not available the months that I can do a rotation.

 

Were other people faced with rejection before they had confirmed rotations set up? I send personalized emails, telling them why I like their research projects, and how I think that my background could be suitable for their lab - I think my emails are fine, but I know I could be wrong. Are these rejections normal, or should I change my approach?

 

 

[mop]

It is common that funding is tight or professors are busy and won't respond. Keep on asking.

[St Andrews Lynx]

Ask in person rather than email, if at all possible. The lack of a response is probably just because your email got lost in their (100) Unread Inbox.