Connecting with a professor in a foreign country can be a daunting task, so we’d like to offer a few tips to make it easier.
1. Consult with your Canadian professor
The best place to start is a professor at your Canadian university, whether your supervisor or another friendly prof in your department or faculty. Professors have broad international networks and may have colleagues in your country of interest. They can also help you connect with other professors who’ve previously worked in an eligible partner country, or they can reach out to Canadian or international colleagues who might be interested in supervising your project.
Whether a connection is geographic, professional, or personal, your professor’s network is the best starting point for finding an international supervisor for your collaboration.
2. Talk to a colleague
Your classmates could also be a great source for connecting with a potential professor. International classmates from your preferred destination may know a suitable professor, and Canadian classmates with international research experience could also help you identify (or better yet, put you in touch with) a potential supervisor.
You might consider asking contacts from a conference, whether they’re fellow students, professors, or other researchers in your field.
3. Research professors working in your discipline in eligible partner countries
You can also put your research skills to use by exploring universities in your preferred destination, and identifying professors working in your area of interest. We suggest narrowing down your preferred country or countries, eligible universities, and professors working in your research area. You’ll end up with a shortlist of potential professors.
After these steps, you should be ready to contact potential professors directly. We recommend introducing yourself and your research, and explaining why you’re interested in a potential collaboration. Use a professional and friendly tone, and be sure to re-read your email for clarity before sending.
If you’ve secured a Canadian professor for your application, ask them for advice on how to craft an engaging email and include them on any communications so that potential international professors know that your project has local faculty support.
Applications for the Globalink Research Award are accepted any time. Application tips, instructions, and detailed information are available on the award webpage.
Mitacs
Mitacs empowers Canadian innovation through effective partnerships that deliver solutions to our most pressing problems. By driving economic growth and productivity, we create meaningful change to improve quality of life for all Canadians.
