Most pre-meds wait until their resume looks better before they reach out to a lab. You don't have to. Professors want students who are curious, easy to work with, and willing to learn, and you can show all three in a short email. Here's the whole process.
1. Make a list of 5 to 10 labs
Write down every lab, internship, or program you'd actually want to be part of. Say you're interested in Dr. [Name]'s lab at your school. Put it on the list. Then keep going until you have at least five.
2. Pick one and research it
Start with the lab you're most excited about. Read their website and a paper or two, and write down the main terms. If you really like the work, go deeper and write down what excites you. Something like, "I find it so interesting that your lab tends to use method X instead of method Y." That one sentence is what makes your email sound like you read their work, because you did.
3. Fill out the template
It's right below. Once you've done the research, this takes about ten minutes.
4. Schedule it for Tuesday at 8am
Don't send it at 11pm on a Sunday. Schedule it so it lands Tuesday morning at 8am, when professors are starting their week.
5. Rinse and repeat
Do steps 2 through 4 for every lab on your list. One email might not get a reply, but five to ten emails will give you real options.
The template
Subject: Undergraduate interested in your research on [topic] Dear [Dr./Professor Last Name], My name is [Your Name], and I'm an undergraduate studying [your major]. I came across your work through [your university]'s website for the [department] and found your research on [research topic] very interesting. [One sentence on what excites you, from step 2.] [Two or three sentences about you. Why are you easy to work with? Use words like eager, quick learner, coachable, teamwork, communication, and passionate, but back at least one of them with something you've actually done.] Do you have a group meeting or office hours I could attend to learn more about your work? I'd love to discuss any research opportunities you may have. My resume is attached. Thank you! I greatly appreciate your time, [Your Name]
A quick note on the blurb. You don't need a stellar resume or a long list of experience yet. Sell yourself as someone who works well in a team and has a real interest in the subject. A professor reads a lot of these, so one true detail, like a class project you led or a paper you read and liked, will do more than a list of adjectives.
Notice that the ask is a group meeting or office hours, not a position. It's a much easier thing to say yes to.
If you haven't heard back after about a week, reply to your own email with a short follow-up. Two sentences is enough. Thank them for their time and say you're still interested.