There is a lot of great Cognitive Science-related research being conducted at McGill. Our degree allows us to get involved in a multitude of projects, studying topics including computational cognition, psychosis, language acquisition and more! Primarily, this is done by taking COGS 401 and/or COGS 444 — research courses for course credit — or by volunteering in a lab. Many students usually start off as volunteers to gain a sense of what research entails. Depending on the lab environment, the professor, and the interests of the student, the research experience can take many forms.

SACS executives have compiled a list of tips to help you find a supervisor. More information can be found here.

1. Find a Research Topic

1. Get started by looking through this list or through the faculty lists of any of the five streams.
   
2. Note that research is not limited to professors in the five streams. As long as the project you are completing is Cognitive Science-related, it can count. For example, students have done research with professors in the Department of Psychiatry, the Faculty of Medicine, and the School of Communication Sciences & Disorders.

2. Contact Professor(s)

1. Send them an email.
   
2. Make sure to include why you are interested in their research (it helps if you’ve read one of their papers and have specific talking points or questions).
   
3. If you’re having difficulties starting your email, there are plenty of templates online.
   
4. When applying for an Honours position, it is recommended to attach a copy of your CV and transcript.

3. Final Pieces of Advice

1. Most students send emails to multiple professors. If you choose to do this, make sure to send each professor a unique email.
2. If a professor does not respond, you may have to send a follow-up email.
   
3. Don’t be discouraged if a professor turns you down — there will be plenty of other opportunities.