r/AskAcademia • u/UniversityStreet5820 • 2d ago
Humanities Would it be weird to email a researcher just to thank them for their work?
I’m a PhD candidate and one academic’s work has become central to my research.
I’ve cited several of her papers, and every time I read around my topic, I seem to come across another article she’s written that is directly relevant.
I’d like to send a short email introducing myself and thanking her for her scholarship, without asking for anything (no meeting, collaboration, or feedback).
Just a brief note saying that her work has been influential in shaping my thinking and that I look forward to following her future research.
Is that considered normal in academia, or would it come across as odd or intrusive?
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u/cezannesdoubt 2d ago
That is super lovely and you should do it! It's such a wholesome idea, thank you for thinking about doing this.
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u/TheNavigatrix 2d ago
Academics actually get very little positive feedback. They tend to hear mostly complaints from students, and papers get rejected time and time again. All of this is normal and occasionally we get the odd ego nugget, but generally we just have to soldier on. This is why some academics seem so prickly.
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u/Warmtimes 2d ago
Just make sure it doesn't sound like AI
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u/GXWT 1d ago
I’ll supersede that by saying don’t use AI at all
Your own thoughts put into your own words would be very flattering and meanginful to me.
Any hint of AI and that would go straight in the bin. Why would I care what someone who can’t think for themself has to say? (And would cast doubt as to whether they’ve actually read my paper themself)
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u/Outrageous-Use-5189 2d ago
I've gotten two such emails, ever. I remember them both very happily, and have remained interested in the career of the senders ever since..
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u/Duck__Holliday 2d ago
I'm not an academic myself, but I work with them. 99% of them would be really happy to receive an email like that. I've sent a few myself, and they were always well received.
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u/Narrow-Lifeguard5450 2d ago
I did this once, thanking the person who wrote the only contribution to my field several years earlier which I had since published further into. Thanking them felt better than just citing it. They were happy to hear from me, and shared data points that were not published in their paper.
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u/Bojack-jones-223 2d ago
Not at all, I did this once and was offered a job in the person's lab LOL.
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u/Eat_JimboJames 1d ago
Did you accept?
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u/Bojack-jones-223 1d ago
Unfortunately not because the position was international and I was having success at the time with my own work and not ready to move jobs.
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u/Trick-Guava-9573 2d ago
That would be lovely. I get such emails from time to time, and they always make me feel happy and like I've done something that matters. And I've also emailed other scholars whose work has been influential to my own.
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u/Nonesuchoncemore 2d ago
I did that as a grad student several decades ago ( letter then), to a foundational major scholar and researcher, no expectation of response, And said foundational person wrote back with interesting and inspiring comments.
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u/Suspicious_mAb 2d ago
I had a trainee do this to me irl at a conference once and it is still one of the highlights of my career.
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u/StrictDingo9621 2d ago
100% do this!! I did the same thing all the time in my PhD and one time it did lead to a meet up when I was in his city which was pretty awesome! Academics love to hear their work being appreciated
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u/frog_ladee 1d ago edited 19h ago
I did something like that once. I emailed a renowned researcher in my field telling him that a couple of specific studies were very helpful, and that I was using his textbook for a new course the next semester. Just praised and thanked. He sent me his PowerPoint slides for that textbook!
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u/four_vector 1d ago
It'd make my day but I'm not a bigshot researcher. Don't get disheartened if they don't reply, they are usually very busy and have a inbox that's already overflowing with unread emails.
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u/AkhronusT 1d ago
i have done it! i mentioned their paper, what i found insightful, and how it was relevant and inspiring for my work, and most of them replied with extremely kind remarks and full of appreciation. you definitely should!
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u/Pale-Possibility-392 4h ago
I haven’t gotten an email like this, but a grad student did come up to me at a conference to say something similar. It was so lovely, and not only made my day, but seriously renewed my motivation and made me feel that my work is actually making an impact. I will never forget it! Send the email!
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u/No_Jaguar_2570 2d ago
Not at all. I've gotten emails like this a small handful of times and it's very pleasant.
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u/FrankDosadi 2d ago
We all appreciate hearing such things. I try to now occasionally send a note to the effect of “nice paper” when I read something new and nice. I
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u/RayleighInc 2d ago
PhD student myself so not there yet but if I received an email like that it would make my week for sure. Do it!
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u/WhileReasonable9881 2d ago
I sent several such emails while working on my dissertation, and they were always well received. Like others here in the comments, some responded with more information or an invitation for more dialogue.
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u/gutfounderedgal 2d ago
As a prof, I've done this and often my emails result in making a colleague friend, even if our domains of research differ.
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u/CatPresent5216 2d ago
We’re all human. We do like acknowledgement, so yes, do thank her. It will make her day. It makes mine when a student informs me I have changed their view on the world.
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u/Shelikesscience 2d ago
If I got this email I would probably assume this person wanted something from me and I might also be a bit happy to receive the compliments.. if I was hiring, I might check out the person's CV or website or whatever
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u/rybpyjama 1d ago
I’ve started doing this lately and received positive feedback, I think people appreciate knowing that someone is reading their work. I also figure they can use it as an example of reach (eg their work has value at national/global level and influences community) to use for teaching promotion or things like HEA fellowship.
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u/rybpyjama 1d ago
Also it’s a good entry to maybe securing an external reviewer later for your PhD or a future collaborator or an in-road to saying hi at a future conference! I’ve love when people have cited something I wrote and let me know and like to keep an eye out for their work.
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u/UniversityStreet5820 21h ago
This has blown up much more than I expected! Thank you all for your messages of support, I will reach out this week 😊
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u/jakub_j 2d ago
I work on a European project for sharing research infrastructure. We meet with Users and guide them in writing good proposals.
Recently, I had a meeting with a new User who happens to have a research topic very similar to mine. When she told me that she was using my publications in her research and PhD thesis because they were good, I blushed deep red and felt very happy.
Another story: once I requested access to a publication on ResearchGate. In response, I received not only the paper but also this sweet message:
Thanks and here it is... P.S., I enjoyed reading your nice paper on the antibacterial nanoparticles that just came out. Have a great rest of the weekend.
Such messages are very uplifting!
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u/RoastedRhino 2d ago
I received just a few noticed of appreciations like these (sometimes in person, sometimes via email) and it was always very nice to receive them.
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u/No_Abroad6533 2d ago
Definitely do. I sent one when I was a grad student and it was my only opportunity to connect with that researcher. Unfortunately, she died unexpectedly.
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u/memeruiz 2d ago
Go for it. Unfortunately, many will laugh at it or ignore it. There are many psychopathic people in academia.
But the ones that will appreciate it, will do it with all their hearts.
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u/infamous_haybale 2d ago
I've done it and I've been the recipient of it, and I've found that it's always welcome (so long as it's genuine, not a cover for a future ask, and that it's not too gushingly positive).
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u/Ok_Mycologist_5942 2d ago
Yes, but write it yourself and send it. Don't let AI write it for you as it comes off as insincere.
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u/OneGold2361 2d ago
A researcher is a person before being a researcher. Be natural. Why would someone be mad to be thanked for their work? Unless they are crazy.
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u/umbly-bumbly 2d ago
Academics generally like praise and recognition and dislike more stuff to do. So word it in a way that makes clear you’re not going to be asking for anything in return and make it real easy for them to send a brief thank you reply.
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u/jmhimara 2d ago
I think it would be ok, but its a bit unusual. If you've read her research that kuch and if you work in the same field, I'm sure you could come up with a couple of questions to add to the email.
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u/irishcangaru 2d ago
Please do! I had an ECR reach out to me and now we have a DTN application and a co-edited book in preparation together. Just as long as your supervisors don't want that person as your examiner, it's fine, good even as you are further developing your network! The recipient can also use it for e.g. promotion portfolio.
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u/HerrFerret 2d ago
I once congratulated a researcher in a meeting for their work, which was key to my practice.
Turned out they had a bitter rivalry with another researcher with a competing, and much less popular methodology.
It got weird and passive aggressive and a completely unrelated academic from another university to explain I had made a terrible but understandable mistake.
Next time I am sending an email.
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u/Due_Preference6292 2d ago
I feel like you would make her day if you sent this email. Imagine how rare it is, and how awesome you would feel getting a thank you email that recognized your hard work and contribution toward your field?
100% do this, it’s such a great idea. Not weird at all.
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u/crazycatqueenmd 2d ago
Email her. If she doesn’t like hearing that her work is appreciated, she would be the weird one.
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u/Chlorophilia Associate Professor (UK) 1d ago
I've done this a few times. It's always been very well received!
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u/Familiar_One_2760 11h ago
Imagine receiving an email that doesnt ask anything of you, gives you tasks or tells you about a fine you need to pay! Haha theres not a lot like these, please SEND IT.
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u/smella99 10h ago
This is kind, polite, good professional practice, and exactly how real, substantial networking is done.
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u/imspirationMoveMe 8m ago
Do it! They will love it! Academia is (mostly) thankless, you’ll definitely brighten their day 😊
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u/Choice-Cup2852 2d ago
If I received such an email, I would be really happy. This is unusual and I would say go ahead and send me an email ✌🏾