Dear __________,

I am a tenth grade student enrolled in my county’s gifted and talented program at Glenelg High
School in Howard County, Maryland. In this program, students research topics of their choosing,
and I will be undertaking a research-based study of psychiatric genetics. Specifically, I am
focusing on the aspect of utilizing psychiatric genetics to predict mental illnesses like
schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. I would like to generate an extensive source list that will
ultimately help me argue a thesis related to this topic, and then I will collect and analyze my own
primary data.

Connecting with a professional in my field of interest is an extremely valuable part of conducting

my research. I am hoping you might be willing to share any resources or suggestions that could
help me investigate my topic. I have only recently begun researching the field of psychiatric
genetics, specifically methods of identifying genetic variants such as genome-wide association
studies and polygenic risk scores. My research goal is to find a solution for improving the
accuracy of current genetic testing methods so that people will be able to better predict their risk
of inheriting a mental disorder.

I would greatly appreciate any guidance or resources related to my research topic. Resources
might include articles from a research or trade journal, an opportunity to talk by phone for a brief
interview, suggestions of other professionals with expertise in my topic, or other items relevant
to the topic.

Thank you for taking time to honor my request. Any information you might be able to offer can
be sent to me at this email address, or you can reach out to Leila Chawkat, my research teacher,
at leila_chawkat@hcpss.org. Thank you again for your time, and I hope to hear from you at your
earliest convenience.

Sincerely,

Nikitha Katanguri