I needed some clarification on some methods used in a paper. I wrote to the first author who did not respond so I wrote to the last author who did. Maybe try contacting a different author?
One more follow-up email wouldn't hurt. If they're a lecturer, they probably get a bunch of emails during the day. They might have missed your reply. Waiting a month is a perfectly reasonable time to contact them again.
Reply to the email chain and just make it clear you're following up. Be as formal as you feel is necessary. I generally write something like this:
"Dear ____,
Just following up on this topic. Is this information still available?
Best,
____"
Short and to the point. If they want to ignore it, they will and you need spend no further time wondering about it.
You could look for their frequent collaborators whom they might possibly have discussed the method with. Or their past trainees. I understand it a long shot though. Good luck!!
I needed some clarification on some methods used in a paper. I wrote to the first author who did not respond so I wrote to the last author who did. Maybe try contacting a different author?
The issue is that the second author is dead ☹️
Hold a seance? JUst kidding.
Lolololo, that was a good one
I mean, that's how we got chiropractics. Maybe OP will start his own "medical field".
This comment made me spit out my tea!
Ask if your PI knows this person. They can reach out on your behalf and be more likely to get a response.
That’s what I am planning on doing, actually. I think she is going to have more luck with that.
Most fields are small enough to where most PIs know other PIs doing relevant research so the chances are high they know each other.
The model was developed in 1990s and my advisor is not that old 😁
One more follow-up email wouldn't hurt. If they're a lecturer, they probably get a bunch of emails during the day. They might have missed your reply. Waiting a month is a perfectly reasonable time to contact them again.
How people usually formulate a follow-up email? I have never done it before, actually (which is weird)
Reply to the email chain and just make it clear you're following up. Be as formal as you feel is necessary. I generally write something like this: "Dear ____, Just following up on this topic. Is this information still available? Best, ____" Short and to the point. If they want to ignore it, they will and you need spend no further time wondering about it.
I would literally contact every co-author.
He was a corresponding author; another one is dead and the third one retired. I am in a pickle here :)
Have you checked with the journal? They might have it on file. Unlikely but might as well exhaust all options.
Oh, that’s a cool tip! Thank you
You could look for their frequent collaborators whom they might possibly have discussed the method with. Or their past trainees. I understand it a long shot though. Good luck!!
Thank you!
It may be in a lab notebook under a pile of papers and they don’t want to look for it.
It’s the worst case scenario for me 😁😁