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Letter of Recommendation

Policy and process for requesting a letter of recommendation from Dr. Irving.

Overview

Writing a strong letter of recommendation takes time and care. So that I can provide you with the most compelling letter possible, please follow the process on this page.

Please note: I am generally happy to write for current and former TEMPO@UVA students, and for students I have taught who I know well enough to write meaningfully about. If we have had only brief contact, another mentor may be a better choice.

Who should ask

You have completed at least one semester of research in the TEMPO@UVA Lab

You have taken multiple classes with me and earned strong grades

You have worked closely with me in a substantive academic, research, or clinical capacity

We have had multiple substantive conversations about your work and career direction

Request timeline

When to ask	Why
At least 4 weeks before your earliest deadline	This gives me time to write a personalized letter, revise it carefully, and submit before your deadline. Requests received with less notice may not be possible.
By email	Send to bi9n@virginia.edu with the subject line "Letter of Recommendation Request — [Your Name]".

What to include in your request

Please send all of the following in a single email.

The specific opportunity — program, position, or scholarship, with a link if available

Deadline and submission instructions — email, portal, or upload link

An updated CV or résumé

An unofficial transcript

Your personal statement or draft application essay, if available

A brief reminder of how we know each other — courses, research, projects, and anything you would like me to emphasize

Any specific instructions from the program regarding format, length, or submission

After you submit

I will confirm receipt of your request and let you know whether I am able to write the letter. If I say yes, I will write and submit it before your deadline. A brief follow-up reminder about a week before the deadline is welcome — I do not consider these requests annoying.

Please let me know the outcome of your application. Whether you are admitted, funded, or not, I would like to hear how the process went.

Multiple applications

If you are applying to multiple programs, send the complete list of programs, deadlines, and submission instructions in your initial request. A single well-organized spreadsheet is far more useful to me than a series of separate emails.

Start a request