Kudos for reaching this page! It seems that you want to explore potential PhD opportunities and follow the correct procedure.

Now let's cut to the chase....

I receive a large number of requests from all over the world. In order to filter these, I look for a number of things as detailed below.

Please only make contact with me once you have an idea of what you want to work on and how it would be relevant to my fields of research (you can view/read my publications and a summary of my work here and here or even here) . You need to think about how it overlaps with your interests and experience.

Once you know this, send me such details in the form of a concise research proposal (1-2 pages) along with a CV (include previous degrees and grades, any publications, awards of excellence, and if you are a football legend or not).

Your proposal should outline the problem you want to work on, why you want to work with me in particular, and what knowledge and skills you will bring to solve said problem. If these points are not clarified, I am inclined to ignore your email.

When emailing me, please send any attached documents in PDF. I will not open Word documents. If I find your proposal interesting and convincing, I will encourage you to name me as a supporter of your official application using the standard procedure that can be found here.

If you've read all the way to here, then prove it by including this phrase in your first e-mail to me: "It's funny how falling feels like flying"