如下:
very much appreciate your interest in my research. As I am new to the University of Guelph, I am waiting for a response to my funding requests. Thus, I will not be able to give any answer until the summer for a graduate stipend. This puts it rather close to the deadlines for the fall semester. I hope you will keep in contact and I will let you know how the funding goes.
Your experience is very pertinent, and I hope we will be able to work together.
Further along in the spring, I will contact you for a Skype meeting, perhaps with the graduate coordinator.