I am writing to express my interest in the Ph.D. position in Cancer Research. I would prefer to work in the “Division of Signal Transduction and Growth Control” under the supervision of Prof. XXX XXX. I want to explore my biochemical and molecular biological knowledge to explore furthermore towards signal transduction and cell growth to further understand cancer progression and better treatment.
Cancer is better known as uncontrolled cell growth. These growing cells invade territories normally reserved for other cells. Cancers can be classified based on the type of tissues and cells from which they arise. Cancer is triggered by genetic changes that promote uncontrolled cell proliferation. These genetic changes can be inheritable or epigenetic brought by exposure to mutagenic agents.
In most cases of cancerous growth, it has been shown that there is an overexpression of growth factor receptors. These growth factor receptors are typically grouped as cell-surface receptor tyrosine kinases and binding of the various growth factors to their respective receptor tyrosine kinases initiates the signaling cascade to promote cell proliferation and differentiation. Signal transduction and cell growth and differentiation are interrelated and are under tight regulation in a normal cell. With all these, I want to explore cancer research and study the signaling mechanism related to cell growth and its control mechanisms.
Hence, in all these regards, I believe what I learned from these experiences with my academic background will contribute to my future academic success. An opportunity to be enrolled in Ph.D. positions in cancer research, with the project of “Division of Signal Transduction and Growth Control” under the supervision of Prof. XXX XXX at your prestigious university enriched with excellent faculty and well-equipped lab that will allow me to stretch my research skills and experiences to achieve my career goal of becoming a proficient researcher.
Dr. Mevius
Hello,
What is the purpose of this post? Just kind of like a personal blog?
Anyway, if this is a letter you wrote to apply for a PhD. I have some feedback. Please do not be offended or feel bad about it , it is just positive feedback 🙂
In my humble opinion your letter is way to basic. You simply introduced what cancer is and that you would like to study a pathway involved in cancer.
This does not make you look special or better than any other applicants. The goal of your letter should be to write something so impressive and interesting that the professor will think, oh wow that looks like it could be a good idea.
And especially in your case, you might face some slight discrimination based on your name and country alone.. So you have to present the very best.
Give a much more detailed plan about what you want to study in that pathway, and how that is going to cure cancer, or even better how that is going to develop a new drug that will earn the lab lots of papers and funding. In the end that is what a professor really needs.
It is just my opinion, I am not a professor so I am not sure how they think, but I think this makes a lot of sense.
Let me know what you think! 🙂
Best,
Dr. Mevius
InfoBiochem
Thank you so much for your precious feedback. Actually, I wrote this letter for PhD program at German Cancer Research Center and my purpose to post it here is to grab an attention from someone who could really give me a strong feedback. I’m happy to get your precious feedback and definitely I’ll consider your suggestions in future whenever I apply for post graduate studies. Heartfelt thank you so much for your time.