Prompt- An applicant's research statement should be a narrative of how the applicant has prepared for a graduate career and how a graduate career will prepare the applicant for their career goals. This statement gives an applicant an opportunity to highlight strengths, as well as address any perceived weaknesses. The research statement is the main place in the application for the candidate to describe their research background and preparedness for graduate work.
Essay- STATEMENT OF PURPOSE BY EUNICE OLAYINKA OLUWALANKE
Program: PhD Microbiology, University of Wisconsin
Growing up in Nigeria, I often heard about people suffering from infections that just wouldn't respond to treatments. As an adolescent, I didn't fully understand the underlying cause, but it was clear that something was amiss in our healthcare system. The real story started to unfold for me during my undergraduate studies in the field of microbiology, where I began to understand the critical role antimicrobial resistance (AMR) plays in the ongoing healthcare crisis. The more I learned, the more alarmed I became. AMR is a growing public health emergency, one that claims hundreds of thousands of lives every year in Africa alone. I saw that we were fighting a battle we were not prepared to win, and that traditional antibiotics were no longer as effective as they once were. In Nigeria, this crisis is particularly acute. Overuse of antibiotics, combined with counterfeit medications and poor infection control in healthcare settings, has led to the rise of multidrug-resistant bacteria such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcusaureus (MRSA), extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Enterobacteriaceae, multidrug-resistant Pseudomonasaeruginosa, and multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB). These infections complicate treatment efforts, often leading to higher mortality rates. As antibiotics lose their effectiveness, I realized we urgently need innovative solutions to combat these drug-resistant infections.
While researching for my undergraduate project, I discovered an exciting alternative, for AMR that could revolutionize treatment: phage therapy. Bacteriophages, viruses that specifically target and destroy bacteria, offer a targeted, adaptable approach. Unlike antibiotics, which can harm beneficial bacteria and lose their potency over time, phages evolve alongside their bacterial hosts, making them an ideal weapon in our fight against AMR. This revelation was a turning point for me. I became passionate about the potential of phage therapy to address Nigeria's growing burden of antimicrobial resistance and knew that this was the path I wanted to follow. My undergraduate project, Molecular Characterization of Gram-Positive Bacteria Isolated from Non-Dairy Products within Lagos Metropolis, was a key experience for me. Under the supervision of Dr. T.O.G. Egwuatu, I isolated gram-positive bacteria from frozen snacks and detected their antimicrobial resistance patterns and genes. I presented my research findings to a diverse audience at the Nigeria Society for Microbiology (NSM) 2023 conference. The manuscript for this research has been submitted to a reputable journal and is currently under review for publication. This experience exposed me to the complexity of AMR and sparked my determination to seek better, more effective solutions.
As countries with access to advanced research began testing phage therapy for infections caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, and Escherichia coli, I realized that this approach could be the answer to many of Nigeria's healthcare challenges. However, the road to widespread adoption of phage therapy is not without its hurdles. Issues like phage resistance, limited infrastructure, and regulatory barriers still need to be overcome. Yet, the more I studied the potential of phage therapy, the more hopeful I became that this innovative treatment could one day be used to treat drug-resistant infections across Nigeria and Africa.
One key to advancing phage therapy lies in bioinformatics. I was drawn to this field because of its power to analyze vast amounts of genomic data and provide the insights needed to develop personalized treatments. Through computational tools, I can help develop phage therapies that are tailored to individual patients and bacterial strains. I envision a future where bioinformatics-driven phage therapy is at the forefront of global health, offering precise and effective treatments to combat drug-resistant infections. I believe that bioinformatics is the key to unlocking the full potential of phage therapy and addressing the AMR crisis. My knowledge of phage genomics and bioinformatics, combined with my passion for data-driven solutions, has prepared me for this next step in my academic journey.
My goal is to contribute to the development of phage therapy in Nigeria, helping to change the status quo and improve health outcomes for millions of people. I am confident that with the right education, training, and mentorship, I can make a meaningful impact in this field. My interdisciplinary skill set in laboratory techniques, programming, and bioinformatics equips me to contribute meaningfully to the University of Wisconsin's PhD program in microbiology. Following my undergraduate degree, I decided to pursue an internship at the World Health Organization (WHO) Polio laboratory, Ibadan to gain further research experience under the supervision of Dr. Adedayo Faneye. The objective of the lab is to provide virological information that can be used to target resources on eradicating and containing the spread of wild polioviruses. Here, I have gained and utilized several molecular biology skills including nucleic acid extraction, Polymerase chain reaction, agarose gel electrophoresis. My experience with nucleic acid extraction, PCR, gel electrophoresis, virus isolation, and ELISA provides a solid foundation for supporting advanced research in microbial genomics and phage therapy. In addition, my programming proficiency in HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and Python, combined with expertise in bioinformatics tools like DNA Master, Phamerator, BLAST, and others, allows me to manage, analyze, and visualize complex genomic data effectively. At Wisconsin, where data-driven microbiology and genomics are integral to ongoing research, I look forward to leveraging these skills to develop computational models, streamline data management, and enhance visualization of phage-bacteria interactions. I am particularly excited to apply my skills to advancing phage therapy as an AMR solution, using bioinformatics to tailor phages to resistant bacterial strains and improve health outcomes.
I am particularly excited about an opportunity to join The Raman Laboratory. Professor Raman's work in phage engineering and the creation of synthetic phages to combat multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria aligns closely with my focus on addressing antimicrobial resistance through bioinformatics and phage therapy. I am eager to collaborate with him to explore engineered phages and manipulation of phage-host interactions to develop effective treatments for MDR infections, advancing innovative solutions to the AMR crisis. Wisconsin's strength in bacterial pathogenesis and microbial genomics will enable me to collaborate with faculty on projects that explore microbial genetics and resistance mechanisms, facilitating the identification of therapeutic targets and the design of effective phage therapy protocols. Through this program, I am eager to bridge experimental microbiology with computational analysis and make significant contributions to AMR research.
I am committed to advancing phage therapy as a solution to AMR through the lens of bioinformatics. I believe that by harnessing the power of computational science and data analysis, we can develop the precise, targeted treatments needed to overcome bacterial resistance and save lives. I am determined to be part of the generation of scientists who revolutionize healthcare and bring about real change in the fight against antimicrobial resistance. With your program's support, I am eager to contribute to this important work and take the next steps in my journey towards making a lasting impact on global health.
Essay- STATEMENT OF PURPOSE BY EUNICE OLAYINKA OLUWALANKE
Program: PhD Microbiology, University of Wisconsin
Growing up in Nigeria, I often heard about people suffering from infections that just wouldn't respond to treatments. As an adolescent, I didn't fully understand the underlying cause, but it was clear that something was amiss in our healthcare system. The real story started to unfold for me during my undergraduate studies in the field of microbiology, where I began to understand the critical role antimicrobial resistance (AMR) plays in the ongoing healthcare crisis. The more I learned, the more alarmed I became. AMR is a growing public health emergency, one that claims hundreds of thousands of lives every year in Africa alone. I saw that we were fighting a battle we were not prepared to win, and that traditional antibiotics were no longer as effective as they once were. In Nigeria, this crisis is particularly acute. Overuse of antibiotics, combined with counterfeit medications and poor infection control in healthcare settings, has led to the rise of multidrug-resistant bacteria such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcusaureus (MRSA), extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Enterobacteriaceae, multidrug-resistant Pseudomonasaeruginosa, and multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB). These infections complicate treatment efforts, often leading to higher mortality rates. As antibiotics lose their effectiveness, I realized we urgently need innovative solutions to combat these drug-resistant infections.
While researching for my undergraduate project, I discovered an exciting alternative, for AMR that could revolutionize treatment: phage therapy. Bacteriophages, viruses that specifically target and destroy bacteria, offer a targeted, adaptable approach. Unlike antibiotics, which can harm beneficial bacteria and lose their potency over time, phages evolve alongside their bacterial hosts, making them an ideal weapon in our fight against AMR. This revelation was a turning point for me. I became passionate about the potential of phage therapy to address Nigeria's growing burden of antimicrobial resistance and knew that this was the path I wanted to follow. My undergraduate project, Molecular Characterization of Gram-Positive Bacteria Isolated from Non-Dairy Products within Lagos Metropolis, was a key experience for me. Under the supervision of Dr. T.O.G. Egwuatu, I isolated gram-positive bacteria from frozen snacks and detected their antimicrobial resistance patterns and genes. I presented my research findings to a diverse audience at the Nigeria Society for Microbiology (NSM) 2023 conference. The manuscript for this research has been submitted to a reputable journal and is currently under review for publication. This experience exposed me to the complexity of AMR and sparked my determination to seek better, more effective solutions.
As countries with access to advanced research began testing phage therapy for infections caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, and Escherichia coli, I realized that this approach could be the answer to many of Nigeria's healthcare challenges. However, the road to widespread adoption of phage therapy is not without its hurdles. Issues like phage resistance, limited infrastructure, and regulatory barriers still need to be overcome. Yet, the more I studied the potential of phage therapy, the more hopeful I became that this innovative treatment could one day be used to treat drug-resistant infections across Nigeria and Africa.
One key to advancing phage therapy lies in bioinformatics. I was drawn to this field because of its power to analyze vast amounts of genomic data and provide the insights needed to develop personalized treatments. Through computational tools, I can help develop phage therapies that are tailored to individual patients and bacterial strains. I envision a future where bioinformatics-driven phage therapy is at the forefront of global health, offering precise and effective treatments to combat drug-resistant infections. I believe that bioinformatics is the key to unlocking the full potential of phage therapy and addressing the AMR crisis. My knowledge of phage genomics and bioinformatics, combined with my passion for data-driven solutions, has prepared me for this next step in my academic journey.
My goal is to contribute to the development of phage therapy in Nigeria, helping to change the status quo and improve health outcomes for millions of people. I am confident that with the right education, training, and mentorship, I can make a meaningful impact in this field. My interdisciplinary skill set in laboratory techniques, programming, and bioinformatics equips me to contribute meaningfully to the University of Wisconsin's PhD program in microbiology. Following my undergraduate degree, I decided to pursue an internship at the World Health Organization (WHO) Polio laboratory, Ibadan to gain further research experience under the supervision of Dr. Adedayo Faneye. The objective of the lab is to provide virological information that can be used to target resources on eradicating and containing the spread of wild polioviruses. Here, I have gained and utilized several molecular biology skills including nucleic acid extraction, Polymerase chain reaction, agarose gel electrophoresis. My experience with nucleic acid extraction, PCR, gel electrophoresis, virus isolation, and ELISA provides a solid foundation for supporting advanced research in microbial genomics and phage therapy. In addition, my programming proficiency in HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and Python, combined with expertise in bioinformatics tools like DNA Master, Phamerator, BLAST, and others, allows me to manage, analyze, and visualize complex genomic data effectively. At Wisconsin, where data-driven microbiology and genomics are integral to ongoing research, I look forward to leveraging these skills to develop computational models, streamline data management, and enhance visualization of phage-bacteria interactions. I am particularly excited to apply my skills to advancing phage therapy as an AMR solution, using bioinformatics to tailor phages to resistant bacterial strains and improve health outcomes.
I am particularly excited about an opportunity to join The Raman Laboratory. Professor Raman's work in phage engineering and the creation of synthetic phages to combat multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria aligns closely with my focus on addressing antimicrobial resistance through bioinformatics and phage therapy. I am eager to collaborate with him to explore engineered phages and manipulation of phage-host interactions to develop effective treatments for MDR infections, advancing innovative solutions to the AMR crisis. Wisconsin's strength in bacterial pathogenesis and microbial genomics will enable me to collaborate with faculty on projects that explore microbial genetics and resistance mechanisms, facilitating the identification of therapeutic targets and the design of effective phage therapy protocols. Through this program, I am eager to bridge experimental microbiology with computational analysis and make significant contributions to AMR research.
I am committed to advancing phage therapy as a solution to AMR through the lens of bioinformatics. I believe that by harnessing the power of computational science and data analysis, we can develop the precise, targeted treatments needed to overcome bacterial resistance and save lives. I am determined to be part of the generation of scientists who revolutionize healthcare and bring about real change in the fight against antimicrobial resistance. With your program's support, I am eager to contribute to this important work and take the next steps in my journey towards making a lasting impact on global health.