Scholarship / I intend to apply for the Chevening 2018-19 scholarship - Career Plan question [8]

Thanks very much folks for the corrections and recommendations. I will work on it and get it floated.

Writing Feedback / Higher entrance fees to attractions for residents than for foreign travelers? [6]

Hi Hau,
you really did a good work. I am a little bit concern in your third paragraph.
On the other hand, low ticket prices ...

I think you should to summarize it as ;
Reducing the cost of tickets for local residents will increase their chances to visit their cultural and historic sites compared to high ticket fees.

Scholarship / I intend to apply for the Chevening 2018-19 scholarship - Career Plan question [8]

Thanks! Holt. below is how I have reshaped my answer.

Sierra Leone is in need for well-trained and qualified local scientists to conduct scientific research on diseases that are threat to public health. This is because it is important for Sierra Leoneans and health practitioners to know the health status of their Nation so that effective preventive measures for current and potential diseases will be established.

My career objectives include but not limited to; Understanding the genome of our life threaten pathogens like Ebola Virus, Lassa Virus, Plasmodium falciparum, S. typhi, yellow fever etc. and how the host immunity respond to their infection. My aspiration is to see my country on a better footing to hunt these pathogens and to combat any future disease outbreak.

My immediate plan upon returning home is to get connected with Chevening Alumni in Sierra Leone. One month after my MSc. graduation, I hope to resume my job at the Lassa fever Viral Hemorrhagic Fever Laboratory in Sierra Leone, where I will be able to apply what I have learned and also, build upon certain ideas that I have in relation to disease research and diagnostics. I am also going to cascading some of my new skills and techniques to the other laboratory scientists working at the Lassa Lab.

After 2 years of working at this laboratory, I hope to secure funding for a 4 year PhD study research plan that will aim at understanding the genetic biomarkers of Lassa virus. This I believe will make me self-efficient in meeting my aspiration.

Should I am granted this scholarship, I am sure with Chevening, I will be able to create more networks that I will take advantage of in sourcing funds for my PhD research in other to build my capacity and help me to meet my career plan.

5 years after my PhD, I hope to work with partners to help develop my own research laboratory and become the principal investigator to answer scientific question on the emerging and re-emerging diseases in Sierra Leone.

I strongly believe that, with these knowledge and experience gain during both my master's degree and PhD studies, I will be well oriented to contribute to the health system in my country by engaging in research and improving on the quality laboratory diagnosis and it is my aspiration to further these goals.

Scholarship / I intend to apply for the Chevening 2018-19 scholarship - Career Plan question [8]

Thanks Very much Holt and folks for your patience in reviewing my work. I hope to work on paragraph 5&6 as instructed. Appreciated.

Scholarship / I intend to be employed in a Korean firm. KGSP Future plans after my studies [4]

good work JoyK. I will prefer you open your statement this way;

Acquiring a masters degree International Development has been some thing that I have long dreamt about. Upon completion of my studies, I hope to secure a 1 year job in any reputable organization in Korea so that .............

Scholarship / I developed a strong network with key Ministry of Health and Sanitation authorities. Chevening. [9]

Thanks folks. below is the new version of my write up.

I have always believed that were people with similar thoughts and profession are connected, greater things happens. Before this time, I have been wondering on how to get connected to professionals in my desired career path. The breakthrough began when I was sent for a three months student internship at the Ola During Children Hospital clinical laboratory in Freetown. My meeting with Mr. Sam Aliyah, the head of the Laboratory marks the beginning of the networks I have today. I enjoyed working under his supervision and I grabbed practical skills on gram staining, blood smear preparation and how to use a microscope. Upon graduation I expressed interest working in the Laboratory to him and he appreciated it. He then connected me to the National Laboratory Manager who also doubles as the Head of the Central Public Health Reference Laboratory (CPHRL).

I worked at CPHRL for 1 year and 6 months as Laboratory assistance and I developed connections with key Ministry of Health and Sanitation authorities within the Laboratory sector like, Director of Hospital and Laboratory services, and Dr. Isata wurie, Consultant scientist to the CPHRL. Working with them I understood the Laboratory Health Safety Practices, and I learned diagnostics skills like Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) and immune assays like ELISA. The experience I gained working with them as a volunteer developed me for my current job.

I have worked at the Lassa fever VHF research laboratory in Kenema as Laboratory Research Scientist an employment which gained primarily because of my skills in PCR and ELISA for almost 1 year 4 months now. I have been connected to world class medical research scientists like Robert F. Garry from Tulane University USA, the Principal Investor for the Lassa fever research program in Sierra Leone. He oversees, provide leadership and technical support. Prof. Pardis Sabeti, Principal Investigator at the Broad Institute USA, Prof. Christian Happie at Redeemers University etc. and together we have published a paper titled, The outbreak of Ebola Virus disease in Lassa fever zone.

In June 2016, I was sent by my Laboratory to participate in the Africa Centre of Excellence for Genomics of Infectious Diseases (ACEGID) summer workshop hosted by the sebati Lab at the Harvard University. The 50days workshop exposed my to a pool of young Africa scientists and I was able stretch out my connections to other participants through personal discussions and friendship and we ended up forming a cohort of the next generation Africa scientists.

Should I become a Chevening scholar, I am sure of meeting more people and therefore it would be obligatory to give back to Chevening and my society by providing mentorship to future scholars and engaging colleague Alumni with the same profession to design research project on our life threaten diseases.

Scholarship / I developed a strong network with key Ministry of Health and Sanitation authorities. Chevening. [9]

To be honest I have not seek permission to mention the names of all those I have named in my network essay. However one of them have already consented to write a recommendation for me should my application be process to the next stage for interview. I actually applied last but I was not invited for interview which is the more reason why I have began my home work now.

Thanks very much Holt for the caution,appreciated. while I proceed reading some network essays, can you please help me know, which of these two is more important for inclusion. There names or their position/institutions.

Scholarship / I developed a strong network with key Ministry of Health and Sanitation authorities. Chevening. [9]

Thanks Holt and friends for your time. base on your advice I have draft a whole new version of my Networking answer. your correction is highly needed.

Throughout my academic and professional career I have experienced the importance of having the appropriate connections. Building networks was important for me to get my first volunteering work and to succeed in my jobs.

Being ambitious, after my BSc. Studies in 2013, I relocated to the city (Freetown) for a new beginning. Knowing the challenges ahead, I developed strong courage to move. My goal was to start my career as a volunteer at the Central Public Health Reference Laboratory (CPHRL) under the Ministry of Health and Sanitation (MoHS). To achieve this, I was supposed to meet with influential people within the Ministry like the Director of Hospital and Laboratory service, National Laboratory Manager, and other professionals. I believe my successful meeting and establishing my network with them rest largely on my preparedness to make use of the opportunity. For example to get the National Lab Manager convinced to allow me work as a volunteer at the CPHRL, I had to provide pile of evidences to justify my qualification. I presented my internship report from the internship I did at Ola During Children Hospital laboratory and proof of successful completion of my BSc studies etc. Volunteering helped me not only to meet more influential people; it also boost my practical experience in the Lab and my networking skills, without being shy or afraid of communicating with authorities and other senior professionals. My work at CPHRL is a clear example of that.

My current job at the Lassa Viral Hemorrhagic fever Lab in Kenema has strengthened my networks. In 2016, I was sent by my Laboratory to participate in the Africa center of excellence for genomics of infectious diseases workshop in the United State. This was a life changing experience for me as participants were from over 6 countries. The atmosphere was friendly which encouraged me to establish more professional contacts. As an extrovert, I find it easy for me to work and speak-up to a stranger when there is a need. Out of the lot I met, meeting scientist from Liberia was a huge opportunity for me as we had time to discuss about the 2014 Ebola virus outbreak that ravaged our countries (Sierra Leone and Liberia). My first experience into international scientific community was laudable and increases my zest to attain higher education in oversees. During the workshop, I realized that effective communication and establishing of essential network is the backbone to any career development pathway.

Being knowledgeable that as I advance my career, the problems I will need to solve for result delivery will need strong cooperation and resources, I have leverage on the collaborations my Lab has with the western world to create strong personal network with other well placed Research scientist at the Broad institute and Tulane University USA.

My aim is to be part of the strong network of young leaders that Chevening generate. Should I become a Chevening awardee I would be able to collaborate with these key players to achieve my aspirations.