Graduate / My first personal statement: Multidisciplinary PhD Program in Biomedical Sciences at Rutgers School [5]

Hello everyone, I'm writing my first personal statement and I'm not very familiar with writing this type of document, so I'm leaving as much information as possible for you I'd like some tips: if it's too long, if it's connected if I should remove some content, write it better, add some experience, or if it's well written.

Prompt:
What is important for the Personal Statement?
The Statement of Purpose gives the faculty and admissions committee the opportunity to see you as an individual. They are interested in your motivation to pursue the degree, reasons for choosing a specific program or programs, intellectual skills, writing ability, appreciation of the requirements to complete the program, and your suitability for their particular program. Prior research experience is a valuable asset and should be discussed. Other types of work experience also may be of significance. Grades and scores on standardized tests are only two of the many factors that are considered by an admissions committee. Ultimately, you and the program must work as a team for several years, and it is important that you fit well together.

I am Lucas Zanusso, I hold a bachelor's degree in biological sciences from São Paulo State University (Unesp) in Brazil. Currently conducting an MSc in Molecular Biology at the same institution, with an expected graduation in May 2025. My research focuses on gene expression analysis of head and neck cancer lines after treatment with piperine nanoemulsions, an anti-inflammatory nutraceutical. I am delighted to submit my application for the Multidisciplinary PhD Program in Biomedical Sciences at Rutgers School of Graduate Studies. Introducing myself and justifying the reason for the text

My journey in research began in 2019, when I joined a histology lab at my campus as a volunteer intern, during this time I assisted graduate students by managing gerbil colonies, conducting dissections, and preparing tissue slides for 6 months. This experience offered me more than practical and daily skills; it also introduced me to deep talks about cancer, and how this complex disease developed our understanding of cells and their mechanisms. These discussions sparked my initial interest in cancer research shaping my career goals. Unfortunately, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, professors were not taking undergraduate students and I could not continue my lab activities for the next two years. Talking about myself and my experiences, where my initial interest in cancer came from, and justifying a hiatus
In 2022, with the pandemic under control, I was eager to do my first undergraduate research, I had taken molecular biology and gene expression courses during my undergraduate studies, which I found fascinating, so I joined a molecular biology laboratory with a research focus on head and neck cancer cell lines. During this period, I worked with piperine for the first time, evaluating its genotoxic potential, and presented my undergraduate thesis. My professors praised me for my writing and communicative skills awarding me the highest grade. I was able to answer all their questions with precision and the assessment looked like an exciting conversation with me and the professors discussing the next steps we should take after this first result.Talking about my official research experience and my writing and presentation skills

In 2023, recognized for my proactive approach and communication skills, I was selected to continue as a graduate student in the same laboratory where I took my undergraduate thesis. My PI told me about the idea of using nanoparticles to enhance the bioavailability of piperine, which is very low, and to examine the expression of the COX-2 gene, as someone driven to learn I eagerly embraced the idea. This project has been a watershed in the way I see cancer, I never imagined it under the perspective of inflammation. During my master's degree, I have been writing my project, a review article, and my monography, to do these tasks I needed to read a lot and gather a large amount of information, which made me realize there is a whole world linking cancer and inflammation, and a bunch of processes involved in gene and protein expression, it once again molded my interests and I became passionate for those questions. How my interest in inflammation came about
I now independently conduct experiments such as cell viability, RNA extraction, RT-qPCR, transwell migration assay, and flow cytometry in Hep-2 and CAL-27 cell lines. My results allowed me to choose the better concentration of piperine nanocapsules and highlighted its effects in inducing apoptosis and controlling the inflammation process. By conducting my research I was forced to find answers to my questions by myself and troubleshooting, which enhanced my critical thinking, it made me recognize that following protocols isn't enough to make a good experiment and I learned it early during my project. One of the first experiments was a cell viability assay, using MTS, and I could not find a clear answer on the first and second attempts, so I sat back on my chair and began to study it, discovering that the nanocapsules could be interfering in the spectrophotometer reading, the solution was to change the culture medium before applying the MTS reagent. Another meaningful experience was to gate flow cytometry data, which took me effort, but I am very realized with my achievements. My most significant skills and critical thinking ability
In addition, I worked as a teaching assistant and have been mentoring undergraduate students, once a week I organize a lecture or seminar with the students to teach them the theoretical concepts of most of the techniques we use in the laboratory, because it is something I missed when I started and could avoid me of failing. Other students who are more advanced and started sooner in the lab I supervise them while they manage cells on the laminar flux and conduct some basic essays. Because we are a small group, my tasks in the lab overcome the normal, and I am responsible for organizing our materials, managing the -80 ºC freezer, take of the thrash, calibrating the flow cytometry, and sometimes I volunteer in other tasks like organizing events or fixing equipment that is not working. I don't feel bad about doing these tasks because I believe a good and equilibrated work environment benefits everyone, and I hope that my expertise and proactivity fit with the expectations of your PhD program. My lab responsibilities and proactivity

While searching for a place to conduct my PhD I found the biology program at Rutgers a good fit, first because we can do rotations, which is something new to me as it is very unusual in my country, but more than this, there are tracks for inflammation and for cancer, so I believe during the rotations I will be exposed to different perspectives of a subject that I love, most of the professors I can choose for my rotations will allow me to learn about what I treasure, what can further my knowledge and bring new points of views, as we are talking about cells many processes are happening at once, and we can only observe a couple of that on our research, so I am excited to be exposed to this transversal education.My relationship with the research developed in the program. And my interest in rotations

Besides I have been conducting research focused on finding a novel drug, and the time I spent studying and writing about cancer made me feel enthusiastic about basic research, it is good to test a new medicine that exploits a determined pathway, but my interests now are closer to discovering new pathways, interactions, and nuances of gene expression so someone in the future may use this, just as I am doing in the present, which I believe will get me seen. Reading articles from some of the Rutgers faculty made me believe in the mission of the institution, and some of them correlate with my research goals, I can reference the articles from Carol Lutz that I read, I found it astonishing when she discovered the correlation between PACE and COX-2 in lung cancer because it can open new paths for new therapies. Doctor Bessman discovered that Group 3 Innate lymphoid cells (ILC3s) have a protective role in cancer, possibly enhancing immunotherapy; and Pingping Hou has been successfully enhancing KRAS therapy for cancer by discovering new drug targets and interactions on this pathway. I treasure this research because it can bring new technologies and open the way to new approaches, to improving human health. My interest in basic research and quoting some professors

As someone driven to learn I hope, in the future, to conduct quality research and become a PI having my laboratory and coordinating my personnel to reach new frontiers in cancer and inflammation research, I want to impact the world with my work, bringing new horizons and being in the vanguard of innovation. After all, I believe that Rutger can bring me what is necessary for my career, an environment aligned with my interests in research, good core facilities that can allow me to go further, and professors who study the same topics as I do and whose I am eager to learn from, . My future goals, the conclusion of my interest in the institution and the program
I am keen to develop an international career in a field that I love and my time spent in the Lab performing Scientific Research and Data Analysis has prepared me for such an opportunity, I sincerely hope I can contribute soon as a member of your institution. I would like to discuss your position in more detail. Finalization
Yours sincerely,