Graduate / Essay for Phd in Molecular Pharmacology (and Toxicology) [3]

Hi I have wrote an esssay for application in PhD in pharmacology (Molecular pharmacology in some universities)
The problem is the length. Its worth two print pages. Most of the universities ask for one or one and half page essay. I would really appreciate if someone can suggest changes as to what is important to keep and what is not. Thank you so much for your time...

"No one can ask for his/her own part out of your knowledge" - My Parents

Despite coming from a middle class economical and educational family of origin, my parents were always supportive of my brother (now a Medical Doctor) and I, in terms of our dreams and aspirations. It was their encouragement that led me to believe I should dream big, and achieve! Throughout my early academic history I maintained a natural ability for science, most especially biology. Due to my passion for biology and the sciences, I was twice awarded the "Student of Distinction" certificate by the Gujarat State Secondary Education Board. First in the10th grade, I scored a 99 out of 100 in the Gujarat examination, and again in 12th grade, after extraordinary performance in the state examination.

In addition to this, I am fascinated and intrigued at the idea of being an educator. It is this maxim that compelled me to join a most reputable academy, where I was to teach Biology, Physics, Chemistry, and Math to 11th and 12th grades until at which time I was accepted into an undergraduate program at Shri Sarvajanik Pharmacy College (SSPC)

Throughout my undergraduate studies at SSPC, in Mehsana, Gujarat, in my native country of India, I was exposed to many fascinating subjects. Among them was one I became most enamored with... Pharmacology. After that was Biochemistry, and Medicinal Chemistry. So enthusiastic was I regarding my studies in Molecular Pharmacology that I crafted a Watson and Creek DNA model made of wood and Thermocol, which I then presented at a local campus science exhibition. I received acknowledgment and appreciation from many, and as a result, began to truly understand the basic unit of a cell.

My passion for pharmacology was such that throughout my academic endeavors I continued to excel in both internal and external university examinations in the subject. My transcripts are a true account of my academic excellence. Out of the twenty-five other students, I was the only one willing to sacrifice a rat and/or mouse each week in order to get their ileums out, which in turn were used for all students to participate in the Dose Response Study.

As part of my final year thesis, I am grateful for having had the opportunity to work with Dr. I.S. Anand. Dr. Anand recognized my ability to work with laboratory animals, thus allowing me to conduct various studies on depression and inflammation. In my work under Dr. Anad, I was able to draw out important conclusions on the project named "Prescription Trends in Antihypertensive Drugs".

Early on, I became well aware that my career would someday be in research and development in pharmacology. I decided to have some hands-on experience of some of the most commonly used molecular biologic techniques and to attain an industrial exposure for the same, I joined one of the most reputed, Sun Pathology Laboratory as a Research Assistant and gained the knowledge and experience of most of the basic molecular biologic techniques.

In planning the next step of my academic and performance endeavors, I prepared by taking the Graduate Aptitude Test Examination, which is a prerequisite to pursuit of a Masters degree in India. I scored well (93 percentile all over India), which compelled me to think that I could attempt to be accepted to India's highly-ranked pharmaceutical institute called NIPER. I took this elite exam and also scored very high. In the interim, I studied to take the GRE and TOEFL, and scored as well, or better.

After additional research, I decided to pursue my education in America. I applied to five universities, and was eagerly accepted by all of them. Eventually, I decided that Long Island University was my best choice, and the one most likely to satisfy my burning desire to achieve a Masters degree in Pharmacology and Toxicology. Additionally, I knew that I would be supervised by some great professors like Dr.'s Ray, Ratna, and Benzeroual.

Under their expert tutelage, I was captivated by my full-fledged participation in general pharmacology, biochemical pharmacology, and toxicology. As I studied, I also increased my ability to effectively communicate in English, which is, of course, my second language. I performed a great many presentations, until which point I was practically deemed an "expert". Another of the enormous opportunities that were offered was providing Teaching Assistantship to teach Pharmacology and Medicinal Chemistry to Doctor of Pharmacy students. Notably, the students I taught significantly improved as a direct result of my efforts.

It is my belief that no education is complete until it is tested in an industrial environment. That being said, I am honored to be currently employed as a Research Assistant in the Anesthesiology department at New York Methodist hospital. Previously, I worked in a highly reputable pharmacogenomics company where we attempted to research a gene which might be responsible for cholesterol synthesis. I continue to seek greater and greater exposure to this area of interest, which has helped me to attain experience in working with experimental animals and humans, and various molecular biologic techniques such as tissue culture, gel electrophoresis, PCR, ELISA, DNA extraction, Western Blot, and more with my employments.

We just completed a study on Ginger, investigating its role in preventing intra-operative and post-operative nausea and vomiting in elective cesarean section patients. Additionally, I presented the poster for this, as a first author at the American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists in Washington, D.C., on October 25th, 2011. We are looking forward to get this paper published in the International Journal of Obstetrics and gynecology. Currently I am working as a co-investigator in multiple projects with NYU and Mt. Sinai hospital. In one of the project, we are investigating the role of I.V. Ibuprofen on inflammatory mediators after laparoscopic cholecystectomy on the patients. In one more project, we will be conducting a Phase IV trail for the newly investigated system i.e. Sufentanil NanoTab PCA System for the Treatment of Post-Operative Pain in Patients after Open Abdominal Surgery. On top of these researches, we are also working on preparing a case report on the difference between regional and general anesthesia on the clinical outcomes of patients undergoing lower extremity amputation.

In addition, having knowledge, interest and experience in molecular side along with working in a clinical industry makes me grasp the interest of both the areas (Clinical and Molecular) of pharmacology. Often, working with a particular project clinically has required me to work in molecular biology setting in order to accomplish the goal of the project. It is therefore; I have started to get more into clinical along with molecular aspects of pharmacology. In these ever changing field of pharmacy, I wish to achieve the highest degree in pharmacology and do not want to restrict myself to only one or the other area/aspect of pharmacology

At this juncture, I aspire to accomplish a Doctorate degree in Pharmacology, with a postdoctoral fellowship as my long-term goal. I am particularly interested in a neuronal and cardiovascular model of experimentation, where preclinical along with clinical studies can be conducted. To accomplish this, my current employer is a multi-specialty hospital that conducts thousands of surgeries each year. I understand they would be open to providing the clinical environment and facility, if I were fortunate enough to be a part of the pharmacological program at St. Johns University.

After much research and contacting some of my friends who are a PhD students at St johns (Sanjay Dholakiya), I believe that St.Johns University is precisely the academic setting I need to further evolve as a research scientist. I am prepared to make a unique contribution to any/all areas to which I am exposed, and to glean from everything it offers that which will allow me to accomplish my dreams.

Sandip Darji