An aspiring scientist - cover letter Pharmaceutical Internship

Question:

Expand on your CV by describing how the NIBR Summer Internship will further your career goals.

Describe the skills, experience and personal qualities that make you an ideal candidate for this internship. Demonstrate that you have read and meet the eligibility requirements for this internship.

Response:
I am interested in applying and being a part of the Novartis Institutes Biomedical Research because of its international appeal, to reach millions of people and make their lives better. Your work, specifically ARTs drug. has made my life better.

As an aspiring scientist at Connecticut College, I have grown as a researcher by undertaking an independent research study in Prof Marc Zimmer's computational chemistry research lab. Here I analyzed the structural and photophysical properties of Green Fluorescent Proteins (GFPs). A protein used as a biomarker in medicine, cell biology, and molecular biology. I worked on the research Collaboratory for Structural Bioinformatics RCSB protein databank to systematically analyze GFP - like structures in the Protein Databank. This work helped me refine my independent work ethic, especially in gaining an insight into research in addition to my course work. I hope to use the skills I gained to work in the drug discovery of infectious diseases using the new path of chemical biology to explore biological systems in order to create innovative therapeutics

It is my computational chemistry research that I learned about Maestro, a tool used to quantify a molecule's feature. Wanting to learn more about Maestro, I enrolled in the Schrodinger online course as the first-ever scholarship recipient of their online course to help in my research. Online resources have been more useful now than ever, considering the pandemic. It is through an online class I took over the summer called medicinal chemistry with Prof Erland Stevens that my interest in drug development and its protein interaction developed. I was inspired by listening to some of Novartis' scientists such as Parisa Zamiri whose life experiences guide them in their research.

Although I am a sophomore, I have taken relevant courses such as Organic chemistry, Advanced Chemistry, Introduction to Biology, and Advanced Regression( R Studio). In particular, organic chemistry has enabled me to appreciate molecular structures and their reactivity, while my biology classes are helping me understand the body's structure at a molecular level. At Novartis, I want to integrate this knowledge into understanding the drug discovery process, particularly that of infectious diseases that are endemic in Africa and third world countries.

In my spare time, along with taking classes and juggling multiple jobs, I tutor in the chemistry department. helping students understand chemistry concepts. This has been the most rewarding of my undergraduate experience so far as I get to share my love and excitement for chemistry in an intellectual manner while also revisiting chemistry concepts and asking questions that feed my thirst to always know why and how.

During the summer of 2020, I worked at the New London Homeless Centre under the college's summer civic engagement scholarship. I developed a syllabus to help with peer-to-peer education outreach, as it was considered a very effective way to reach out to the homeless population. I was able to hone my presentation skills via weekly presentations on the Coronavirus. To support my work, I with the help of my supervisor applied for a $ 6000 grant that enabled my work. I did this while attending weekly summer workshops with one of my Professors to do intensive scientific literature reviews as most lab work was canceled

Not only have I worked on academic growth, but I have also invested in leadership roles on campus as well. Such as being a resident Assistant and Secretary of the Black Student's Association. This work has made me a more empathetic person who can relate to people with diverse and different backgrounds.

As an aspiring scientist, I have always wanted to integrate my interests outside of science into one big overarching theme of how my lab work translates into meaningful results that can help improve people's lives. This stems from my work involved helping communities such as the outreach program in Mngeta; or when the pandemic started, helping the homeless population combat the virus as they were one of the most vulnerable populations. I believe these experiences are essential in assisting scientists in understanding society's needs and directing their research to address those needs. It is now my aim to use my community engagement experience to help influence the research being done.

You have spoken of what you studied. Academically, you cover all the bases. However, simply qualifying will not make you a standout. There is nothing in the presentation that tells me you are going to be a stellar participant in this program. You will not be the only scholarship based intern applicant for this program. So, what else can you tell me about your research or academic accomplishments that sets you apart from the rest of the pack? Try to discuss more about how ARTs connects with your background. Prove that you have the ability to participate in research programs that will further enhance the effects of Novartis R&D in general or with specificity.

The academics should be discussed based on your stand-out factors. Which classes did you actually excel at? How do the skills you developed in these areas relate to the internship program? The idea is to sell yourself as someone who can almost professionally assist the research team leader and capably support the research staff when called upon to do so.

With regards to your leadership skills, it would help if you could talk more about your involvement in the Black Student's Association. Why you became a member, how it changed your life, how you hope to use that exposure as an intern... You know the drill. Steer away from the BLM discussion though. Do not politicize the presentation. Keep it PC and relevant to the Novartis objectives instead.

You don't really refer to your career goals in the essay. You are focused mostly on social development in your country, which is not the same as a career goal. The outreach program is socio-civic in nature and does not relate to the profession you have chosen for yourself and hope to begin developing skills for as an intern in this program. You should revise the last part of the essay to be more profession goal oriented. If you can relate it back to your hometown, then all the better.