I am writing to apply for the PhD studentship in Cancer Studies through the "la Caixa"-Severo Ochoa International PhD Programme at the CNIO Cancer Centre advertised on scholarship- positions website. I have completed Masters in Bio-medical Engineering from NED University of Engineering and Technology, Pakistan recently in December, 2014; specializing predominantly in Biotechnology, Cellular and Molecular Biology, Microbiology and Biochemistry by undertaking a dissertation Masters project of 1.5 years that required core knowledge of all these interdisciplinary fields. Right now, I am in the process of searching for a suitable doctoral program in the field of cellular and molecular biology. During my academic career, I have gained experience in different areas of research which gave me the opportunity to acquire molecular biology knowledge and exercise my passion for scientific research. I love both basic and applied research but more interested in directly coordinating an oncologic research project. Having reviewed the studentship program, I believe I am a qualified candidate and would like to apply.
I received undergraduate education in Bio-medical Engineering from NED University of Engineering and Technology, indeed top among the best engineering universities in Pakistan with 3.7 CGPA out of 4 scale and awarded merit certificate on securing third position. During the course of undergraduate study, I have studied numerous medical sciences subjects including physiology, biochemistry, cellular and molecular biology, biophysics, tissue engineering and biotechnology
During the penultimate year of undergraduate course, I undertook an experimental statistics based bioscience research project entitled as "Designing of Electromyography Device for extraction and analysis of EMG signal using Virtual Dub Software and its Statistical modeling based on multiple parameters to predict muscular dystrophy" to pursue a major in physiology and statistics that helped me learn about factors that affect muscle function, motor nerve conduction under resting and exercising conditions, formulating research problems, constructing hypothesis, identifying variables, performing exploratory data analysis, sampling distribution and principles of inference. Involvement in this project worked as a sign to drive my interest more towards medical science rather than mathematics although the project was more bioscience statistical in nature. My passion about cellular and molecular sciences boost up further when I was hired as a research trainee in one of the prestigious Institute of Biotechnology and Genetics Engineering, Karachi for six months in the last year of my 5 year undergraduate studies.
It found as a gateway to expand my love to molecular sciences and genetics significantly as it gave a great coverage to my knowledge about modern use and development of biotechnology and genetic engineering. Hands on practice of different techniques related to Medical, Industrial and Plant Biotechnology provided me great exposure on DNA Extraction techniques and its different protocols, Gel Electrophoresis, PCR, DNA sequencing, karyotyping and RFLP, used in forensic medical sciences. Under the supervision of my seniors, pipetting and handling of critical equipments was also learned. In Industrial Biotechnology department, Carbohydrate and glucose quantification tests, including Nelson Somogyi test, DNSA test, Anthrone test, Lowry's test plus Bacterial streaking, Gram staining, sampling, its labeling and maintenance was key focused to get studied. During my undergraduate study, I was appointed as a biomedical engineer in two renowned hospitals of Pakistan namely AKUH (Agha Khan University Hospital) and KIRAN Hospital (Karachi Institute of Radiotherapy and Nuclear Medicine) in view of being a position holder and sustaining an excellent merit record, where I worked under Critical care units and Radiology Department for six month that added valuable understanding to my theoretical knowledge.
Making a decision to pursue Masters immediately after undergraduate education was a tough one, mainly because of issues regarding funds for higher education. Fortunately, I got an offer for a lab engineer post in biotechnology laboratory of NED University of Engineering and Technology in May 2012, in reward of securing third position in undergraduate studies. Working there as a lab engineer and a teacher for Biotechnology subject plus masters course work helped me finance my master's studies and groom my concepts of microbiology and advanced physiology. In one of the masters' course named "Biomedical ethics", I gave presentation on pneumonia; an inflammatory disease, during survey the fact was revealed that about 24,000 children die of Pneumonia in Pakistan annually, even after being treated with commonly prescribed third generation cephalosporin antibiotics in health care units. That was the point where I think to begin my research in this area that what causes an antibiotic become resistant and after studying literature for three months I proposed a dissertation project entitled in my masters program as "Molecular characterization of Extended Spectrum Beta Lactamases (ESBLs), producing Klebsiella pneumoniae in clinical isolates among Karachi population, Pakistan", that give me a depth knowledge of Beta Lactamase enzymes, Antimicrobial Susceptibility , plasmid encoding antibiotic resistance genes and use of bioinformatics tool in finding identity matches of relevant microbes species sequences using BLAST. I successfully defended my thesis and got excellent remarks on my proposal, endeavor, and hard work on conducting a first research regarding SHV-158 type beta lactamases producing Klebsiella pneumoniae variant of ESBL in Karachi population. This thesis establish my understanding to the finer details of the basic cellular and molecular biology, microbiology and genetics and further developed my interest to find out more in this particular area.
Two months back, I heard of my grandmother death as she was a cancer patient. On visiting to her family doctor he replied that Cancer patients are in desperate need of new treatment options. The news of her expiry grieved me deeply as I was so close to her. Changing the face of cancer treatment isn't easy. It takes time, money, an increasingly demanding level of expertise, and an enormous amount of hard work. But when you are passionate about conquering cancer like I became after hearing tragedic news of her loss, you'll do whatever it takes. I started search on it and get much motivated by reading a very simple but important scientific fact on a cancer information site: the human body has the ability to defend itself from cancer. The theoretical knowledge about cancer I gathered until now emphasized on the key that for long-term survival one should learn how to manipulate the immune system to strengthen its defenses against cancer. This is the reason why I decided to apply to the Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Oncologicas (CNIO) research center which is in the forefront of cancer research.
During surfing of information about CNIO research centre, I understand that cancer research at your reputed institute involves an extremely broad approach ranging from early molecular events in carcinogenesis to the rapidly evolving domain of translational research. Pursuing a PhD in such an interdisciplinary setting will be the most logical extension of my academic pursuits. In the long run, my career goals after completing PhD includes a contribution in human health improvement by providing physicians with new patient care tools including diagnostics, prevention methods, and treatments to assess through clinical trials of cancer. Furthermore, I am also eager to join a reputed university as a faculty member or a post-doctoral research fellow to teach students about the hope to "translate" these discoveries into new cancer treatments. To accomplish these goals, I look forward to undertaking research towards my doctoral degree in the unique international and multidisciplinary scientific environment at Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Oncologicas (CNIO) research institute since it provides a unique platform which adjoins the opportunity to investigate cancer from both clinical side and research side.
I have enclosed my CV and e-mail addresses of my academic referees as per your instructions. Please inform me if I can provide additional information to aid you in the evaluation of my application.
Sincerely yours,
Ms. Uzma Nadeem
I received undergraduate education in Bio-medical Engineering from NED University of Engineering and Technology, indeed top among the best engineering universities in Pakistan with 3.7 CGPA out of 4 scale and awarded merit certificate on securing third position. During the course of undergraduate study, I have studied numerous medical sciences subjects including physiology, biochemistry, cellular and molecular biology, biophysics, tissue engineering and biotechnology
During the penultimate year of undergraduate course, I undertook an experimental statistics based bioscience research project entitled as "Designing of Electromyography Device for extraction and analysis of EMG signal using Virtual Dub Software and its Statistical modeling based on multiple parameters to predict muscular dystrophy" to pursue a major in physiology and statistics that helped me learn about factors that affect muscle function, motor nerve conduction under resting and exercising conditions, formulating research problems, constructing hypothesis, identifying variables, performing exploratory data analysis, sampling distribution and principles of inference. Involvement in this project worked as a sign to drive my interest more towards medical science rather than mathematics although the project was more bioscience statistical in nature. My passion about cellular and molecular sciences boost up further when I was hired as a research trainee in one of the prestigious Institute of Biotechnology and Genetics Engineering, Karachi for six months in the last year of my 5 year undergraduate studies.
It found as a gateway to expand my love to molecular sciences and genetics significantly as it gave a great coverage to my knowledge about modern use and development of biotechnology and genetic engineering. Hands on practice of different techniques related to Medical, Industrial and Plant Biotechnology provided me great exposure on DNA Extraction techniques and its different protocols, Gel Electrophoresis, PCR, DNA sequencing, karyotyping and RFLP, used in forensic medical sciences. Under the supervision of my seniors, pipetting and handling of critical equipments was also learned. In Industrial Biotechnology department, Carbohydrate and glucose quantification tests, including Nelson Somogyi test, DNSA test, Anthrone test, Lowry's test plus Bacterial streaking, Gram staining, sampling, its labeling and maintenance was key focused to get studied. During my undergraduate study, I was appointed as a biomedical engineer in two renowned hospitals of Pakistan namely AKUH (Agha Khan University Hospital) and KIRAN Hospital (Karachi Institute of Radiotherapy and Nuclear Medicine) in view of being a position holder and sustaining an excellent merit record, where I worked under Critical care units and Radiology Department for six month that added valuable understanding to my theoretical knowledge.
Making a decision to pursue Masters immediately after undergraduate education was a tough one, mainly because of issues regarding funds for higher education. Fortunately, I got an offer for a lab engineer post in biotechnology laboratory of NED University of Engineering and Technology in May 2012, in reward of securing third position in undergraduate studies. Working there as a lab engineer and a teacher for Biotechnology subject plus masters course work helped me finance my master's studies and groom my concepts of microbiology and advanced physiology. In one of the masters' course named "Biomedical ethics", I gave presentation on pneumonia; an inflammatory disease, during survey the fact was revealed that about 24,000 children die of Pneumonia in Pakistan annually, even after being treated with commonly prescribed third generation cephalosporin antibiotics in health care units. That was the point where I think to begin my research in this area that what causes an antibiotic become resistant and after studying literature for three months I proposed a dissertation project entitled in my masters program as "Molecular characterization of Extended Spectrum Beta Lactamases (ESBLs), producing Klebsiella pneumoniae in clinical isolates among Karachi population, Pakistan", that give me a depth knowledge of Beta Lactamase enzymes, Antimicrobial Susceptibility , plasmid encoding antibiotic resistance genes and use of bioinformatics tool in finding identity matches of relevant microbes species sequences using BLAST. I successfully defended my thesis and got excellent remarks on my proposal, endeavor, and hard work on conducting a first research regarding SHV-158 type beta lactamases producing Klebsiella pneumoniae variant of ESBL in Karachi population. This thesis establish my understanding to the finer details of the basic cellular and molecular biology, microbiology and genetics and further developed my interest to find out more in this particular area.
Two months back, I heard of my grandmother death as she was a cancer patient. On visiting to her family doctor he replied that Cancer patients are in desperate need of new treatment options. The news of her expiry grieved me deeply as I was so close to her. Changing the face of cancer treatment isn't easy. It takes time, money, an increasingly demanding level of expertise, and an enormous amount of hard work. But when you are passionate about conquering cancer like I became after hearing tragedic news of her loss, you'll do whatever it takes. I started search on it and get much motivated by reading a very simple but important scientific fact on a cancer information site: the human body has the ability to defend itself from cancer. The theoretical knowledge about cancer I gathered until now emphasized on the key that for long-term survival one should learn how to manipulate the immune system to strengthen its defenses against cancer. This is the reason why I decided to apply to the Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Oncologicas (CNIO) research center which is in the forefront of cancer research.
During surfing of information about CNIO research centre, I understand that cancer research at your reputed institute involves an extremely broad approach ranging from early molecular events in carcinogenesis to the rapidly evolving domain of translational research. Pursuing a PhD in such an interdisciplinary setting will be the most logical extension of my academic pursuits. In the long run, my career goals after completing PhD includes a contribution in human health improvement by providing physicians with new patient care tools including diagnostics, prevention methods, and treatments to assess through clinical trials of cancer. Furthermore, I am also eager to join a reputed university as a faculty member or a post-doctoral research fellow to teach students about the hope to "translate" these discoveries into new cancer treatments. To accomplish these goals, I look forward to undertaking research towards my doctoral degree in the unique international and multidisciplinary scientific environment at Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Oncologicas (CNIO) research institute since it provides a unique platform which adjoins the opportunity to investigate cancer from both clinical side and research side.
I have enclosed my CV and e-mail addresses of my academic referees as per your instructions. Please inform me if I can provide additional information to aid you in the evaluation of my application.
Sincerely yours,
Ms. Uzma Nadeem