Admissions - Statement Dear Sir

Admissions - Statement

Dear Sir or Madam:

Kindly consider the following statement in support of my candidacy for the University of South Florida for Cell Biology, Microbiology and Molecular Biology PhD program. My long-term professional goal is to teach medicine at the King Abdul Aziz University Medical School in Saudi Arabia. Toward that end, I have been fortunate enough to receive a full scholarship from King Abdul Aziz University that includes tuition and living expenses in the pursuit of my doctorate degree in the United States.

Currently, I hold a master degree in Biotechnology from the Florida Institute of Technology in Melbourne, Florida.

In pursuit of my master degree, I worked as a research assistant on a project designed to better understand cell growth regulation in bacteria entitled, Characterization of nucleoprotein complex involved in initiation of DNA replication in bacteria, under the direction and supervision of Dr. J. Grimwade and Dr. a. Leonard. My specific responsibilities in that project included producing mutant versions of ori-C, the unique replication origin of the E. coli chromosome in the study of the molecular biology of the DNA-Protein complexes responsible for initiating new rounds of DNA synthesis in E.coli.

My prior experience at several Medical Technology Laboratory facilities in Saudi Arabia also including work in genetic and molecular research and inspired my interest in acquiring a deeper understanding of cell and molecular biology.

In that regard, it my most sincere hope to share my knowledge with future medical students as I continue performing researches to explore and understand bacterial cells, particularly as they relate to human health and disease. More specifically, I hope to have the opportunity and privilege to work with the following professors at the University of South Florida for Cell Biology, Microbiology and Molecular Biology: (1) Dr. Patrick Bradshaw, because his research is currently focused on the study of mitochondrial dysfunction with age; (2) Dr. Meera Nanjundan, because her ongoing studies into the chromosomal imbalances associated with human lung cancer provide a perfect opportunity to apply my previous academic experience in the study of the biology of cancer in connection with my master degree; and (3) Dr. Lindsey Shaw, because he is studying molecular regulation of the pathogenesis of Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus anthracis.

In the 2005-2006 academic year, I attended the following conferences at the King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Center, in furtherance of my education and my long-term professional goals: (1) "Update in Oncologic & Molecular Pathology" and (2) "The Genetics of Neurodevelopmental Disorders" (lecture). During that same time period I also participated in the formal Medical Technology Student Meeting I and II at the King Fahad Medical Research Center. That year I was fortunate enough to receive the annual "Best Intern" award for maintaining high quality laboratory work and teamwork during the internship year at King Abdul Aziz University Hospital.