EIF4E Personal Statement

For years I fell under the falsified vision of wanting to become a doctor. I anticipated myself studying for the MCATs, attending medical school interviews, and fretting over my application until it was perfect in every way shape and form. Why a doctor? The answer was simple, I longed to be the person who could make a difference in not only an ailing individual, but to the world of medicine. I hoped to aid in finding cures to the worlds most complex of diseases and genetic mutations. I was certain that only doctors had the power to do this, as they were the liaison between a patient and their illness. In fact, it wasn’t until I was given the opportunity to join The Walker Lab did I come to realize that my previous notions were not exactly true. In May of 2016 I began working with Eukaryotic translation initiation factor EIF4E under the guidance of Dr. Sarah Walker. EIF4E supports translation on the 5’ end 7-methylguanosine cap on pre-mRna, and therefore is considered a proto-oncogene and contributor to degenerate diseases. We hoped, and still hope to induce two silent mutations among Serine 15, using plasmids such as pCAS to …show more content…
However, I don’t believe that I can accomplish that by becoming a doctor. Most believe that the only connotation surrounding individuals who conduct research stems from the standard “white coat adjourned with purple Nitrile gloves.” However, if one really ponders the thought, individuals who conduct research are the ones who are finding cures and thus, making a difference in the world of medicine. In fact, treatment regimens, evidence concerning genetic factors, and medical trials are all produced by individuals with PhDs, Masters of Science, or post-doctoral fellowships. While becoming a doctor is a rewarding experience, those with medical degrees are only putting into practice what is found by key