Scientific Career Progression

In the three years that have passed since I earned my undergraduate degree, much has changed in my life. For a year and half, I moved to West Virginia to work with an intracellular human pathogen, Chlamydia trachomatis, that has caused a serious public-health problem. In afterward, I transitioned to Maryland where I am currently working as an Intramural Research Training Award postbaccalaureate (IRTA) research fellow at the National Institute of Health (NIH) investigating against the common deadly pathogen, MRSA (methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus). Much like everyone else, time to time I think back and reflect to myself about my continual growth and progress. Really, my scientific career began as an intern just asking how to use a 200 µL pipettors to transition now as an independent scientist looking to pursue the next chapter of his life. Though it’s a long journey, not a single day has passed by that I am not intrigued and found research to be incredibly rewarding. Not only science sharpened my mind, but also enabled me to travel and experience new places. This underlying passion has fueled my academic and research careers to pursue a graduate degree in Microbiology. The hours I devoted at Bluefield State College in Bluefield, West Virginia would always be treasure memories. Nervous as I was, I still remembered the very first time I walked into Dr. Tesfaye Belay’s laboratory as his research assistant. This assistantship not only taught me many fundamental research techniques but also acquainted me with many transferable skills and a life long mentor. During my stay, I was instigating a compound known as the Active Hexose Correlated Compound (AHCC) to which of its effect on chlamydial infection. AHCC is a dietary supplement extracted from mushroom that strengthens immune system. The laboratory investigated the revitalization ability of AHCC to Chlamydia trachomatis, specifically that oral administration of AHCC to cold-water stressed mice increases resistance to Chlamydia genital infection by decreasing immunosuppression in the model. Our study results show that AHCC can be used as a potent immunoenhancer to combat resistance in Chlamydia infections by allowing the restoration of immune cell functions and as well as reducing the shedding chlamydia genital tract infection. Though our results was preliminary, this project certainly uphold a relevance of natural medicines to be exploited with the activation of lymph cells and …show more content…
I have taken the initiative to personally further my knowledge and experiences prior to graduate work. Compared with numerous other applicants, I believe that my unique advantage dwells in my education, my work in the laboratory, and my passion for science. It provided me with the skills which I believe are helpful in becoming a successful, motivating research scientist. To fulfill my aspirations, I deem it necessary to seek a Ph.D. degree. Your esteemed university is known for its high academic reputation, astound research facility, and one of the leaders in the field of biomedical research, an area in which I am intensely interested in[Can add for each school]. I believe that your program will broaden my knowledge base and expose me to distinguished professors and their concepts and creative teaching. I will also learn advanced theories of immunology/microbiology and complex experimental skills. Ultimately I hope that I can become part of the process that human beings use advanced research findings to decipher the mysteries of life and the genesis of diseases. The early clinical application of those research findings will undoubtedly make our life