Cover letter for visiting researcher (PhD)

Hello! I'm writing a cover letter for a professor in USA, asking to join her research group. Could you help me improve the text? Thanks in advance

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Dear Professor xxxxxx,

I am writing to inquire about the possibility of joining your research group as a visiting researcher, in xxxxxx University. I’m a Brazilian PhD student, developing a research about local public expenditure.

I have a bachelor degree in Management (2003-2008) and a Master in Public Management (2014-2015). Since 2011 I am a student at University of São Paulo (USP), where I finished a Master in Public Administration (2011-2013) and am currently writing my PhD thesis, which aims to evaluate the intersectoral impact of public investments. I address, more specifically, how local expenditure in education may have a short-term impact on public health.

I also work as a professor at xxxxx, a Brazilian institute, where I was contemplated with the opportunity to spend maximum one year as visiting researcher abroad. I would like to challenge myself working in international environment and I believe that my experimental background and motivation would help me to have a valuable contribution. I have some experience abroad, so culture and language shall not be an issue.

While looking for possible Universities to make contact, my advisor (also named Claudia) mentioned that Ricardo Gomes was delighted with his experience at Bloomington, so we talked to him about my proposal and he thought you might be interested in developing some research together.

I have noticed your research interest in Latin America and local governments. Despite I don’t have specific data on mayors, I think my database on local expenditure may be valuable for your research. So I would be grateful if you would give me the possibility to join your group, staring any time in winter 2017 or spring 2018 for a period from 3 to 12 months.

To provide more information about myself and my academic records I have attached my CV to this email. I am eagerly waiting for your kind reply and really appreciate your time and concern.

Best regards,