LATEST DRAFT OF MY LETTER OF MOTIVATION FOR GRADUATE SCHOOL. NEED HELP.

I am applying to your Master of Research programme in Microbiology starting September 2014. My career plan is to study further after my master’s to earn a Ph.D and become a researcher and teacher in Microbiology. With a focused interest, I have decided to enroll in the aforementioned programme which I know will equip and help me discover more of my research potentials and prepare me for Ph.D studies.

Biology was easy for me to understand in high school and thus, I opted for studies in biological sciences at the undergraduate level. I realised a high level of interest in microbiology and immunology and this was evident in the very good grades I obtained in courses centred in these fields. During my undergraduate studies and the period when I worked as a teaching assistant in the University of ABCD, I acquired much experience in laboratory practices in parasitology and hence undertook an undergraduate research which was focused on testing the efficacy of a rapid diagnostic test kit in the diagnosis of malaria as compared to the gold standard which is microscopy. I also worked closely with lecturers in the department on research which focused on malaria parasites and schistosomes. However, in the course of my internships in clinical laboratories at undergraduate level and presently, I have been fascinated by the observation of mixed bacterial growth in cultures. After having lectures and laboratory courses in medical microbiology coupled with my observations, I have developed interest in quorum sensing and biofilm formation which are areas many of your faculty are currently researching. At the graduate level, I will be interested to probe into how quorum sensing and biofilm formation enhance virulence in microorganisms and the pathogenesis of diseases and also explore the benefits such as drug discovery that can be derived from this association. I have noted the works of Dr. FKM in the area of quorum sensing and biofilm formation and I’m confident of receiving quality training under his supervision during the programme.

As part of my training in the University, I have developed proficiency in leadership and communication. In a number of projects during my undergraduate studies, I served as the convener responsible for planning and leading my project team. Within my team, I was a member of a subgroup which reviewed literature for the purposes of specific projects that were assigned to the entire team. As the convener of my team, I also was responsible for assigning tasks to members of the team, creating awareness of projects whenever they were assigned, and making sure projects were completed and submitted on time. At some points in time, I made presentations on behalf of my team when individuals who were assigned those duties did not turn up during class seminars. Moreover, I have served as a leader and member of several student groups. All these experiences have not only exposed me to different people of different cultural and religious backgrounds, but have also helped me to learn about them while augmenting my interpersonal relations. Through these social activities, I have impacted some lives especially students by granting them personal interviews regarding the value of my programme of study which helped them in getting over their doubts and making decisions on their career.
My life is characterised by discipline, determination, and perseverance which are virtues I learnt from my parents seeing their struggle to raise five children with their meager incomes. These have been my guiding principles both in my education and private life as I was advised that strengthening myself was the only way to improve my situation. As a result, I am able to adapt and thrive in challenging environments.

In choosing the University of UVW, I have been influenced by your exceptional educational system especially your Master of Research in Microbiology programme that has been designed to equip students who have decided to change their scientific disciplines, with skills in research. Your focus on career development, the environmental friendliness of your campus and its surroundings, and your topnotch faculty and facilities which place the University among the top one percent worldwide cannot be overemphasized.
Correspondence with Dr. FKM, a bacteriology lecturer at the School of Life Sciences, and some alumni from your University make me confident of my choice. With many eminent scientists as professors, whose research focus on biological systems at the cellular, molecular, and genetic levels, I am sure of receiving firsthand knowledge in advances in the realm of science. With my qualities of dedication to excellence, I have no doubt that I will contribute meaningfully to the challenging academic environment of the University of UVW while taking advantage of the opportunities offered by the University to also build my potentials in order to pursue a successful career.