Need help with motivation letter for PhD in Immunology

Hallo,

I'm applying for a PhD position in Immunology and since I have trouble seeing the weak spots, I would be thankful for any tips and additions anyone has.

The application is to a Professor who I worked with for the past year. So he knows my background and all my strengths/weaknesses very well, which made writing this and advertising my skills difficult. He'd see right through any exaggeration.

I already applied ones. He wasn't satisfied and gave me a second chance to try.

My main advantage is that I'm familiar with the work this project requires, since it's based on what I have been doing.

I mostly struggle with the academic language, whether the structure is ok and if the "why I'm motivated" part comes across enough. Also should I use phrases like "as you know" or keep it neutral.... (I kept in neutral)

Thanks in advance!

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Application for the PhD project in plasma cell differentiation

Dear --,

with his letter I want to apply for the open PhD project in plasma cell differentiation and present my motivation to pursue a doctoral degree working with the advertised topic. A topic I’m familiar with and ambitious to continue to work in.

Starting my study of Biology it was molecular biology of cells that I found most fascinating. Based on this interest I put effort into my academic training to reflect this and took course such as Genetics, Epigenetics, Molecular Virology, Molecular Plant Physiology, did my Bachelor’s thesis in cell biology to further my knowledge in this field, and supported it by different internships and practical courses during my Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree. My interest in Immunology got sparked during a practical course in Genetics. Part of that course entailed theoretical knowledge of the immune system and performance of a CD20 depletion of murine B lymphocytes and analyzing the results by flow cytometry.

It was this first venture into Immunology that later led to me seeking out to complete my Master thesis in this line of research. I completed my thesis on the “Characterization of murine plasma cell heterogeneity by flow cytometry”, and continued working on the topic of plasma cells during an internship involving the comparison of plasma cell surface molecules on laboratory mice vs. pet shop mice. A student assistant job after allowed me to further familiarize myself with the investigative work on murine lymphocytes, such as their long-term preservation by freezing, their culturing, and using argents to induce their proliferation.

The time spend working on my thesis, as well as the time after, allowed me to become familiar with tasks the PhD position entails. I’m experienced in handling mice and murine samples, immunophenotyping of lymphocytes, flow cytometry, data analysis using the FlowJo software, and have knowledge about plasma cells and their biology. Tasks that I’m less familiar with like mass cytometry, handling human samples, histology and bioinformatics, I’m motivated to learn and put effort into.

My work with plasma cells left open questions to follow up on: The indication of a phenotypical diversity among plasma calls and existence of different subsets and how these have an implication on the presence of different pathways of development and maintenance of plasma cells? The regulation behind the different plasma cells phenotypes - how different fates are decided – and the meaning this has for plasma cell homoeostasis? What effects this can have on the immune system, immunological memory and the consequences for immunological diseases?

I want to challenge myself and help answer these question by continuing working on this topic, and thus think the advertised PhD project would be the ideal place to allow me further investigation in this field.

Additionally, I see the (institution name) as a chance itself to grow as a scientist and learn a lot. I admire it’s interdisciplinary work, cooperation with institutions based national and worldwide and it’s standing in the research of immunological diseases.

Given my background in the work with plasma cells and flow cytometry, as well as the strong interest in the project itself, I’m sure I could excel given the opportunity.

I hope to be considered as a suitable candidate and would be happy to answer any further question is an interview.

Yours sincerely,