PhD Motivation letter

Please i have re-written the letter about 5 times, following all the rules stated. Can someone please help me go through, as an external eye might detect what i can't. Thanks

xxx
May 4, 2012

Dear Sir or Madam,
I am applying to your PhD scholarship of “xxx”.

This program is a concrete step towards my future career as a development program director who appreciates the role of innovative research. My career ambition is to be a renowned nutritionist, utilising ground-breaking research findings to impact on people’s lives. After graduation, I plan to take on innovative and policy-based innovations that can aid the reduction of undernutrition in the developing world, because i believe that one day the world can be undernutrition-free. I am interested in differs transdisplinary and multidisciplinary ways through which malnutrition especially undernutrition as it affects children in developing countries can be abated. This interest has stemmed from my knowledge of inter-generational nature of undernutrition and its effect on the economy, education and health of both the individual, community and country.

In high school I graduated with six Alphas and three Credits. Majoring in Applied Biochemistry for my first degree, I graduated with honours in 2006. During my final year, I so loved nutritional biochemistry that I became interested in nutrition.

In May 2012, with the defence of my dissertation “Prevalence and determinants of maternal and child malnutrition in xxx”, I will graduate with an MPH in population and reproductive health nutrition. Benefitting from the broad nature of nutrition, I have been exposed to a wide range of subjects, from business, politics, technology and social drivers that affect undernutrition. With the specialized courses, I have acquired basic skills of systematic research, analytic thinking and information evaluation.

While carrying out my MPH dissertation, I personally went to the communities to collect my data after successfully training research assistants. Using Focus group discussion, Observations and Key informant interviews, I found the views of the community on malnutrition, food system, consumption of different food species and possible issues that affect them. The FDGs and KIIs were important to describe further understanding of the communities in relation to dietary diversity. It also provided explanation of reasons and associations that were to be found using quantitative methods. Ultimately, it aided in development of theories and strategies to adopt in these communities and also gave a sneak view for evaluating effectiveness. I also employed different instruments such as pre-validated socio-demographic questionnaire, Individual dietary diversity score, and Household hunger scale. These instruments were coded entered into SPSS 19 and analysed (Univariate, bivariate and multivariate analysis) by me personally. I also used Anthro 2003 to evaluate the prevalence of child undernutrition in these study areas.

While rank among the top three students in my class, I am trying to graduate best in my class. The is excellence is spurned by my drive to succeed in life and my chosen course….While understanding academics and its importance, I also attach value to workshops, conferences and seminars because they provide an avenue to findings in research. Thus, I have been to a couple of them including FANUS 2011 conference in Abuja, Planer under pressure in London, SUNRAY workshop 2011 in Tanzania, Afrofoods regional coordinators meeting and workshop 2012 in Abuja.

In 2007, acknowledging the role of ICT and its innovation in the current world, I took a course in software engineering – SQL, web design, mobile technologies etc. from worldwide reputable IT firm - NIIT. Focusing on mobile platforms and dynamic web solutions, I am expert in Joomla, Drupal and other modules-dependent technologies. After going through your PHD advertisement, I am drawn to the fact that nutrition surveillance in Sub-Saharan Africa mostly is yet to adequately explore the advantage provided by ICT – mobile and otherwise.

Complementing my strong academic performance are my advanced leadership, communication and inter-personal skills. In several of the project/field works I have carried out in school, I am the team leader/coordinator. With the sole responsibility of ensuring that team member’s traits of excellence are maximized. My ability of working with community members is also unlimited. The integration I had while working on my MPH dissertation was a priority to the project and helped in getting good results and understanding from the study.

I am fortunate to have an exciting opportunity in performing research as an intern at the Primary Health care centre in xxx. From 2008 – 2009 as part of my country’s compulsory one-year National Youth Service Corps. This exposed me to the none existence of surveillance and monitoring in Sub Saharan Africa’s health system. The worst off being undernutrition which albeit is given the backseat. This PhD will provide with the avenue to provide solutions that aim to preventive rather the usual curative nature of interventions, and is a great opportunity for me to use the knowledge of loopholes I gathered in my one year training.

I want to study at IDS because of your outstanding educational system, with many distinguished professors and nutritionists; I know I will gain expert knowledge at the forefront of discovery. Moreover by combining theoretical l and hands on practise, I will gain much needed critical work experience. I also look forward to being part of world-class innovative development organisation. All these strong positives will allow me research in a world class organization to make cutting-edge discovery and policies that can reduce the prevalence and impact of undernutrition.

Given my past history of commitment to excellence, I am confident that I will bring a high level of energy and enthusiasm to your program. I am quite sure I will exceed expectation because of my academic and interpersonal skills. From my ambitious nature, professors and students alike will benefit in the program. My background and interdisciplinary education and approach will bring diversity to the program,

Thank you for considering my application, I look forward to your acceptance.

Sincerely yours