Please help me review my cover letter - applying for the Master position in Cancer Research.

Dear Professor Tam,

My name is Nguyen Duc Toan. I am currently studying the Medical Resident program at Bach Mai Hospital. I am excited to submit my application for the Master’s position in your laboratory. I believe my fervent interest in your research combined with my academic and research experience make me an excellent fit for this role.

My research interests are related to Cancer Biology and Genetics. I began to develop my passion during a clinical rotation in an oncology hospital in Hanoi during my fifth year in medical university. At that moment, I shadowed an oncologist specializing in lung cancer, and the experience gave me an unforgettable impression of cancer patients’ lives. I was astounded by the fact that quite a few patients, mostly the poor, were crammed into ward rooms, struggling with chemotherapy and other treatments. At the end of the course, I was almost heartbreaking when my first patient, the father of two children and the sole breadwinner, died from small-cell lung cancer despite aggressive treatments. Witnessing those patients instilled in me a strong desire for finding cures. However, the more I practice in clinical settings, the more I realize that cancer diagnosis and treatment remain challenging. Hence, I wish to dig deeper into cancer research, focusing on the relationship between cancer and its underlying disorders. I have been following your lab’s work in this area and am particularly interested in your work on translational approaches for targeting cellular energetics and cell states in cancer.

During my studies in medical university, I was engaged with interesting courses about basic medical sciences, including immunology, genetics, microbiology, and histopathology. Through these courses, I gained valuable experience in using a microscope, using a pipette, sample preparation, and cytochemical staining. Furthermore, I have conducted some research in Vietnam. My Master’s thesis under the supervision of Dr. Nguyen Quang Bay focused on the assessment of bone mineral density in patients using Corticosteroids. The experience in this study taught me various skills such as research design, data collection and analysis, and problem-solving. Recently, I have worked with a team of surgeons in Vietnam on a project on the application of autologous stem cells in the treatment of long-bone nonunions. My major duties include analyzing data and writing the first draft of the paper. Through conducting this project, I learned not only how to write a scientific paper but also how to collaborate with others. I realized that research is not a lonely endeavor but rather, is a cooperative effort in which communication and patience are crucial.

I am convinced that your lab perfectly aligns with my scientific and medical interests and it will be a critical step for me to develop my skills and knowledge to become an independent researcher.

I would appreciate the opportunity to meet and speak with you in person. Thank you for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,

Toan