Statement Of Purpose Examples Biology

My grandfather used to be a teacher in Biology and I really enjoyed reading and looking through his textbooks when I was a child. He is the person who first introduced me to the world of natural sciences and inspired me to further explore that field of study.

Biology Personal Statement Examples

Our biology personal statement examples will inspire you to write your own unique statement, and help you understand why previous biology students were successful in applying for a place.

Since as long ago as I can remember I have always been fascinated by the natural world. That childish fascination has not left me but deepened over the years. This interest has led me to my love of biology, ecology, animal behaviour and evolution.

Being born in the shadow of Sellafield, and growing up near the home of Unilever Research & Development, my interest in Science was, in my eyes, inevitable. My fascination with Biology began to develop at a young age.

Holding a one day old kitten with a mangled leg is just one of many times when I felt certain I wanted to devote my life to animals. Through volunteering with animals and studying sciences at A-level, I realised that I am fascinated by scientific research and Bioveterinary Science.

I have always had an interest in science-based subjects, especially those relating to biology. Whilst undertaking my A-level Biology course, the module energy and ecosystems was of particular interest to me.

When Aristotle, in 300 BC, first decided to analyse the creatures living in the sea, he set the starting point of what was to become a revolutionary science. He found it fascinating, but studying aquatic creatures was not something he could do with ease.

I think snorkelling in the Great Barrier Reef is the closest thing to magic I’ll ever have the fortune to experience. The fragile coral beneath the majestic manta rays cannot help but provoke massive curiosity into the complex ecosystems and inspire endless wonder for the natural world.

Outside was always my favourite place as a child, splashing in puddles, inspecting insects under magnifying glasses and having snail races with my brothers. The living world fascinated me. My enthusiasm has only increased over the years and living by the sea has inspired me further.

From a childhood fascination with prehistoric life to the creation of my science revision YouTube channel (MrBioTom1), my enthusiasm for biology continues to be a major focus and joy in my life. As a child of six reading books about dinosaurs and birds I found comparing their anatomy intriguing and was fascinated to learn that dinosaurs evolved into the birds we see today.

The natural world has always fascinated me and the importance of understanding it has never been more important than it is today. With so many environmental tipping points approaching and many contentious issues surrounding the environment there can seem to be little prospect of a fulfilling career in conservation; however I strongly feel that science has the potential to produce a sustainable planet if people are educated to understand its value.

My interest in Biology started at a very young age due to spending a lot of time outdoors. I am intrigued by the functioning of living organisms and how they are all linked; one small change in one species will affect a whole range of others.

During my work experience at the Marine Biological Association of the UK, I carried out electrophoresis on the DNA of Emiliania huxleyi. This was the first time that I had a chance to see marine biology on a professional level.

Ever since I was very young, I have been fascinated by and have had a keen interest in many aspects of Biology. The areas of Biology in which I am particularly interested are living organisms, the environment and human Biology.

Experiencing first-hand life as a human in the natural world, I have the authority to confirm that regardless of previous knowledge, unexplained phenomena still exist. As a scientist, I adore observing the unknown, analysing the known and making decisions accordingly.

I have chosen to study biochemistry or pharmacy at university because I have enjoyed studying biology and chemistry at college at A-level, and I am keen to proceed with them to a more advanced level. I think doing either of these is the most suitable option.

Natural Sciences I have chosen to study Natural Sciences because of a constant curiosity with the workings of the world around me. By doing Natural Sciences I hope to build on my existing knowledge by studying a stimulating and inspiring subject in much greater detail.

As with science in general, I find it interesting, often fascinating, and I feel that I could gain much from studying it at university University has always appealed to me because of the wealth of experiences it has to offer as a student.

The progression of technology and the effects it has had on civilisation has always fascinated me, and generated within me a profound interest in the Sciences. More recently, I have begun to excel more in Biology than Chemistry or Physics, and this is where I wish to continue my studies.

My choice of marine biology stms from a combination of interests, both academic and recreational. Biology has been one of my favourite subjects at school now for some years and studying geology has expanded my intrest further, showing links between how life on eatyh began nd how it evolved over time.

Having always had a keen interest in Biology, specifically in the human area, I believe that studying a degree in is the perfect opportunity for me to deepen my understanding of the subject. My aim, subject to successful completion of my studies at university, would be to continue my studies but in the field of chiropractory.

University has always appealed to me because of the wealth of experiences it has to offer as a student. Although I enjoy Computing and Chemistry: two of my ‘A level’ subjects, I am especially keen to study Biology and Psychology.

I have always had an interest in science-based subjects, especially those relating to biology. Whilst undertaking my A-level Biology course, the module energy and ecosystems was of particular interest to me.

I have always been interested in Biology and Chemistry. I find them stimulating and challenging subjects, and over the years of studying them both, my interest in them has increased. This is why studying biomedical sciences at university is an ideal choice for me This year, whilst studying for my AS level subjects, I attended a Biology Conference at Westminster Centre Hall to increase my understanding of today’s biological world.

My fascination with Science developed at a young age owing to the fact that both my parents and brother are employed in the medical industry Both my parents are registered nurses and my brother, a biomedical scientist.

The courses I am applying for are: Biochemistry/Sandwich Medical Biochemistry Physiology and Biochemistry Forensic Science The reasons for these choices are that I am studying both biology and chemistry at A Level and enjoy these two subjects the most and would like to combine them at higher education.

A person’s fingerprint is like a biological seal which, once impressed, can never be denied (Colin Beavan). Having arrived at A levels my developing interest in science, especially biology, became firmed up by the time decision time came.

My interest in science widened when I started high school. It gave me the opportunity to do well on my favourite subjects. This opportunity led me to have the interest on the physical human health; specifically the known illnesses that we can have at present and might have in the future.

My grandfather used to be a teacher in Biology and I really enjoyed reading and looking through his textbooks when I was a child. He is the person who first introduced me to the world of natural sciences and inspired me to further explore that field of study.

I have always been interested in Forensic Science and Biological Science and learning how different techniques and methods are used for solving crimes. In particular how the principles of bioinformatics are used in detection and identification of microbes; how it is used in Forensic Science for detecting biocrime attacks and how to identify and examine skeletal remains of victims after long period of time.

Studying at a university has always been very attractive to me. Not only because it will help me to become independent, but also because it will enable me to study as much as I want. I particularly look forward to studying at a university in the United Kingdom because I feel it would give me a real challenge, an adventure to remember and an opportunity to broaden my horizons beyond the Netherlands.

My ambition is to become a surgeon. From a young age I have been fascinated by the human body, especially the ever beating heart that begins life from as early as 3 months after conception and does not stop beating till the last breath.

For as long as I can remember I have been fascinated by all living things. Throughout my childhood travels I have encountered many natural wonders in various parts of the world, from the giant redwood forests of California, to the rich variety of aquatic life populating the coral reefs of the Caribbean Sea, which have all greatly inspired my imagination.

Arthur C Clarke wrote in 1969 that ‘If an elderly but distinguished scientist says that something is possible he is almost certainly right, but if he says that something is impossible he is very probably wrong’.

My appreciation for the way in which medicines have aided psychological and mental illnesses in our society today was one of the reasons why I chose to do Sciences at A-level. I have encountered many experiences in my life, which have truly tested my development as a teenager.

The human body has always intrigued me, its diverse mechanisms providing complex antibodies that recognize foreign organisms such as viruses and bacteria. It’s these organisms that are working everyday and every night to maintain and sustain the way of life we so frequently take for granted.

At a first glance one would say that the natural world is a peaceful place, relaxing to the eye. When viewed in more depth we discover that it is, in fact, a dangerous battlefield between living organisms.

I had a passion for Biology from a young age as my grandfather used to be a Biology teacher and I really enjoyed reading and looking through his textbooks when I was a child. He is the person who first introduced me to the world of natural sciences and inspired me to further explore that field of study.

It was learning about the discovery of penicillin that first stimulated my interest in the behaviour and destruction of microbes by the action of drugs; for example antibiotics. Learning about this giant leap forward in medicine and the way it transformed the treatment of disease inspired me to pursue the study of Microbiology.

I am of Haitian descent and my country is one known for its harsh living conditions. There is a constant struggle for survival and poverty is an endemic burden. Despite numerous advances in technology, Haiti has remained the least-developed country in the Western Hemisphere.

Ever since I looked at my first organism down a microscope I have had this arge to know what else is around me that I was not able to see with my naked eyes.The fascination of looking down a microscope and discovering many small organisms living without us knowing their presence makes one want to learn more about them.

Over the past two years I have acquired a blend of diverse scientific knowledge, analytical skills and time management. My Biology and Chemistry A-levels have given me an appreciation of how molecular structures create complex biochemical systems, which in turn can give rise to changes on the macro scale of tissues and organs on which medicine works.

The human body is arguably the most complex life form that has ever existed. Studying how the body works helps us to comprehend the many processes that maintain health and find better treatment for diseases.

University has always appealed to me because of the wealth of experiences it has to offer as a student. Although I enjoy a wide variety of subjects: An A level subject that I am especially keen to study is Biology.

The human body is a masterpiece of creation. The complexity of communication between cells, intriguing defense mechanisms against disease and the beholder of the blueprint to human existence; the human body is a world in its self.

Since the beginning of my intellectually aware life, I’ve been seeking for a passion that would be complicated enough to hold my interest and at the same time be perspective. I can now say that I have found the science that has survived all of my dilemmas , wanderings and uncertainties – the thing that has become my ultimate passion is Biology.

Through studying A-level Applied Science my interest in science has deeply increased, recently I was under pressure to choose a course to study at university but I knew I wanted to do something in the scientific field particularly along the lines of biology and chemistry.

Throughout my education, Biology has been the subject which I have been most engaged and enthralled by. My passion for the subject has been developed alongside my knowledge and level of understanding my A-Level studies.

The biology and ecology of the world’s oldest and most complex ecosystem truly fascinate me. The delicate nature of coral reefs is a particular interest of mine as they are being disrupted by our intrusive and often harmful activities such as oil spills, over fishing, coastal development and the poor buoyancy of inexperienced divers.

My curiosity grew when I saw my sister suffering from sickle cell crisis. If immediate help was not give, she would not have been able to survive, with the main help she needed was drugs. Hours later, she seems perfectly normal and that is when I asked myself, “how?” This is one of the many reasons why I want to pursue a degree in biochemistry; to study chemical processes in the body.

I can remember my childhood, playing in the garden and exploring why worms come out when it rained. With the help of my ever growing passion for learning, I have found my way into the world of biology.

Studying an academic science at university has been the ultimate ambition since turning fifteen after dissecting a heart and realising that this vital organ – just like science it self – is the core of life, as without it where would we be? I have discovered the sciences to be entirely fascinating as these subjects offer the explanations to our very survival both mentally and physically.

Although my fascination with Biology is rooted in my academic study, its seeds were planted long before. I still recall the simple childhood awe I felt travelling down the River Nile, or the exhilaration of passing through valleys of dipterocarp forests in my father’s native Malaysia.

I am interested in pursuing a career in biological sciences because I am captivated by the wonders of the components of life. There upon, I desire to understand the background of problems that are formulated by biology on a molecular level, such as cancer, diseases and genetic disorders.

I wish to read biochemistry at university because I want to discover the answers to the most profound and fascinating questions about the very essence of life. Some questions are so important but, paradoxically, can be overlooked by many people, for example, why are men naturally more predisposed to genetic conditions than women? My deepening intrest in my A level subjects (and my frustration at the narrowness of the specifications) confirmed my belief that biochemistry is the subject I have to carry forward.

What I love about science is that it has yet to offer the ‘best’ way for anything. Man will always find ways to do things better than before, quote: “Wherever the knowledge takes us, it will empower us to do more.

Throughout countless centuries, great thinkers and philosophers have used Mathematics and logic to try and comprehend their surroundings using the limited resources and information available to them. In my opinion, ‘science’ has existed since those humble beginnings but was hampered by the ignorance or dogma of others.

I do not have to look far to find the source of my love of science. Just glancing around my living room my eyes fall upon a whole host of fascinating different organisms, seen and unseen they create a brilliant miniature ecosystem with billions of tiny processes and reactions for me to sit and unpick.

Since the University of Hong Kong is the oldest university in Hong Kong, HKU provides a comprehensive, research-intensive education. Internationally renowned teachers, first- rate libraries, state-of-the-art equipment and facilities are attracted me.

Biology is a subject which fills me with wonder and awe but it was not until I started college to continue my studies that I was introduced to the vast complexity of our world. Realising intricate mechanisms are involved in what I had thought to be simple parts of life amazed me, inspiring me to want to learn as much as I could.

The possibilities of biotechnology first intrigued me when I watched Jurassic park. I ran around my house asking if it was possible to bring back dinosaurs, and spent the rest of my childhood imagining that it was.

“Men love to wonder, and that is the seed of science.” -Ralph Emerson For centuries, mankind has pushed the boundaries of scientific knowledge, uncovering the secrets of our very existence; never before has a species known so much about its biological makeup.

Every decision I have made in the last four years has been fuelled by the one goal of pursuing my interest in Biology. I have always been a keen Biologist, wanting to know how insects move, why some trees drop their leaves every autumn and how my heart beats every second of the day.

Why and How? I believe these are the two most important question words as they express mankind’s unquenchable thirst for knowledge, and they have lain the foundation of sciences and have helped us find answers and solutions to problems throughout history from the domestication of fire to Darwin’s theory of evolution, to landing on the moon and so on.

“Eureka!” This joyful exclamation sums up my satisfaction when I have finally solved an intractable problem. I frequently experience such “eureka” moments in my passionate exploration of science. My curiosity drives me to immerse myself in studying many scientific fields; which is why I believe the Natural Sciences course will best suit my abilities and interests.

When I was in primary school I would take pens apart to put them back together, so that I could see how every small piece fits together to create a whole working object, and as I furthered my education my focus shifted to the w orld around me.

With numbers of threatened species at its highest, the natural world needs help. The thought of being able to help animals is a dream of mine. I want to educate on how we can tackle the threats that animals are faced with.

DNA is like a computer programme but far far more advanced than any software ever created” – Bill Gates, the mastermind behind Microsoft himself admits the intricacy of such a molecule. Geneticists working alongside innovative technology have created a huge impact on the modern world.

Growing up in a family involved in the field of public health means I have been surrounded by science from a very early age. I have gradually come to the point where biological sciences is now a huge passion of mine and I would love to pursue it as a career.

The living world will never cease to amaze me. From the workings of a human cell to the balance of a complex ecosystem, I find the lives of organisms fascinating and this has compelled me to pursue a degree in biology.

It all started with the dinosaurs. Like many children, I was fascinated by them. Unlike many children however, I was not content with just knowing their names. I wanted to learn more about their behaviour, form and function, habitats, and evolution.

la piezoelettricità è una proprietà di alcuni cristalli di generare una differenza di potenziale elettrico in risposta ad uno stress meccanico o viceversa di fornire un movimento meccanico in presenza di un potenziale elettrico.

At age fourteen, the loss of my father certainly changed my demeanor on life. I thought college was an opportunity that I would not be able to pursue. My mother’s coping with the loss of her high school sweetheart took her away from her time with her kids.

The cell, the building block of all life, has always fascinated me. The way everything that lives stems from a phenomenon so tiny it can not be seen by the naked eye is the main point driving my curiosity.

My zeal for biology was consolidated during my pursuance of the Molecular Biotechnology Diploma in Nanyang Polytechnic (NYP). The program exposed me thoroughly to the Life Sciences as it required me to carry out numerous independent studies and complete a semester of intense research projects.

The world of biology has always been intriguing to me, wanting to explore the depths of logic and reasons behind the various phenomenon that occurs in our body. The complexity, the awe, the wonder of the occurrence of various processes has never failed to pull me towards the world of biology, one of the pillars of science.

There are some lucky people in this world who know exactly what they want to do from a very young age. Unfortunately, I am not one of them. In fact it took me a while to find what I was truly interested in.

Since the age of 8, spending many hours in the fields of Crete in observing ants in their anthills, I came upon the realization that animals have a code of communication, just like humans. I witnessed the ants communicate, collaborate and confront any obstacles collectively.

We owe everything as we know it to the very molecules which we are composed of. To me, the ability of organisms to survive through different uses of such molecules is the beauty of what nature itself is.

Looking at moth wings under my microscope, or testing conductivity using a plasma ball, may not be exactly cutting-edge research, but is nonetheless a fascinating experience. I cannot express clearly enough my passion for the sciences- in particular, biology.

I like to think, so the biological mechanisms behind thought intrigue me: the sociobiological consequences of heredity, whether our beings are just genetically pre-empted; are we truly free thinkers when our behaviour is driven by such fundamental biological principles? The omnipresence of biology in our daily life, from the genetic to the botanical, is fascinating, and I want to comprehend our living world through my degree.

My parents have always emphasized the importance of protecting and valuing the nature around us, and as I grow older, I begin to understand and respect their decision more and more. Being outside always brings me a sense of happiness that no other activity can, and with frightening predictions about the future of our planet, protecting the environment is a cause that is very important to me, which is why I decided to dedicate myself natural sciences in my future.

From a micro-scale to the global population, the disciplines of biology have endless applications that I have familiarised myself with during my time in academia. The emerging field of quantum biology is something that has piqued my interest greatly and unified aspects of maths and chemistry to an astounding level, how ATP-consuming kinesins rely on Brownian motion to move, and how light can function as both a particle and a wave in biological systems.

Conservation ecology is the accumulation of everything that sparked enthusiasm in me during my childhood. A large part of my upbringing was based around the natural world: curiosity and kindness towards living things is a principle I was taught and have carried with me to the present day.

“But why though?” A question I always find myself asking when trying to understand biological processes. Yet, I am always disappointed by the reply. “That is just how it is” or “you will learn about it in the future” does not really satisfy my insatiable curiosity.

I see biology as a limitless and very purposeful science. What I love most about it is the ability to understand and explain why things are the way they are all around me; from individual cells to whole ecosystems, it excites me to learn about all the intricacies behind them.

Discover more about getting into an ecology career with our in-depth guide.

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What is a biology personal statement?

Your biology personal statement should tell the university all about your strengths, skills, experience and career plans.

It should also convey your enthusiasm for the subject, and what aspects of it you enjoy and why.

How do I write a biology personal statement?

It’s a good idea to start your statement with why you want to study biology at university.

Try to talk about what drew you to biology initially – was it a childhood experience, or were you inspired by a family member or a television documentary? Pin this down if you can, as admissions tutors always want to know about your motivations for wanting to study their subject.

Make sure you back up everything with examples, as you need to convince the university that you they should offer you a place on their biology degree over anyone else.

A great biology personal statement should be written clearly and concisely, with a good introduction, middle, and a conclusion. After all, your statement has to stand out from the crowd if your UCAS application is going to be successful.

For inspiration on how to write your own unique statement, take a look at some of our engineering personal statement examples above, as well as our collection of top rated personal statement examples.

What should I include in my biology personal statement?

It’s important to include skills and experience from all areas of your life and try to relate them to hobbies or extracurricular activities if they helped you to build on certain strengths.

Think about how any work experience you have completed might be useful in your degree, e.g. what skills did you learn? were there any parts of it you particularly enjoyed? if so, why?

Make sure you include everything that is relevant to your course, which means you may want to leave off your Grade 6 in piano, or your swimming certificates.

University admissions tutors want to know what you can bring to their department and what value you can add, so every sentence of your personal statement needs to earn its place.

You need to sell yourself as a well-rounded individual in terms of academic knowledge, work experience and extracurricular activities in order to have a chance of being successful with your biology UCAS application (although this doesn’t mean lying or embellishing the truth!).

For more help and advice on what to write in your biology personal statement, please see:

• Top Rated Personal Statements
• Personal Statement Editing Services
• Personal Statement Tips From A Teacher
• Analysis Of A Personal Statement
• The 15th January UCAS Deadline: 4 Ways To Avoid Missing It
• Personal Statement FAQs
• Personal Statement Template
• Personal Statement Timeline
• 10 Top Personal Statement Writing Tips
• What To Do If You Miss The 15th January UCAS Deadline.

Graduate School Statement of Purpose: The Ultimate Guide

Timeless strategies to conquer your essay, stand out, and get into your dream doctorate or master’s program

Part 1: Introduction

Part 2: What is a statement of purpose?

Part 3: Preparing to write

Part 4: Writing your statement of purpose

Special section: How to transform your statement of purpose into a personal statement

Special section: Letters of recommendation

Special section: The graduate school interview

Frequently asked questions

Part 1: Introduction

You know you’re cut out for grad school. You’ve likely spent countless hours in lab trying to get your experiments to work or given up weekends and fun with friends to dig through archives for your thesis project. You may have even presented your work at conferences and left feeling more excited than ever about your work.

Your graduate education will serve as the next step toward your dream career, regardless of whether your goal is to become a professor, get a fancy position in industry, or work for the government.

Unfortunately, applying to graduate school can be a daunting task. Whether you’re still in school, working, or both, it’s hard to muster the time and focus to sit down and get started on your applications. And even when you do get around to it, you might not know where to start. How do you actually translate years of education and hard work in a field into a standout application? What accomplishments do you choose to highlight in your graduate school statement of purpose? How do you write the kind of statement of purpose that will get you into your dream school?

Part 2: What is a statement of purpose?

A statement of purpose is an essay that summarizes your past work and preparation for graduate studies. It lays out your most important experiences (e.g., jobs, internships, apprenticeships, teaching) and accomplishments (e.g., publications, presentations, grants, exhibitions, speaking engagements) with the goal of getting you into your first-choice graduate program.

Whereas strong grades and test scores are the foundation of your application and are necessary to be considered at top programs, your experiences are what set you apart. Therefore, the goal with your statement of purpose is to organize and present your academic journey in a way that convinces the top institutions’ admissions committees that you are perfect for their program.

Regardless of the specific statement of purpose prompts you encounter, the central question is the same: Why you for our graduate program in this field?

To expand, your statement of purpose should argue the following:

• Why you want to go to graduate school
• How you’ve prepared for graduate studies
• What field and specific area you intend to study and why (e.g., Ph.D. in History with a focus on the American Revolution)
• Why you’ve chosen University of X for your studies (e.g., specific offerings, resources, faculty)

How is a personal statement different from a statement of purpose?

Although most graduate programs require a statement of purpose, a few will ask for a personal statement instead, yet some schools will request both.

A statement of purpose places a narrative to your achievements to demonstrate that you have prepared for success in your graduate studies. On the other hand, a personal statement draws from your personal and professional experiences to explain how you have come to the decision to pursue a graduate education in your field of interest. In addition, your personal statement can be used to give admissions committees a sense of who you are as a person, including any obstacles you’ve had to overcome, explanations of your less-than-ideal academic record, and contributions you’ve made to your community.

If you are asked for a statement of purpose and personal statement, you should reserve information about your personal journey and hardships for your personal statement and discuss career-related experiences and academic accomplishments in your statement of purpose.

(Note: If you’ve written a statement of purpose, you can easily modify it into a personal statement for programs and fellowships that ask for one and not the other. This modification process is covered in a special section, below.)

What is the admissions committee looking for in a potential graduate student?

Before we get into our step-by-step approach to writing a standout graduate school statement of purpose, let’s discuss what admissions committees are looking for so that you’ll have an easier time writing a compelling essay.

Graduate schools want to admit students who have exhibited a history of determination, self-motivation and passion for their intended field of study. Sound like you? Thought so.

The key word here is exhibited. In other words, you’ll want to draw from your experiences and accomplishments to highlight the aforementioned attributes through your essay.

Here’s a quick cheat-sheet on how to demonstrate the qualities graduate programs are looking for:

• History of determination: Experiences in your field that have lasted 1+ year(s)
• Self-motivation: Internships, funding, and presentations that you independently and successfully pursued
• Passion: A discussion of how you decided on your field of interest (in your intro) and the specific area you’d like to study during your graduate career (in the conclusion)

In addition, below is a summary of what you’ll be critiqued for:

• How clearly you present your experiences and accomplishments to display your fitness for their program
• Whether your statement of purpose makes a coherent and concise argument that you are the kind of graduate student they are looking for
• Your writing skills (i.e., formal and respectful in tone, proper grammar and punctuation, and easy-to-follow argument presented through your experiences on how you arrived at the decision to pursue graduate studies in your field of interest)

The role of your statement of purpose in your overall application

Your statement of purpose offers a unique opportunity to develop a narrative to your experiences and make a compelling case for your admission to various programs. Therefore, make sure to highlight only your most important achievements, insights, and mentors to present yourself as a cohesive package to admissions committees.

What do we mean by a cohesive package? If you’ve had a standout experience (e.g., you’ve worked in a great scientist’s laboratory, you’ve worked for the Gates Foundation, or you’ve taught in an inner-city school), then aside from mentioning it in your statement of purpose, you should have a letter of recommendation for that experience and it should be mentioned in your CV. By making connections across the various components of your application, you’ll reinforce the meaningfulness and importance of your experiences. Moreover, overtly repeating your qualities and achievements throughout your application will influence how your admissions reviewer will think about and remember you.

Therefore, the unique role of your statement of purpose is to draw from the experiences you mention in other parts of your application (e.g., your CV) and use these experiences to provide key insights about you. For example, say you were a botany major who spent 3 years conducting research in the same laboratory, 4 years volunteering at the local botanical garden, and consulting for the Sierra Club on and off since obtaining your undergraduate degree 2 years ago. On paper, you seem like a dedicated applicant with all those years of hard work at the same three places. How do you humbly reinforce your dedication in your statement of purpose using all three of these experiences?

First, be sure to mention the number of years you devoted to each experience and mention any accomplishments within the experience (e.g., presentations you gave, funding goals you reached, events you organized). Next, obtain a letter of recommendation from your supervisor or mentor for each experience, and be sure they explicitly highlight your dedication and the accomplishments you mention in your statement of purpose. Lastly, be sure to quantify your accomplishments whenever possible within your statement of purpose and on your CV (e.g., Botanical garden volunteer: Fundraised over $3,000 for garden outreach program; Organized K-12 field-trip event).

Your goal in developing a cohesive application is simple: Make it easy for the admissions committee reviewer to notice important achievements across your statement of purpose, CV and recommendation letters. By reinforcing your dedication through your experiences and accomplishments, you’ll give the admissions committee reviewer confidence that you will thrive in their graduate program.

Part 3: Preparing to write

(Note: We strongly encourage you to update your CV before you begin writing to ensure that the dates and details you discuss in your statement of purpose are sorted out.)

A little bit of preparation before you write will make the drafting process a lot easier. Recall that the statement of purpose should put a narrative to the accomplishments on your CV that supports your decision to pursue graduate studies.

To best prepare, first jot down dates and details of each activity (e.g., research apprenticeship, job) along with associated accomplishments (e.g., publication, presentation), and figure out which qualities of the ideal graduate student are exhibited through your various experiences.

Here are some qualities to consider demonstrating:

• Dedicated
• Perseverant
• Collaborative
• Good mentor
• Independent
• Self-motivated
• Audacious
• Creative
• Strong interpersonal skills
• Clearly communicates complex material

Often, not all experiences or details will make it into your statement of purpose (more on which experiences to include in a moment), but having it all in one place can really help you get your brain juices flowing.

Alternatively, you can simply take a red pen to your CV and write down some comments next to each accomplishment by answering the following questions:

• What did you learn from this experience?
• Did you get to apply yourself in this opportunity to go above and beyond? If so, how?
• Did you get to make a presentation, publish, or obtain funding through this experience?
• Did this experience contribute to your decision to go to graduate school? If so, how?
• What does this experience say about who you are? Is this something you want to share with the admissions committee?

What should you use from your CV in your statement of purpose?

Simply put, you want to choose experiences and accomplishments that display you are a determined, self-motivated individual with a passion for their field of interest.

Experiences to consider including:

• Research assistantships
• Jobs
• Volunteering
• Internships

(Note: The earliest experiences should be from when you were an undergraduate and onward to the present day. You can include pivotal experiences from before college on your CV, but unless they have been incredibly influential (e.g., high school internship at a university laboratory), save the space for more recent experiences.)

Accomplishments to consider including:

• Publications
• Presentations
• Funding (fellowship, grants, travel grants, scholarships)
• Exhibitions
• Fundraising
• Invited speaker or panelist

Ideally, your listed experiences should be multi-year and within your field of interest. Still, you can boost the importance of shorter experiences like a summer internship by discussing achievements you made during that short period of time, such as particularly strong results, a resulting presentation, or pitching a novel idea that was used by the institution/company.

For each experience you include in your statement of purpose, you’ll have to discuss the following:

• A short description of what you did
• How long you did it
• Why you did it (not always necessary but can be used as a transition in between experiences)
• What you learned from it
• Any accomplishments that came out of it, such as results, publications, exhibitions, grants, presentations, fundraising, etc.

The accomplishments you present within each experience will not only validate your experience and make it seem more impressive, but can also be used to display your fit for graduate studies. For instance, let’s say you’re applying to a graduate program in Environmental Ecology and you’ve spent the majority of your undergraduate years working on a thesis project investigating the effects of DTT contamination on bird populations in California’s Sierra Mountains. During this time you presented your work at two local conferences and one national conference. You also co-authored a study, mentored a student over the summer, and received the Dean’s award for your thesis project. You definitely want to mention all of that! (We’ll be reviewing examples of strong experience descriptions in Part 4: Writing Your Statement of Purpose, below.)

What shouldn’t you include in your statement of purpose?

1. Unnecessary personal details

What do we mean by personal? Don’t share that you’ve been interested in history since your parents took you to see some Greek ruins as a child and now you want to study European History. Moreover, you should probably exclude sharing an overwhelming hardship that led you to want to pursue graduate studies in, for example, Chemical Biology. These details would be more appropriate for a personal statement, and are neither professional enough nor necessary for a statement of purpose.

There is, however, one exception: If you have changed careers to pursue your field of interest, you should discuss this. For example, let’s say your first undergraduate degree is in Education, and you discovered your interest in science while working as a teacher. Hence, you went back to school for a second undergraduate degree in Physics. This is a personal detail you’ll want to include because the admissions committee will wonder why you have two undergraduate degrees. You can do so subtly by explaining what you learned from your previous degree and how you’ve applied it to your current work.

(Note: some schools will offer an additional section to explain personal circumstances. If you’re given the opportunity to discuss personal details elsewhere, use it, making sure to focus your statement of purpose on why you want to go to graduate school.)

2. Hobbies and inapplicable extracurricular activities

Your hobbies (e.g., art, cooking, skiing, biking) should most certainly not be included in your statement of purpose. A few schools ask additional questions regarding your hobbies on the application. Feel free to include them there.

On the other hand, extracurricular activities such as volunteering or mentoring can be included if they are associated with your field of interest. For example, if you’re applying to a Ph.D. program in Education and you’ve volunteered in a classroom or served as a mentor for a high school student, then definitely include that, especially if you’ve been doing it for a while and it has contributed to your decision to pursue graduate studies. If a school is asking for both a personal statement and a statement of purpose, then such an experience can be included in either.

The ultimate outline for your statement of purpose

Once you’ve gone over your CV and picked out the experiences and accomplishments to highlight, the most tedious part is done. The one final step to complete before you begin writing is putting together an outline.

The skeleton of a strong statement of purpose is straightforward, as follows:

1. Introduction: State intention to pursue graduate education
2. The undergraduate experience that initially sparked your interest in the field and how you got into conducting research, creating, etc.
3. Experience 1: Include description, mention accomplishments A, B, and C, and any insights or lessons learned
4. Experience 2: Include description, mention accomplishments D and E, and any insights or lessons learned
5. Experience 3: Include description, mention accomplishments F, G, H, and I, and any insights or lessons learned
6. Mention area within field of interest you will focus on during graduate school. Why University of X? What programs and which faculty’s mentorship interests you?
7. What will you do with your graduate degree?

Once you build more detail into this skeleton, your outline should resemble something like this example:

1. Introduction: I want to study basic biology with an emphasis on pharmacology because understanding the mechanisms of interaction between small molecules/chemicals and proteins fascinates me.
2. Mention the class that introduced me to pharmacology and microbiology, what about it interested me, and how I approached the graduate student teaching the lab section for a research opportunity.
3. Undergraduate research opportunity 1 (3 years)
   1. Describe the research question, technique, and any findings
   2. Mention presentation at annual meeting
   3. Mention publication
   4. Any insights or lessons learned (e.g., Enjoyed independence in designing my own experiments)
   5. Transition: curiosity in experiencing a different research environment
   1. Description of the project I contributed to
   2. Got me interested in application of basic biology to drug development
   3. Transition: wanted to further explore research environment and interest in pharmacology, but this time apply it to a new organism
   1. Describe the research question, technique, and any findings
   2. Mention that I worked on multiple projects along with my own independent project
   3. Mention I presented my work at multiple meetings (local and national)
   4. Mention publications
   5. Transition: Work proved my passion for pharmacology and microbiology
   1. Begin with: “After working on therapeutic applications of microbial biology, I have decided to pursue the field from a basic science standpoint.”
   2. Ph.D. program in basic biology and pharmacology
   3. Customized bit on professors I’m interested in working with at specific school
   4. Conclude with the future!
   5. I’d like to attend graduate school so I can become a great scientist and continue conducting excellent scientific research in academia

   Part 4: Writing your statement of purpose

   Once you have an outline containing all the details you want to include in your statement of purpose, it’s time to write everything out.

   The introduction

   Your statement of purpose should initially introduce a theme or reason that will tie your separate accomplishments together and present a logical argument for why you have decided to attend graduate school. A theme could be an academic interest that ties your experiences together (e.g., Russian history, particle physics, microbiology), or a general concept you’re interested in (e.g., size scales, human interaction, efficiency). It is best to keep this short and to the point. Simply state what you’re interested in and what made you want to go to graduate school. To reiterate, you want to keep this discussion formal and not get overly personal.

   Example (Continued from outline):

   I am fascinated with understanding the molecular mechanisms of disease and with exploring interactions between chemicals and proteins in the cell. My past experiences exploring basic biology in microorganisms have helped me gain an appreciation for applying basic science to disease research. My ambition to continue learning new skills, exploring the scientific method, and learning more about the molecular world has resulted in my decision to pursue a doctorate in the Biological and Biomedical Sciences Program with an emphasis in Pharmacology at Harvard University.

   Backing up your introduction with your experiences and accomplishments

   Now for the meat of your statement of purpose: the experiences that led you to graduate studies. This section needs to make a logical argument as to why you are a good fit for the graduate program, as well as apply a clear and seamless narrative to your accomplishments.

   How do you make a logical argument for graduate studies? Let’s say that you mention wanting to study X in your introduction. When presenting each experience, you note how it has prepared you to study X by helping you experience one of the attributes of an exemplary graduate student: determination, competence, self-motivation, passion, independence, etc.

   But rather than simply stating your independence, for example, you should note any accomplishments that display your independence. For instance, if you funded your own research through a grant or fellowship, make sure to weave that detail into your experience discussion.

   In order to support the expenses associated with my research, I applied for and was awarded a small grant from the California History Museum.

   This one short sentence shows the reader that you are independent enough to seek your own funding and that you have experience writing grants and securing funding (very useful in graduate school and beyond). Who wouldn’t want to admit a student like that?

   To demonstrate passion for your field, be sure to note how your interest developed and how you will use each university’s unique opportunities to pursue it. For example:

   After working on therapeutic applications of microbial biology, I have decided to pursue the field from a basic science standpoint. As a Ph.D. student, I aim to study the molecular mechanisms that are involved in disease states of microorganisms. I am particularly excited by Dr. Dale Heart’s work on the mechanism of the switch made by Histoplasma capsulatum from the filamentous soil form to the pathogenic yeast form.

   Although there are multiple ways to demonstrate passion throughout your statement of purpose, it helps to always take an enthusiastic tone when writing about your experiences. Don’t mention anything negative in your statement of purpose, such as a poor mentor, a graduate student who mistreated you, or a nasty grant application reviewer. In addition, don’t badmouth any collaborators, as it reflects poorly on you and the collaborator may even have a relationship with the individuals reviewing your application. You also shouldn’t complain about applying a faulty method to your experiments or creations. And of course, you don’t want to complain about difficulties with your work that might show you are not committed and easily give up. Just stay positive and share your excitement for the journey that led you to graduate school.

   How do you apply a narrative to your statement of purpose?

   This is a slightly more difficult task for a statement of purpose vs. a personal statement.

   Narrative in a statement of purpose is achieved by incorporating reflections on your accomplishments and using clear transitions to logically string together the various experiences listed on your CV.

   For example, if you apply a narrative structure to paragraph 4 from the outline above—“Summer internship at Amgen”—you could end up with the following paragraph:

   In order to experience applied research, I held a summer internship at Amgen, where I worked on a protein involved in cancer metastasis. Through this experience, I learned the process by which basic science is used to understand the molecular biology of cancer and, along with chemistry and pharmacology, how this knowledge can be applied to create a drug. At the end of my internship, I presented my findings to the Amgen scientists. I enjoyed studying the basic biology involved in early-phase drug discovery and the application of chemistry and pharmacology to translating basic science into a pharmaceutical application. Thus, I decided to further explore this strategy after college and learn more about infectious diseases in an academic setting, which led to my current position in Dr. Anna Smith’s Lab at Harvard University as a Research Associate.

   In this example, the student was able to support their passion for their field of interest and display independence by noting a presentation at the end of the internship. Moreover, by explaining her reasoning for moving from one experience to the next, the applicant developed a narrative that connected her summer internship at Amgen with her research associate position at Harvard, which she’ll transition to discussing in the following paragraph.

   (A quick note on industry experience: Most of the time, you are bound by contract to not disclose detailed information about your project. If this is the case, still provide a description of the project without mentioning important details. Most industry mentors will help you come up with a general description of your work that doesn’t give away any secrets. Note how blanket terms were used in the previous example to ensure that no actual drug names or molecular targets were mentioned. Yet, the reader can understand the work’s general goal.)

   The ending: What are your academic interests? What will you do in the future with a Ph.D.?

   By the time you get to the end of your statement of purpose, you will have reasoned that you are a capable and driven person who is ready to pursue graduate studies. Now it’s time to convince the admissions committee to accept you into their specific program.

   The conclusion of your statement of purpose should contain two paragraphs:

   1. A discussion of your academic interests and specific professors and programs that draw you to a particular institution
   2. A discussion of what you intend to do beyond graduate school

   The second-to-last paragraph should specifically state what you are interested in working on during your graduate studies. You’ll need to do some research about departmental or program-associated professors at a given university with whom you’d like to work, as well as mention some areas the program excels in and how those fit with your educational goals.

   To make things easier when applying to multiple schools, you can keep the general field of interest (e.g., Colonial History, Microbiology, American Literature, etc.) the same across all of your statements and customize the professors and the specific topics (e.g., Colonial History of Haiti during a certain period, Microbiology of Histoplasma, American Literature during the Gilded Age) for each school.

   The second-to-last paragraph should answer the following questions:

   • What are your academic interests?
     • This should be more specific than what you stated in your introduction. For example, instead of merely stating that you have an interest in history, explicitly mention which era of history in which specific country or region.
     • For example, the school may offer the best education in an important technique in your field (e.g., leading experts in CRISPR, on-site cyclotron, etc.).
     • Name names and keep it short. For example: I am intrigued by the work of Dr. Mark Zane on excited state dynamics of biological molecules.

     In the very last paragraph, you can get a bit cheesy. You’ll want to state what you intend do beyond graduate school, make a broad statement about your reasons for attending, and reiterate your passion for your field of interest. If you chose a theme in your intro, end with that. It doesn’t have to be long, but it should leave the reader with a personal connection to you regarding your shared field of interest.

     (A note on mentioning future endeavors: Unfortunately, there exists a general bias within academia when it comes to the future endeavors of graduate students. Most of the time, the people reviewing your application are academics and want to train future academics. If you want to apply your Ph.D. to a career in academia, then state so. If you want to apply your degree to industry and you’re applying to a school that reveres academia (you can usually tell by just asking around), then keep your career aspirations more general. For example, if you’re applying to a science-based graduate program, say you’ll apply your degree toward becoming a better scientist, and be sure to go along with this during your interview.)

     In either of these two paragraphs, you should mention the name of the school you are applying to. And remember to change the institution’s name for each application! Moreover, you want to “show” the school that you’ve put some thought into why you are applying to spend 4-7+ years at their institution. Here’s an example of personalization in the second-to-last paragraph:

     As a graduate student in Berkeley’s History Department, I would be interested in working with Dr. Dana Sil to explore peace and conflict in the Middle East.

     And here’s an example of personalization in the very last paragraph:

     A well-rounded program such as the Molecular Cell Biology Program at Harvard University would be the ideal place for me to train and continue my exploration into the molecular world.

     A full-length sample statement of purpose

     Below is an example of a full-length statement of purpose based on the outline presented earlier.

     I am fascinated with understanding the molecular mechanisms of disease and with exploring interactions between chemicals and proteins in the cell. My past experiences exploring basic biology in microorganisms have helped me gain an appreciation for applying basic science to disease research. My ambition to continue learning new skills, exploring the scientific method, and learning more about the molecular world has resulted in my decision to pursue a doctorate in the Biological and Biomedical Sciences Program with an emphasis in Pharmacology at Harvard University.

     While at the University of California, San Diego, I completed a double major in Molecular Cellular Biology (MCB) and Pharmacology. With Pharmacology, I sought a molecular explanation for the chemical and disease interface, while with MCB I delved deeper into understanding the basic biology that supports life. I first considered academic research after taking a class with Dr. Ray Goodman on Microbiology because I enjoyed the laboratory portion of the class and working with various organisms. After the class ended, I asked Dr. Goodman’s graduate student, Lana Garcia, for an opportunity to work with her on the molecular mechanism of biofilm formation in Streptococcus pneumoniae.

     S. pneumonia is a Gram positive, facultative anaerobic bacterium that grows in biofilms and can lead to deadly infections in children and the elderly. For three years, I worked with Lana to uncover the key molecular players that regulate S. pneumonia biofilm formation using genetic knockouts and a novel biofilm formation assay that I helped design. Our work resulted in the identification of Hdp1, a protein found in the cell wall, as a key component of biofilm formation. The work was published in the September 2014 issue of Cell. I had the opportunity to present findings at the American Society for Microbiology’s (ASM) Annual Meeting in 2014 and at a few local conferences. In order to support the expenses associated with my research, I applied for and was awarded ASM’s Undergraduate Research Fellowship along with several travel grants. I enjoyed the independence I was given to conduct research and design experiments, but I was curious about the application of basic science findings to drug design in a corporate setting.

     In order to experience applied research, I held a summer internship at Amgen, where I worked on a protein involved in cancer metastasis. Through this experience, I learned the process by which basic science is used to understand the molecular biology of cancer and, along with chemistry and pharmacology, how this knowledge can be applied to create a drug. At the end of my internship, I presented my findings to the Amgen scientists. I enjoyed studying the basic biology involved in early-phase drug discovery and the application of chemistry and pharmacology to translating basic science into a pharmaceutical application. Thus, I decided to further explore this strategy after college and learn more about infectious diseases in an academic setting, which led to my current position in Dr. Anna Smith’s Lab at Harvard University as a Research Associate.

     For the past two years, I have been working on an independent research project in Dr. Smith’s lab where I am applying high-throughput drug screens to identify new drugs for Coccidioides immitis, the fungus that causes Valley fever. My efforts have resulted in the identification of a new drug, and with the application of genetic and biochemical methods, I have identified the biofilm-inducing gene Xdt3 as the drug target. I am currently preparing a manuscript for publication. I have also contributed to multiple other projects in the lab involving the basic biology behind C. immitis growth and spore formation. These works have been published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences and mBio. Throughout my time at the Smith lab, I have had opportunities to present my work at several local and national meetings, including ASM’s Annual Meeting in 2017. This experience solidified my passion for pharmacology and microbiology and helped me gain insight into academic life.

     After working on therapeutic applications of microbiology for years, I have decided to pursue the field from a basic science standpoint. As a Ph.D. student, I aim to study the molecular mechanisms that are involved in disease states of microorganisms. I am excited by Dr. Dale Heart’s work on the mechanism of the switch made by Histoplasma capsulatum from the filamentous soil form to the pathogenic yeast form. I am also interested in Dr. Pablo Ruiz’s work on the gut microbiome as well as Dr. Tina Johnson’s work on host-pathogen interactions. Working in these three professors’ laboratories and others in your program would be an ideal next step for me to apply my background in microbiology and drug discovery to basic science projects.

     Beyond graduate school, I hope to pursue a career in academia studying the molecular mechanism behind disease-causing microorganisms. I highly regard basic science and its application to improve human health. A well-rounded program such as the Biological and Biomedical Sciences Program at Harvard University would be an excellent place for me to train and continue my exploration into the molecular world.

     Final thoughts

     Our final tip is that once you’ve written your statement of purpose, be sure that things you mention in it come up in your CV, your Letters of Recommendation, and any other part of your application. Remember, you want to submit a cohesive application where each component reinforces the other and important experiences or accomplishments are repeated across multiple components of your application. Doing so will not only help your reviewers walk away remembering key pieces about you, but it will also validate your accomplishments.

     Special section: How to transform your statement of purpose into a personal statement

     (Note: If a program requests both documents, you should not follow the advice in this question. Instead, you must write two separate essays for that program.).

     Let’s start with the introduction. Whereas you wrote your statement of purpose concisely and to the point, your personal statement should have an introduction that will hook the reader while introducing an important aspect of your background or personality.

     The most effective and creative way to engage your reader right away is by starting your introduction in media res, which is Latin for “in the middle of things.” You can tell a story about an obstacle you’ve overcome or a moment that highlights why you want to study X. Either of these personal stories can be turned into a theme that ties together experiences you shared in your statement of purpose, as well as extracurricular experiences you’ll be sharing in your personal statement.

     Once you have a theme, simply go through your statement of purpose and insert commentary that ties back to the theme or uses it as a transition from one experience or paragraph to the next.

     Perhaps you have not had to overcome any major obstacles in your life that have influenced your decision to pursue a graduate degree in your chosen field. In that case, you may highlight other personal experiences, such as something interesting about your family background or efforts to support individuals who are less fortunate than you to develop a theme.

     For example, let’s say that during college you were a volunteer psychology tutor for local high school students. Now, you’re applying to a Ph.D. program in Psychology. Draw from your volunteer experience to connect with the reader and introduce your intentions for graduate studies in Psychology. It can be something as simple as the moment when you explained a difficult concept to a student. Here, your theme will be teaching and/or mentorship. Throughout your personal statement, you can talk about opportunities you’ve had to teach and mentor, as well as the great mentors who have guided you throughout your academic journey.

     Alternatively, you can get “personal” by discussing experiences that highlight your reasons for pursuing your field of interest in more depth. However, it’s more difficult to achieve uniqueness with this approach because most graduate students in your field will share similar experiences, rendering your story cliché. Set your story apart from others by being more descriptive, starting in media res, and connecting with the reader through creative writing in your introduction. However, if you’ve had an extraordinary experience like discovering your love for architecture through a relative who took you on tours of Frank Lloyd Wright buildings or a curiosity in environmental biology from a visit to a disaster site caused by Hurricane Katrina, that could serve as the foundation for an engaging personal statement introduction. From there, identify a lesson or theme from your experience that has resonated throughout all of your other experiences, such as triumph, curiosity, determination, etc.

     Whether it’s an obstacle you’ve overcome, a volunteer experience, or a unique circumstance that sparked your passion, the end goal of your personal statement is to tug at the heartstrings of your reader and convince them that you are a great candidate for their graduate program.

     A full-length sample personal statement

     We’ve taken the statement of purpose example from above and modified it into a personal statement. The theme is a scientific interest in microbiology and biofilms (a phenomenon in microbiology where single-celled organisms work together to create an impenetrable multicellular complex) sparked by a family tragedy (modified text in bold).

     Crouched over in the only chair in my father’s room at the Intensive Care Unit of St. Mary’s Hospital, all I could think about was how a common fungus could cause so much harm. My father had recently undergone a simple procedure that required the use of a central venous catheter to deliver medication. Without our knowledge, this catheter was the perfect site for the common yeast Candida albicans to transform and build a biofilm, which in turn caused my father to have a systemic fungal infection. How could a single cellular organism switch and create a multicellular complex? How is it that modern medicine does not have apt tools and techniques for detecting and treating such infections? After watching my father survive this ordeal, I went back to college with my view of single-celled organisms, microbiology, and medicine forever changed.

     I am fascinated with understanding the molecular mechanisms of biofilm formation, its role in disease, and the translation of such science to drug development. While at the University of California, San Diego, I completed a double major in Molecular Cellular Biology (MCB) and Pharmacology. With Pharmacology, I sought a molecular explanation for the chemical and disease interface, while with MCB I delved deeper into understanding the basic biology that supports life. I first considered academic research after taking a class with Dr. Ray Goodman on Microbiology because I enjoyed the laboratory portion of the class and working with various organisms. After the class ended, I asked Dr. Goodman’s graduate student, Lana Garcia, for an opportunity to work with her on the molecular mechanism of biofilm formation in Streptococcus pneumoniae.

     S. pneumonia is a Gram positive, facultative anaerobic bacterium that grows in biofilms and can lead to deadly infections in children and the elderly. For three years, I worked with Lana to uncover the key molecular players that regulate S. pneumonia biofilm formation using genetic knockouts and a novel biofilm formation assay that I helped design. Our work resulted in the identification of Hdp1, a protein found in the cell wall, as a key component of biofilm formation. The work was published in the September 2014 issue of Cell. I had the opportunity to present findings at the American Society for Microbiology’s (ASM) Annual Meeting in 2014 and at a few local conferences. In order to support the expenses associated with my research, I applied for and was awarded ASM’s Undergraduate Research Fellowship along with several travel grants. I enjoyed the independence I was given to conduct research and design experiments.

     Aside from my work in the laboratory, I spent two years of my undergraduate career starting the Bench to Bedside Education Initiative (BBEI). BBEI brings together nurses and doctors from our local hospital as well as scientists of all levels to an annual symposium to exchange information on procedures and scientific findings with the goal of helping each party walk away having learned something they can take back to their daily work. I started BBEI because I felt there was knowledge about biofilm formation that I was learning in the laboratory that could be translated to procedural changes at local hospitals in an effort to prevent systemic fungal infections. I have fundraised over $20,000 for BBEI and launched a website with resources and example lessons that BBEI symposium attendees have learned from each other. My work with BBEI sparked my interest in human biology and the pharmaceutical industry, which prompted me to explore cancer biology and drug development in a corporate setting.

     In order to experience applied research, I held a summer internship at Amgen, where I worked on a protein involved in cancer metastasis. Through this experience, I learned the process by which basic science is used to understand the molecular biology of cancer and, along with chemistry and pharmacology, how this knowledge can be applied to create a drug. At the end of my internship, I presented my findings to the Amgen scientists. I enjoyed studying the basic biology involved in early-phase drug discovery and the application of chemistry and pharmacology to translating basic science into a pharmaceutical application. However, I wanted to continue pursuing my passion for biofilm-based diseases. Thus, I decided to further explore this strategy after college and learn more about infectious diseases in an academic setting, which led to my current position in Dr. Anna Smith’s Lab at Harvard University as a Research Associate.

     For the past two years, I have been working on an independent research project in Dr. Smith’s lab where I am applying high-throughput drug screens to identify new drugs for Coccidioides immitis, a biofilm-forming fungus that causes Valley fever. My efforts have resulted in the identification of a new drug, and with the application of genetic and biochemical methods, I have identified the biofilm-inducing gene Xdt3 as the drug target. I am currently preparing a manuscript for publication. I have also contributed to multiple other projects in the lab involving the basic biology behind C. immitis growth and spore formation. These works have been published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences and mBio. Throughout my time at the Smith lab, I have had opportunities to present my work at several local and national meetings, including ASM’s Annual Meeting in 2017. This experience solidified my passion for pharmacology and microbiology and helped me gain insight into academic life.

     After working on therapeutic applications of microbiology for years, I have decided to pursue the field from a basic science standpoint. As a Ph.D. student, I aim to study the molecular mechanisms that are involved in disease states of microorganisms. I am excited by Dr. Dale Heart’s work on the mechanism of the switch made by Histoplasma capsulatum from the filamentous soil form to the pathogenic yeast form. I am also interested in Dr. Pablo Ruiz’s work on the gut microbiome as well as Dr. Tina Johnson’s work on host-pathogen interactions. Working in these three professors’ laboratories and others in your program would be an ideal next step for me to apply my background in microbiology and drug discovery to basic science projects.

     The ordeal my family overcame with my father’s two-month battle to survive a systemic fungal infection started by a biofilm sparked my passion for science, and ultimately, it has fueled my academic interest in the basic biology of this mysterious phenomenon in microbiology. Beyond graduate school, I hope to pursue a career in academia studying the molecular mechanism behind disease-causing microorganisms. I highly regard basic science and its application to improve human health. A well-rounded program such as the Biological and Biomedical Sciences Program at Harvard University would be an excellent place for me to train and continue my exploration into the molecular world.