Dear Dr. XXXX,
I apply to your university's Ph.D. program in XXXX to start in Fall 2007. I am particularly interested in your research. Because I have a keen interest in developmental biology and genetics, I want to study in the future on a related subject. Since I want to study in a qualified lab, could I ask you if you could take me to your lab as a research assistant/PhD student? I believe that I will learn very much from your knowledge and experience.
I have graduated from Molecular Biology and Genetics, Middle East Technical University, Turkey. Recently, I started to work with Dr. Emin Maltepe in Susan Fisher Lab at UCSF as a junior specialist. I am working on embryonic and trophoblast stem cells and trying to clarify epigenetic mechanisms regulating stem cell differentiation in placenta. In particular, my study is HIF-HDAC interactions and histone modifications. Therefore, I am experienced in ESC and TSC culture, cell treatment with hypoxia, total RNA isolation, extraction of nuclear and histone proteins and Western blotting. In addition, I get acquainted with fluorescence microscopy techniques, ICSI (Intracytoplasmic sperm injection) and IVF (in-vitro fertilization) and motility test of actin-myosin proteins in vitro.
Last year I was a SURF student at Caltech. I studied on identification of transcription factors affecting dorsoletaral patterning in early Drosophila embryo in the Stathopoulos lab. In this project, my main approach was one-hybrid screens in yeast. Thus, I am also experienced with yeast culture, cloning, bacterial and yeast transformations, cDNA library preparations, Drosophila embryo collections and fixations.
In my undergraduate, I learned and practiced basic molecular biology techniques such as PCR, DNA & RNA isolations from plant tissue, reverse PCR, electrophoresis techniques and use of FTIR spectrophotometer. Attached is a copy of my CV, which will give you greater detail regarding my education, laboratory experiences and other skills. I am looking forward to hearing from you.
Thank you very much in advance.
Sincerely yours,
Fatih Kocabas
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Fatih KOCABAS
Junior Specialist
Department of Cell and Tissue Biology
University of California, San Francisco
Susan Fisher Lab
513 Parnassus Ave. S-534
San Francisco, CA 94143
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