.
Beware of sounding too turgid. I have removed a few of the more egregious phrases. Your presentation is clearer and more direct when you talk about your own work in the second paragraph; that is good.
Dear Dr. [surname],
I am a recent graduate of the University of Xyz. I graduated in fall 2008 with a master's degree in [designated field of degree] and a GPA
of 3.58 out of 4.0. I would like to pursue my
interest in nanotechnology with doctoral studies at your
university. I intend to apply for admission to your PhD program in spring 2010. In reading through (your/the UAbc) website, I discovered that my interests lie
within your research domain, and I think that it would be enlightening to work under your guidance. I am planning a research career in
nanotechnology, where I hope I can make an original contribution.
During my graduate studies at UXyz, I worked in
the area of quantum-dot cellular automata. I developed
a reliability model for Sequential Quantum-Dot Cellular Automata using
dynamic Bayesian networks. The work was based on exploiting the probabilistic
nature of electrons to determine their low energy state after switching. Using dynamic
Bayesian networks provides the flexibility to determine the polarization of a cell
in the feedback path of sequential circuits, which is normally masked in the
feedback loop. This method is helpful in analyzing the reliability of the
feedback paths during different operating conditions. The model was developed
using C and data structures. The work was accepted for technical publication at the
IEEE Nano Conference 2008, and a journal
version is under review.
I have attached my resume, which provides
a review of my training and experience, and I would be glad to furnish you with any further
details about me or my competency. Also, please
contact my advisor, Dr. (first name last name), for reference, at [phone number] or at [Email].
Thank you very much for
your time and consideration. I look forward to hearing from you.
Yours sincerely,
First name Last name