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Option 1

The research that try to understand the mechanisms of pathogenesis, the influence of a pathogen-host interaction, and how new therapy strategies can be development from this knowledge, have ever me fascinated.

I have read with special attention the aims of this research group and its research interests fit my expectations for beginning an interesting scientific career. As a microbiologist, I have always thought in the application of the science to improve the life conditions of people, through the understanding of the biology of disease and development of new therapies.

Since almost a year, I am attending a signal transduction lecture and seminar offered by the Institute X in Y city, Germany. This lecture taught me the great importance of cellular communication and transduction of signals from in- and outside of the cell. Surprisingly, it is not limited to some cellular processes, or specific cell types, but is a network of different kind of molecules, where just one of them could regulate a wide diversity of processes.

It is still more interesting, that the research of the different steps of signaling pathways could lead to a new therapeutic strategy, whose goal were to avoid the host invasion.

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Option 2

Virology is one of the science fields that needs to work very closely with another sciences like immunology, molecular biology and genetics among others, as an interdisciplinary network to find answers and apply them to fight efficiently viral diseases.

It is interesting how such a small particles and with such a simple structure can cause enormous changes on the host, can use the mimicry as a strategy to escape from the recognition through the immune system, can lead to chronic diseases or to carcinogenesis through transformation of the host cell.

From this universe of possibilities, the mechanisms of mimicry of the viruses to avoid the detection and destruction in the host, as well as the mechanisms of the viral latency states and those which conduce to reactivation are exciting research areas in which I would like to improve my theoretical and practical knowledge, since I am convinced of the importance of the results of the research in this area for the improvement of the quality of life of immunosuppressed persons and transplant recipients, principally.

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Option 3

Finally, and not because of it less important, the research field of molecular biology calls my attention, and especially the research aim that investigate the relationship between infection and cancer and the exploration of signalling pathways to find the clue that conduces to resistance to apoptosis. 

Not only the mechanisms of reprogramming the host cells, but also the discover of new apoptotic signalling pathways that could not be blocked by intracellular pathogens as Chlamydia, who uses an anti-apoptotic mechanism to avoid the elimination.

These investigations could give a hope to patients with respiratory infections by Clamydia pneumoniae, since they pursue to find a strategy that could avoid the advance of the disease to its persistent state, and indirectly to the onset of cancer.

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Letter of motivation:

I am writing to express my great interest in applying for the preparatory- (PhD) program in the X Institute in Berlin.

I studied microbiology at the University of R in City, Land, from 1997 to 2002, where I obtained a Bachelor degree. During my studies, I was always a curious and research-active student, since I knew that to pursue a scientific career, one most begin early. Therefore, I tried to research in different areas like parasitology, in which I could take part of an research project at the Tropical Parasitology and Microbiology Research Center that wanted to apply the PCR technique to detect infective forms of Toxoplasma gondii in pork for human consumption.

After finishing my studies, I worked for a while in the quality-control field. During this time, I learn a lot of my self and of working with people of different disciplines, who teach me the discipline and organisation of a company. I also strengthen my conviction of being a scientist.

For that reason, I came to Germany, to learn state-of-the-art techniques from highly qualifying scientists and to have an important experience of studying abroad. Currently, I study Sciences at the University of ER, and complementary to my subjects, I have attended lectures and practical courses like biochemistry, immunology, virology, human genetics and signal transduction.

This program is one of the few that offers me the opportunity to reach a Ph. D degree without a prior master degree through a preparatory program.  I am prepared intellectually to participate in this program, and I am eager to learn, to contribute and to complement my knowledge with different disciplines, and the knowledge of recognized scientists that collaborate to this program.

The program offers an exciting interdisciplinary scenario, in which I could have the opportunity to study what I pursue as scientist: to understand the interplay between pathogens and hosts, to elucidate the molecular mechanisms of this interaction and its influence in the host signalling pathways.

I would be grateful if you consider me for the preparatory program as a high-recommended candidate.