Tested as a graduate student in Nigeria, I have been able to demonstrate my knowledge and background experience to move as quickly as possible towards the completion of my graduate studies. Now, I am looking forward to the challenge of doing a Ph.D. in America and continuing to establish a proven record of accomplishment as a researcher. I have performed scientific research for many years, as both a paid researcher and as a volunteer. I have worked in a variety of positions training scientists in crop improvement during my graduate studies period at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture at the University of XXXX. I also had the privilege of assisting many students and summer interns in completing their various research projects during my stay at the XXXX Center in Saint Louis.
I am currently employed as a research associate at XXXX University. I have a total of 5 years relevant work experience, first as a Post Doctoral Fellow with the XXXX in Saint Louis, and then as a Research Associate with XXXX University. The experience that I have gained throughout these years, helping students and scientists from around the globe, has put me in an excellent position to constantly improve as a highly productive member of the academic community. I am fluent in both French and English, both of which are strategically important languages for work in Africa. I am applying to work towards my second Ph.D. in Plant Sciences because I seek this as the most critical area for optimal preparation to contribute to Africa's future, to help her feed her children. Research in this area is my life because I dream of helping my people in this way.
It will be a great privilege for me to continue to labor on behalf of the University of XXXX. I especially look forward to contributing to the operation of your laboratory of international stature. I am an experienced writer of grant proposals, and an experienced student mentor. I have teaching experience and am fully aware of the heroic effort that is required to author a thesis. I have made presentations at international conferences and successfully completed international projects, researching and publishing in international journals. I am a kind person, easy to have a good relationship with and highly dependable; someone who is most of all enormously dedicated to his work. I see research as the way that I might be able to make my contribution to society. I look forward to many decades of struggle as part of many teams working together to alleviate hunger and poverty in poor countries through the development of more nutritious and higher yielding crops, through genetic transformation, genomics, molecular biology, bioinformatics, and biochemical genomics.
I maintain firm, loyal roots to my people. I cannot think of myself without Africa; it informs much of my professional identity. My long-term, central professional interest is to help my people in Africa. This is why I focus on agriculture, which I see as key to making the world a better place to live, especially for future generations. I am particularly interested in doing graduate work plant improvement via transgenic approaches, biochemical genetics, bioinformatics, molecular biology, and genomics. 10 years from now, I would like to be an internationally renowned scientist with strong expertise in plant genetic transformation, biochemical genetics, genomics, molecular biology, and bioinformatics. I look forward to becoming a leader in these fields and a principal investigator of major projects related to crop improvement.
I have the professional dream of someday being a major player in decision making with respect to the implementation of advanced biotechnology programs in developing countries, especially Africa, both English speaking and French speaking sectors of the continent. My ideal job would be to lead a biotechnology program in an international research institute in Africa. As soon as I complete the PhD training in plant sciences, I will be well equipped to handle high quality plant science research in Africa. I will be able to develop projects and receive funding from major international donors for projects that address how to best go about responding to Africa's multiple agricultural problems and challenges. I look forward to training African scientists and leading the way in the search for a new generation of scientific breakthroughs for biotech-plant science in Africa.
I have the professional dream of someday being a major player in decision making with respect to the implementation of advanced biotechnology programs in developing countries, especially Africa, both English speaking and French speaking sectors of the continent. My ideal job would be to lead a biotechnology program in an international research institute in Africa. As soon as I complete the PhD training in plant sciences, I will be well equipped to handle high quality plant science research in Africa. I will be able to develop projects and receive funding from major international donors for projects that address how to best go about responding to Africa's multiple agricultural problems and challenges. I look forward to training African scientists and leading the way in the search for a new generation of scientific breakthroughs for biotech-plant science in Africa.
My first choice for graduate study is at the Department of Soil and Plant Sciences in the Department of Agricultural Sciences at the University of XXXX. Your program is an excellent match for my interests because I am especially excited about looking at using molecular tools to enhance crop quality, especially through genetic transformation techniques, genomics, molecular biology, and bioinformatics. I look forward to creating new plants with enhanced commercial value, especially high oil content in soybeans, high protein content in other plants, and, most of all, disease resistance. I am an especially good match with your program because I want to take part in your Integrative Training Option dedicated to plant enhancement, genomics, bioinformatics, and biochemical genetics. I fulfill the prerequisites for this program.
I am applying to your program because it is world renowned and has an especially competent faculty with world-class achievements in plant improvement. Your faculty are world class scientists and learning from them will help me to become the greatest scientist possible. I assure you that I will give my all to your program and that I am most excited about the opportunity of working exceptionally long hours.
I am an African man, still young at 40, an immigrant to America who has now been here long enough to fully adapt to the language and culture. Life here in America has become progressively easy over time and I now think of America as home. Thus, I now see myself as fully prepared to study towards the Ph.D. Your program is the best place to continue my studies, especially since I have established myself as a member of the scientific and academic community here at XXXX University.
The XXXX program in the Department of Soil and Plant Sciences is a comprehensive plant sciences program that will provide me with a unique opportunity to become well equipped in advanced molecular and genomic research, complementing my extensive knowledge in the areas of tissue culture and genetic transformation. I am incredibly pleased with the fact that the University of XXXX is a prominent biotechnology hub of activity and communication and that your program has an excellent record for producing successful graduates. The people of XXXXX are very friendly and I like the climate very much.
I am a cosmopolitan man who has seen much of the world. First in 1993, I traveled from Cameroon to Nigeria for graduate studies. In 1999, I travelled to the XXXX Institute of Technology in Zurich, Switzerland where I was a Research Fellow as part of my Ph.D. research. In 2000, I was awarded the UNESCO-BAC fellowship in Biotechnology, which brought me to the US, where I became attached to the International Laboratory of Tropical Agricultural Biotechnology at the XXXX Plant Center. Later that same year, I presented a research paper at the XXXX International Meeting in Saint Louis, MO.
In 2003, I was invited to speak at an international meeting of the XXXX Center in Cali, Columbia. In 2004, I was invited to be a guest speaker at the XXXX Institute in Arizona, a recruitment seminar for post-doctoral positions. In 2007, I was an invited speaker at the International Fuel Ethanol Conference.
Thank you for considering my application.
PHD Tropical Agriculture Statement of Purpose Africa