Statement of Purpose

           Applicant：XXX    Program：Ph.D. in Biochemistry

Abstract： In this present Statement of Purpose, I intend to present my passion for biochemistry, the endeavors and achievements I have made heretofore in my academic journey to become a research student, my preparations for the proposed Ph.D. program, and my vision for the future. My conclusion is that, whereas in research I can arrive at effective findings as long as I am given necessary conditions, in my personal and academic development I can become an accomplished biochemist as long as I can find my way into a most dynamic and stimulating academic environment, like that of xxx University.

KEY WORDS： REAGENTS; REACTIONS; ADDITIVE; TRANSFORMATION; BREAKTHROUGH;

1. CURIOSITY AND PASSION AS REAGENTS

My choice of biochemistry was by no means whimsical, but was defined by my intellectual curiosity and passion. In my childhood, I developed a strong interest in biology by raising various small animals—silk worms, tadpoles, and turtles whom I regularly observed to understand their behavior. To find out why one of the turtles went blind, I consulted technical literature and diagnosed the infection in the bacteria-rich water environment as the cause. I derived great pleasure from inquiring into diverse phenomena of life and the eagerness to satisfy my intellectual curiosity prompted me to study biology during my undergraduate program. As I commenced my lab research and got exposed to the cutting-edge developments in the academia, especially to those exciting but challenging subjects like structural biology that promise to furnish solutions to SARS and AIDs, my passion for biochemistry is all the more heightened. For me, nothing can satisfy my intellectual curiosity other than becoming a biochemist who is equipped to help face the common challenges of mankind. As a scientist, I hope to make my contributions that can promote the development of life science and improve the physical well-being of mankind as a whole.

2. REACTIONS

The process of becoming a research student is in many important ways similar to the process of chemical reaction. For a chemical reaction, a diversity of factors is imperative to produce the desired product. In my efforts to become a research student, I have tried to develop myself in a comprehensive manner and a number of key factors have combined to make what I am.

2. 1 Academic Excellence as Foundation

A solid knowledge base in biology has been indispensible to the development of my research skills. At the Department of Biology of Nankai University, arguably one of the best universities in China, I have studied a whole gamut of specialized courses of biology, ranging from microbiology, biochemistry, genetics, to cell biology. With a major GPA reaching 86.8/100, I have been consistently ranked among the top students in the class, winning awards and scholarships. In view of biology’s relations with other sciences, I have also studied courses in physics, mathematics, computer applications that have expanded my knowledge horizon and developed interdisciplinary knowledge and skills needed for research.

2.2 Research Experiences and Achievements as Catalysts

Biology is an applied science and research is the most effective way to apply knowledge to practical problems. My outstanding academic performance landed me, in the 4th semester, in the Structural Laboratory led by the principal of our university. My participation in several research projects has enabled me to develop comprehensive research skills, to perform independent responsibilities and to seek innovative solutions. I started my research with the project “Expression of the major protein of CCR4/NOT complex using Insect expression system”, which was one of national creative projects for university students. I applied for undertaking this project out of my own initiative and I was leader of a 3-member team that worked on the expression of four key proteins (Cnot6, 6L, 7, and 8) of the complex. As the lab did not have the insect cellular expression system, I had to rely on my own efforts by consulting a large amount of technical literature and collaborating with other labs. Having expressed the complex, we did further purification and crystallization to acquire the complex’s structure with which we studied its specific deadenylation mechanism.

The second lab project involved Cnot9, one of the proteins of the complex. In order to reproduce and verify the subsidiary functions claimed by a published paper “Atomic model of human Rcd-1 reveals an armadillo-like-repeat protein with in vitro nucleic acid binding properties”, I was to reproduce crystals and soak the substrate so as to study how the protein duplicate and degrade mRNA. Following the detailed steps of the experiments, I operated in strict accordance with standard procedures and gained such techniques as expressing protein in E.coli, using molecular sieve, ion sieve, affinity chromatography, protein purification, crystallization as well as optimization. I kept maturing as a researcher.

With enhanced skills, I have embarked on even more challenging project, which is to acquire the crystal of XRN which also has the function of mRNA degradation. XRN protein’s homologous protein structure having been isolated in the yeast, I sought to obtain XRN’s structure in the human protein with a view to understanding its function. Based on literature research, I analyzed the amino acid sequence such as protein secondary structure prediction and homologous protein, and selected several segments to construct plasmid until I finally succeeded in constructing a recombinant plasmid. Through this project, I have particularly honed my lab skills in molecular construction.

As I enhanced my experiment skills, I have taken part in experiment competitions in which I have won prizes for experiment design and development of useful equipments. In those competitions, I learned how to pursue excellence by prevailing over my peers. In this way, I have been constantly motivated to face challenges and to be No. 1.

2.3 Administration Studies as Additives

As a biology student, I have a unique strength for having studied business administration at Tianjin University as a dual degree. My motivation is that biologists should not only have the abilities to carry out research but also to implement research projects which involve management and organization. My satisfactory performance in management studies testifies to my ability me to make extra achievements through extra efforts. Furthermore, I have consciously applied my management knowledge and skills in my biology research team. As project organizer and manager, I made proper task distributions and coordination, involving all the members in concerted efforts toward a common objective. Through effective synergy, I enhanced our research efficiency and I will continue to exercise productive leadership in the future.

3. TRANSFORMATON & BREAKTHROUGH

As a biology student, I know, more than anyone else, that change is the fundamental paradigm for all forms of life and their development. For my academic development, the changes I seek are transformation and breakthrough. Given a stimulating and dynamic academic environment, I will quickly grow into an accomplished researcher.

3.1 In search for a dynamic academic environment

I am motivated toward a Ph.D. program in the U.S. because it offers the environment for the birth of outstanding biochemists. Baylor College of Medicine is precisely a cutting-edge institution in the world with unparalleled faculty and research facilities, providing ample room for aspiring students to be future leaders in the academia. I hope to study a full series of advanced courses and become exposed to high-level research projects. By working together with an outstanding faculty, I expect to publish on cutting-edge topics.

3.2 Mission

At XXX College of Medicine, I intend to focus on studying protein folding. To decipher the “second hereditary code” by means of protein structure prediction is one of the top challenges in biochemical research. By understanding the abnormalities in protein’s 3-D structure, we can make discoveries that shed light on the mad cow disease, Alzheimer's disease, and certain tumors. We know that the mad cow disease is the result of the disease-causing Prion, by means of the interaction among protein molecules, changing the normal protein Prion into disease-causing folds. But what are the nature and mechanism of this interaction? How do molecules with changed folding conditions cause serious diseases? Obviously, conventional research is unlikely to come up with effective solutions. Through future research, I hope to add to our understanding on folding diseases that can improve the health of millions of people.

4. CONCLUSION

As I prepare to embark on my proposed Ph.D. program, I have come to the threshold of a new phase of academic journey. I will be looking forward to developing my career and I believe XXX College of Medicine’s Ph.D. program will definitely enable me to create a milestone in my lifelong research career.

本 文 点 评：

        在优秀的中国学生中，很多人都拥有优异的学习成绩和令人印象深刻的科研经历。在申请美国顶尖大学的激烈竞争中，很多申请者都知道，光有科研实力还不够，还有必要通过某些独特之处，使自己脱颖而出。在学习与科研方面的才华之外，如果能辅以思想与情感，则“才情兼备”的申请者无疑将更加受到青睐。

        本篇文书所塑造的，便是这样一位“才情兼备”的女学生。在“才”这方面，文中透露出该学生拥有相当不错的GPA、三项重大的科研经历（她为科研项目单独提供了更为详细的描述）和若干比赛奖项。而在“情”这方面，则通过非常富有创意的文章，展现了与众不同的文思。“才”与“情”相得益彰，在严肃的科研精神之上，更增添了一丝清新的人文情怀。

        本文富有创意的形式之美主要体现为，用于留学申请的“目的陈述”，竟然以一份严谨的学术论文或研究报告的形式写成。开篇为“论文”的摘要，接着是关键词，接下来是四个“微型”章节，而在作为主体的第二章和第三章内，又采用了多个小节的形式，辅以2.1.、3.1.等二级标题，进行分论。整篇文章条理清晰，重点突出，内容完整，结构严谨。这一形式之美，又会反过来让未来的Ph.D.导师深信，申请者是一个有着强烈科研精神的人。无疑，该“目的陈述”高度学术化的形式，与该学生所要申请的高度学术化的Ph. D.项目，完全是匹配的。

        其次，申请人学习的专业领域是生物、生化科学。与此相呼应，本篇文书将申请人的学术成长过程比喻为一种“化学反应”式的变化过程，巧妙地引用了大量生物、生化的专业术语，以及生物、生化学科中的专业原理，将每个成长阶段取得进步的各种条件比喻为“反应剂”，将一般学生所欠缺的科研经历比喻为成长的“催化剂”， 将管理学双学位比喻为“添加剂”，将自己由量变到质变的成长进程比喻为“裂变与突破”。这种贯穿全文又十分贴切的“点睛之笔”，会使人相信，申请人不是一个只有零星和偶然灵感的人，而是一个自始至终文思泉涌、有思想、有深度的人。更难能可贵的是，申请人能够将人生感悟与专业理解完美地融为一体，非常富有新意。

        在很多情况下，唯美形式的意义并非止于形式层面。本篇文书的形式，就传递出了非常强烈的内容信号——文章的主人公必是“才情”之女无疑。