I have always been fascinated by the enigma of life.

My parents, being doctors, fostered

my interest in science. I naturally took up Biotechnology as my undergraduate
specialization, as I believed it would bring me closer to finding answers to the
challenging questions of biology, for instance, how levels of complex molecules interact
to enable autonomous functioning of living beings.

I have been a topper in school as well as in college. In school, I was taught to be

inquisitive, and to probe beyond the obvious solutions, to gain a deeper understanding of
concepts. Biology was my favorite subject as I was fortunate to have teachers who
motivated me by drawing parallels between worlds of exciting discoveries and their
applications to everyday life. I realized that a comprehensive understanding of science is
possible only when scientific theories are supported by practical experiments.

During my <undergraduate studies/high school>, I underwent a short-term training in

microbiology and genetics labs at <“hospital name“>, a world-renowned hospital. I learnt
techniques and the basis of diagnostic tests from both physicians and technicians. <In my
<second or third year>, I acquired industrial experience at the Biotechnology division of
Orchid Pharmaceuticals. My responsibilities included the cloning of an antibiotic gene,
protein expression and pilot scale production in a fermenter. It taught me the importance
of accuracy and timeliness in biotechnology research.

In my <3?4?> year, I secured a prestigious fellowship as an Indian Academy of Sciences

(IAS) Summer Fellow at the Centre for DNA Fingerprinting and Diagnostics (CDFD).
Only 100 students out of over 10000 applicants are chosen for this fellowship. At CDFD,
I started on my research career under Dr.Edited, the Head of the Molecular Genetics Lab.
My projects were in clinical microbiology, industrial molecular biology, and molecular
genetics. My persistence and patience helped me discover a gene involved in the sex
determination pathway in silkworm. I gained a lot of domain knowledge from scientific
analysis and discussions with my advisor and peers. The weekly seminars at CDFD
introduced the variety of research work going on in different labs. I found the whole
experience truly enriching and I resolved to pursue a career in biotechnology research.
I enjoy being a team-worker as well as a leader. I developed my team-skills by
undertaking several group projects during my undergraduate course work. I learnt the art
of leadership when I was the principal organizer for the technical symposia <specify
name, year> at my college.

As part of my final year project, I have got the opportunity to work with Dr.Edited at the
Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, on Mass spectroscopy and Nucleic Magnetic
Resonance. I am confident that this experience will help me recognize the vital role of
biochemistry and biophysics, in biological research.

The papers I have presented both within my college and at Anna University reveal my
passion for research. My current goal is to pursue a doctorate in <univ specific field> at
<univ name>. I believe this would give me the opportunity to be on the cutting-edge of
research, with experts in the field. I am impressed by the work going on in <area/lab
name> and I would love to be a part of the team and make productive contributions. I
envision myself working as a research scientist in the next ten years. I believe that <univ
name> will provide me the ideal environment to help me realize my dream.