Dear Prof.
Mettouchi,
I am writing to express my strong interest in the project titled "Toxins from E. coli
Pathobionts, Intestinal Colonization, and Cancer" at the Bio Sorbonne Paris Cité
Doctoral School. I am particularly excited about this research opportunity as it aligns
perfectly with my academic background and research experience, and I believe I
possess the required expertise and enthusiasm to make meaningful contributions to
your team.
Currently, I am a second-year PhD student at National Central University, and I hold
a master’s degree in biotechnology. My master's research focused on investigating
how fluoxetine may inactivate the SDF-1/CXCR-4/NF-kB signaling pathway in oral
squamous cell carcinoma. During this project, I acquired a strong foundation in
molecular biology techniques such as cell culture, Western blotting, qPCR, and
confocal microscopy, which were essential for elucidating the molecular
mechanisms driving cancer progression. Additionally, during my tenure as a
research assistant at the National Health Research Institutes (NHRI) in Taiwan, I
contributed to projects exploring oncogenic mechanisms in lung and prostate
cancer. I focused on studying protein-protein interactions and the apoptotic activity
of novel compounds in neuroendocrine prostate cancer. These experiences have
provided me with extensive hands-on expertise in animal cell culture and molecular
biology techniques, and I have a working knowledge of confocal microscopy.
The project on "Toxins from E. coli Pathobionts" resonates with me as it investigates
the connection between microbial pathogens, host-pathogen interactions, and
cancer progression—a key area of interest that intersects with my prior research. My
work at NHRI involved characterizing the molecular pathways associated with
cancer metastasis and investigating the role of different proteins in tumorigenesis.
Your project’s focus on understanding the effects of microbial toxins on the
intestinal epithelium and their implications in cancer aligns well with my interest in
the molecular pathways driving carcinogenesis. I am particularly interested in
exploring how E. coli pathobionts contribute to intestinal barrier dysfunction and the
progression of malignancies, which can lead to potential therapeutic interventions
targeting microbiome-cancer interactions.
In terms of future aspirations, I aim to continue my research career in cancer
biology and translational oncology after completing my PhD. I intend to use the
expertise gained from this project to further investigate how microbial factors
influence cancer development and explore targeted therapeutic strategies that can
modulate the tumor microenvironment. Your project offers an ideal platform for me
to deepen my understanding of host-microbe interactions and acquire specialized
skills that will be invaluable for future work in the field of cancer biology, especially
in the context of microbiome-related cancer research.
I am confident that my academic background, research skills, and passion for
understanding cancer biology make me a strong candidate for this project. I am
eager to contribute to your team’s efforts in unraveling the molecular underpinnings
of how E. coli toxins influence cancer development. Thank you for considering my
application, and I would welcome the opportunity to discuss my candidacy further.
Sincerely,
Rafia Kiran
