This post is especially useful for those of you who are planning to apply for a Ph.D. In the context of a Ph.D. application, a motivation letter is identical to a personal statement that showcases all the skills and capabilities you have to contribute to the project.
When writing an application to an institute or university, it is important to show that you are qualified to pursue a Ph.D. Your motivation letter provides the perfect window into your character, and they expect you to live up to their expectations.
A simple and sample copy of the motivation letter
To
(Professor/Scientist Name), PhD.
Organization Mail ID
Department of Microbiology
Technical University of Denmark (DTU), Europe
To whom it may concern,
I am writing to express my interest in a postdoctoral research fellowship at the Department of Microbiology, Technical University of Denmark (DTU), Kongens Lyngby, Europe (the department and university you prefer). I completed a Masters (MSc) from… (University and Department) and my Ph.D. from… (sub-branch of ….., if it is not your main branch), and I received my Ph.D. degree on (Date-Month-Year). Considering my research skills in microbiology obtained during my master’s and my research experience at (your department) as a research fellow, I believe my experience and education are well qualified to meet the position’s needs. I secured University First Rank in M.Sc., Microbiology from… in (year). I have been awarded a five-year research fellowship by (funding agency name) to pursue a doctoral degree in biology.
I believe my research experience and education make me well-qualified to meet the position’s needs. My interest in the science field made me pursue a career in research and education, and it all started when I joined the principal scientist (supervisor name) lab in the department of microbiology as a junior research fellow to study the role of beneficial microbes on host plants. During the study, I examined the fate of the host plant after inducing stress in plants by bio-stimulants such as fungal and bacterial microbes to enhance the plant immunity and defense mechanisms in the roots of my experimental plant. I also estimated the compatibility of native fungal microbes with Trichoderma viride and their impact on plant growth and plant metabolite content in the plant. We also developed carrier-based formulations of beneficial fungi for the cultivation of my experimental plant. Further, I analyzed the cross-functional ability of native fungal microbes to cultivate other commercial crops. We also analyzed the possibilities for enhancing the in-planta defense mechanisms against pathogens in the host plant by targeting the expression levels of pathway genes by qRT-PCR.
I was successful in bringing the entire PhD work to fruition in five publications, and a few manuscripts are under submission. In addition, I have worked on other collaborative projects in our lab on antimicrobials, especially essential metabolites from different medicinal plants. I have good exposure to plant physiology, microbiology, molecular biology, and cell culture techniques, and I have good knowledge of biosafety. I carried out various molecular and analytical techniques such as cell culturing, immunoassays, DNA, RNA extraction, PCR techniques, Southern blotting, Western blotting, SEM, ESI-MS/MS, HPLC, GC, NMR, and so on. I have self-sufficiency and excellent communication, writing, and data interpretation skills. I can work independently and in independent scientific research investigations.
Please consider that my investigative qualities of independence, creativity, and critical thinking; my technical skills in molecular biology, microbiology, and metabolic flux analysis; along with the application of CRISPR/Cas9 tools, would be beneficial to completing a project successfully. I believe that this position would provide me with the best platform to perform research. I would like to utilize my research and education experience to develop new ideas that would be useful to the scientific community and mankind. Considering my qualifications and interests outlined above and in my CV (attached), I very much hope that you will consider my application for this position and provide me with an opportunity to be a part of your work.
Yours Sincerely
(Your Name)
