write letter of motivation

The world is dynamic, but the only constant that can keep you on your feet is good health. Growing up in a developing country like India, my temperament inclined towards sustainability and bringing about a change in people’s lifestyles. Spending my childhood with my grandparents and living in the same house surely gave me a first-hand experience of the healthcare facilities available in the country and globally. The rationale of all my decisions has thus stemmed from the belief that I should put my knowledge to uplift society. This led me towards Biotechnology, where mankind attempted to surpass the barriers of science fiction. As a young student pursuing biology, I was enchanted by the dynamic nature of the field. However, due to the lack of knowledge and hands on experience, I wasn’t sure if research is the right career choice. Never the less, during my bachelor’s, I learned about a 2 year research course offered by my college. I just grabbed onto this opportunity. I had to undergo a series of written test, proposal writing, SOP writing and interviews to finally qualify for independent research project under Mrs. Anushi Divan. She was the one who successfully connected all the dots in my mind, moulded and ignited the researcher in me. She is very enthusiastic and supportive. This was the very first time I realised the significance of patience and that there’s an alternative & reason to everything that doesn’t work. By the end of my research tenure, my personality had evolved from a girl who had stage fear to a girl who can boldy present and take a stand in front of the crowd. Most importantly, research taught my impatient self to be patient. During my course, I realised Immunology and cell & molecular biology interested me the most. The sheer organization of cellular functioning always captivated me. The interdisciplinary nature of the field moulded my perspective into applying the concepts of one module in another. That is when I studied gene and cell engineering tools that can be incorporated to counter one of the ingrained weaknesses of the modern healthcare sector - genetic and neurodegenerative disorders. I also learned the immune system – metabolism crosstalk and its modulation by cytokines. This drew me towards the extended applications of gene-editing tools in healthcare and biology. In the course of my Master’s, I explored scientific topics and worked on problems that amalgamate cell biology, molecular biology and immunology. During my Master’s thesis at National Institute of Research in Reproductive Health (NIRRH), I learnt molecular biology techniques like PCR, Next generation sequencing and many other Bioinformatics based software used for analysing various genes. I was exposed to an environment that bolstered my belief and passion to consider a career in research. I worked with Dr Vainav Patel, a mind that dedicated his life to Immunology of HIV and decrypting their structure, mutations and functions. My approach towards troubleshooting and perceiving experimental conditions was majorly shaped here. Currently, I work as a Scientist in a IIT Bombay based Start Up named “Immunoadoptive Cell Therapy Private Limited (ImmunoACT)”. ImmunoACT is India’s first cell & gene therapy company committed to bring high quality CAR T cell therapy at affordable cost. I was very fortunate to be trained under the guidance of Prof. Rahul Purwar, The Founder of ImmunoACT and Associate professor of IIT Bombay. We design Chimeric Antigen Receptor T cells (CAR-T cells) as an immunotherapeutic against haematological malignancies. I am currently the Vector Manufacturing head in the anti-CD-19 CAR T cell phase 1 trial for r/r BALL & r/r DLBCL. This work also helps me integrate my molecular biology skillset with immunology while also learning new techniques like Flow cytometry, Cell culture, PCR, ELISA, CAR T manufacturing, etc. My overall research experience has refined my critical thinking and helped me link basic biology with translational research. My primary interest has been to look at biological systems through the lens of molecular and cellular subsystems. Thus, pursuing a PhD would be the best way to quench my curiosity towards finding missing links in science using modern biological tools.