Sample Statement of Purpose for Biophysics
Statement by MIPT Alumnus (01/2000)
The Biophysics Student, admitted to MIT, Caltech, Princeton
When I was a schoolgirl my parents and
I would go hiking all over Russia. Traipsing through the middle of
the untamed nature I realized that the most intriguing and
complicated objects in our world are living creatures. Now, having
studied for four and a half years at Moscow Institute of Physics and
Technology and having broad research experience, I am sure that
improvement of our understanding of living world is essential for
successful existence of our civilization and is the most important
thing one can accomplish during his or her life.
During last two years I have spent most of my time carrying out
research and attending a number of extra-curricular lectures and
seminars in biophysics. My favorite lectures were Biochemistry of
the Cell and Biophysics of Membrane Processes part of which was
devoted to model problem solving. Of great interest to me was also
the inter-institutional seminar on modern problems and phenomena in
biophysics. Prominent biophysicists from Russia and other countries
participated and told us about their current research and its
applications to life. All these significantly improved my
understanding of the subject and further enhanced my interest in it.
I found cellular physiology to be of the greatest interest to me. My
extensive knowledge of physics and mathematical modeling proved to
be very useful in understanding the principles that underlie
biological phenomena in cells. Consequently, one of my research
project involves the investigation of cytoplasmic membrane structure
and another deals with study of potassium channels in cardio
myocytes.
I carried out my first research project in biophysics at Lebedev
Physical Institute of Russian Academy of Sciences in the biokinetics
research group under the guidance of Prof. A. The ultimate goal of
our research was to check the change in permeability of lipid
bilayer for O2, glucose, K+, Na+, Ca++ and in membrane structure of
the human cells under pressure. Working in this laboratory I
performed a number of experiments, got acquainted with laboratory
equipment and further studied mathematical modeling of biological
processes. This research was especially interesting because we
worked in collaboration with clinicians who used our findings in
treatment of cancer and diabetes. By the end of the year I
successfully defended a bachelor of science senior honors thesis on
the topic "The Change of Erythrocyte's Membrane Permeability for
Glucouse and Oxygen in Normal Conditions and Under Pressure."
Currently I am working on a second research project under the
guidance of Prof. B at Cardiological Research Center (where the
Russian president Yeltsin underwent his heart surgery). This
laboratory deals primarily with treatments of atrial flutter and
fibrillation. Specifically, we investigate the new Russian Class III
antiarythmic drug Nibentan. It was invented in collaboration with
this laboratory and is currently being used in clinics. Our current
aim is to improve the existing formula. For the last year I have
been investigating the effects of Nibentan and other drugs on the
potassium ion channels of guinea pig and rabbit atrial and
sinoatrial cells using the whole cell patch clamp technique. By May
of 2000 I will have enough results in order to defend a masters
thesis one year ahead of time.
After graduation I plan to continue my scientific career in the
field of cell physiology. Successful research requires modern
equipment and facilities which in current financial situation
Russian laboratories cannot afford. These has forced me to look for
other opportunities to continue my education. Department of
Biophysics at Harvard University has excellent facilities and
leading laboratories in which I can fully realize my scientific
interests. Study of molecular physiology of potassium channels in
the laboratory of Prof. Gary Yellen and study of acetylcholine
receptors in the laboratory of Prof. Jonathan Cohen are of
particular interest to me. I would regard my admission to Harvard
University not only as a great honor but also as a great
responsibility and an obligation to work hard.
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