u/coralcrescent

its for a masters in microbiology. let me know what to change!

Dear Members of the Admissions Committee,

I give my highest recommendation to [name] for the Master of Science program in Microbiology at the [institute]. I have had the opportunity to work closely with [name] in my laboratory at the [institute] since February of this year, where she has served as a Research Assistant under my supervision as her Principal Investigator. During this time, I have been consistently impressed by not only her excitement for scientific discovery and intellectual curiosity, but her easy-to-get-along-with personality as well. Her presence in the lab has been a positive influence on not only lab-related projects, but also her colleagues’ motivation. Her communication skills, personality, critical thinking skills, and curiosity have changed the environment of my lab for the better. 

[name] quickly distinguished herself through her strong work ethic and desire to move forward with her own research project. She demonstrated proficiency in a variety of laboratory techniques including cell culture, antibody staining, and flow cytometry, and was very quick to learn new techniques when needed. Her flexibility in the lab has allowed for an ease with moving forward with her project, and her style of communication makes her easy to work with. Beyond simply performing experiments, she has a strong foundational understanding of immunology, microbiology, and molecular biology because of her experience as a Teacher’s Assistant during her undergraduate career as well as her constant desire to learn new things as she works on her research in my lab. These qualities make her well equipped for research in her field as well as for pursuing a graduate degree. 

One of [name]'s most notable strengths is her ability to keep sight of her goals even when her results are unexpected. She remains just as motivated to keep learning despite any issues that may arise. Throughout her time in my laboratory, she actively participated in research discussions during seminars and journal clubs while asking insightful questions, demonstrating a genuine interest in expanding her knowledge. She has made a great impression on many people in our institute because of her ability to discuss science deeply on any level. Her contributions to my lab are valuable to our research efforts and reflected a level of maturity that is uncommon among researchers at her level.

In addition to her these skills, [name] is highly a dependable, organized, and collaborative member in my lab. She works effectively both independently and as part of a research team when it comes to organizing and conducting experiments. Her professionalism, attention to detail, and willingness to assist colleagues have made her a respected member of the laboratory. These qualities will undoubtedly serve her and those around her well in a graduate research environment.

What particularly sets [name] apart is her determination, commitment to academic excellence, and her expressiveness when it comes to things surrounding the lab. As a first-generation and international student pursuing a career in biotechnology and research, she has consistently demonstrated resilience, initiative, and a strong desire to contribute meaningfully to the scientific community. I am confident that she possesses the intellectual ability, motivation, and perseverance necessary to excel in a rigorous Master's program. Her pattern of thinking is unique to her as she knows how and when to ask the right questions. I believe that this quality will continue to set her apart from her peers and will drive her towards success in any field she chose to be in.

Based on my observations of her academic and research performance, I believe [name] Alami is one of the best candidates for admission to your Master of Science program in Microbiology without reservation. She is a talented, genuine, clever, and enthusiastic person, and I am confident that she will make valuable contributions to your institution and continue to develop into an outstanding scientist.

Please feel free to contact me if you require any additional information.

Sincerely,

I’ve always looked for the hidden beauty in everything as an artist, and studying science was no different. I moved internationally to pursue a Bachelor’s degree in Biotechnology at the [institute], driven by my desire to explore this newfound muse. Shortly after, I began working as a Research Assistant at the [institute], which is where my creativity really got to thrive. Each new technique or fact I learned felt like adding colors to an ever-expanding pallet; using these unique shades, I was able to paint a clear picture of my future in immunology and research. Viewing science as art the same as I would a painting allowed me to fall in love with the journey of learning about this incredibly complex field. No detail could be overlooked, and yet no mistake made along the way was detrimental, each nuance and setback gave me a chance to understand the concept at hand on a deeper level. With time, it became clear that research offered me the perfect balance of scientific discovery and creative freedom, motivating me to further specialize in my craft as a researcher.

I fell in love with immunology while working as a lead lab and lecture teacher’s assistant under Professor [name], who challenged my way of thinking and taught me how to ask the right questions about science. Despite being the one responsible for teaching material to students, I found myself learning more each day about what it meant to be a scientist. I continued in this role for a majority of my undergraduate career; it shaped me into someone who is both well-versed in the field and able to piece together small details into thought-provoking works of art composed of proteins and cytokines. Working as a teaching assistant under Professor [name] showed me that being an artist and a scientist didn’t have to be mutually inclusive. In fact, I came to view my artistic mind as a strength that I could use to my advantage, expressing my creativity by conjuring up thought-provoking research questions that I could then explore using my ever-growing repertoire of paints and brushes. 

After graduating, I was honored to accept the opportunity to become a research assistant under Dr. [name]. In addition to giving me the chance to refine my skills in the lab each day, becoming a part of the [institute] has opened my eyes to the endless possibilities that getting educated at [institute] could offer me. During my time as a research assistant so far, I have learned countless lab techniques, including cell culture, flow cytometry, antibody staining, CRISPR-Cas9, and neutralization assays, that have greatly expanded my repertoire of tools at my disposal to expand my research further and explore the field’s most pressing questions. 

With my current research now having three main focuses, I first posed the question of whether different conformations of HIV’s co-receptor, CCR5, could exist on each subset of CD4+ T-cells. Using my background in immunology and the help of hundreds of research papers on the topic of GPCRs and HIV-1 infection, I began working on CCR5 antibody staining, using flow cytometry and subsequent confocal imaging to measure and visualize any differences of the protein between the subsets. Another research focus of mine involves using ChIP sequencing to find the CCR5 enhancer in memory T-cells, and the integration of immunology and genetics in this project helped me refine my expertise in both areas. Further exploring that integration will not only help me during my graduate program, but it will also allow me to continue expanding my horizons in research. My last focus is a shared project with a coworker which involves finding neutralizing antibodies against HIV using a microneutralization assay; with antibodies being our strongest tool in science, I am excited to see where this project will take me. My goal as a graduate student is not only to continue working on my projects, but to also expand them in different directions as I venture through my studies.

At the heart of all my research pursuits is my desire to further understand molecular and cell biology as a means of creative expression and discovery. Being surrounded by some of the greatest minds of our generation, such as Dr. [name], and spending countless hours at the lab has taught me what it means to be a member of the scientific communityand further solidified my decision to pursue this career path. Earning my Master’s in the same field that first captured my curiosity would be both a privilege and a dream come true, and I believe that [institute] is the best match for me when it comes to my career aspirations and the progression of my current research. I am highly interested in continuing my work in research with Dr. [name] as a graduate student. In the same institute, I would be interested in joining Dr. [name]’s lab to focus on research in broadly neutralizing antibodies against HIV. After discussion with Dr. [name], I found her lab very suitable for me as it would give me the opportunity to focus on B-cell research. Lastly, I found Dr.[name]’s focus on Human Bloom Syndrome to be very astonishing, and I am highly interested in delving deeper into it as a master’s student.

Moving to Tampa and joining the team at the [institute] represented a new chapter in my scientific career; I found ease in moving forward with the research questions that began forming in my mind during my undergraduate years, which is why I have full confidence that [institute] is where I am supposed to continue exploring this field. The environment at [institute] has nurtured the artistic perspective that I have adopted towards scientific inquiry, and the resources available to me on campus would give me the creative freedom needed to continue exploring the molecular mechanics of the cell and the smallest parts of what make life function. Understanding the biological mechanics that shape our world is the ultimate expression of art to a person like me, and I look forward to a degree program where I am able to continue finding this form of art everywhere.

she basically said she doesnt want us to chat in the lab about unrelated things (we don't really and we're careful) and then said that "people recently raised some concerns about the overall performance and outcomes of the undergraduate students" even though none of us are undergrads.

There's 4 of us working here and two of us only have our bachelor's including myself and I'm the newest to work here. Not sure if she's targeting me. She ended of the email with this sentence immediately after: "Please also kindly know that the renewal of your position will be strictly based on your performance and outcomes."

Not sure how to feel here lol

I'm a fairly new driver (6 months) and I was delivering a package that had a sample in it to Fedex which my lab and I thought would be easy and quick, but I ended up having to go to a facility thats 45 min away because all the other ones didn't accept packages with dry ice.

I ended up in a small accident (which was almost a really big one because I
almost got sandwiched by 3 cars but all that ended up happening was someone
hitting me from the back) and so I wasn't feeling great the day after. honestly the shock didn't hit me til the next morning when I called my dad and I just felt like shit after taking about it and I cried in the bathroom for ten minutes (no one saw this part) because I felt like I was the only one doing this extra thing for the lab and I've been really tight on money and I couldn't even afford my most recent car insurance and I had to ask my dad for help. I calmed down and continued my work as normal and this morning I asked for a small raise (I'm a research assistant) and she said no due to university policy ect but then she extended the conversation into a talk about "what happened" during my car accident and thats when she called me not mature (I'm 21 I guess I'm not that mature but I'd say I'm doing better than many) and too emotional because I was so scared after my accident.

I guess academia isn't for me!

edit: thank you all. i am located in the US for those wondering. i also forgot to mention that i got into the accident on my way home, and the car behind me tapped my car very lightly so i was left with a tiny scrape on the back thats barely noticeable (my car was bigger, they also just sped away so i didnt get their license plate number). the reason why i'm shaken up mainly is cuz the reason I had to break fast is because a guy tried merging into my lane and he admitted to me later that he didnt even look next to him, so i had to swerve into an empty lane meant for opposing traffic and break really fast. it was all horrible lol i dont remember it that well but i do have a small pain in my wrist because of it for some reason

i honestly cant sleep thinking about this. my coworker, let's call him coworker A, got broken up with last week and asked to leave lab early because he was feeling very unwell. he told our PI it was a personal relationship thing but she kept pressuring me into getting more details. i kept telling her i didn't know and that coworker A told me and another coworker B the same thing he told her.

later i hear from coworker B that my PI asked if me and coworker A were dating or if anything was going on, and when coworker B said no, my PI said it was strange that suddenly coworker A was having relationship issues (aka his breakup) around the time that him and i started becoming friends. mind you, we are both fairly new employees and i am in a friendship trio with coworkers A and B, i love them both equally and they're great teammates. i feel VERY disrespected by not only her inability to stop gossiping about all her employees but also her severe lack of professionalism towards this situation. i am a happy and talkative girl, but i always remain very professional and have never and never will date in the workplace. how do i even move forward without hating my PIs guts?

I work full-time as a research assistant at a well-funded research lab in academia where I make $19.23 an hour. I graduated with my bachelors in biotech before starting my job and I already had relevant experience for my current position. I've been working there for 4 months and I started off as a volunteer (unpaid) for a month and a half (which was 2 weeks longer than agreed upon due to paperwork issues). As a volunteer, I was doing the same work that I am as an RA, even doing extra things at the lab like picking up samples from the hospital without being paid, ect. I am one of four people who work at my lab and are paid. I work hard and am even training a volunteer and my project is equally as important as my coworkers' (some of them get paid more than me because they've been there for longer).

With prices going up I can no longer afford things like my car insurance and I feel really bad even getting groceries. I've had to ask my dad for help but he's in his 70s and I just don't want him paying for any more of my expenses because he has health issues and I just love him so much I feel so awful for even existing when I think about how much money he's spent on me during my undergrad lol (not that he's ever complained).

On the internet it says that an individual adult in my city should be paid $24.5 an hour to be able to afford basic necessities. I'm not even asking for that much because I know it's early for me to be asking for a raise, but prices have skyrocketed and I can't afford to live normally anymore. should I even bother asking for a raise? if yes, how?

I’ve always looked for the hidden beauty in everything as an artist, and studying science was no different. I moved internationally to pursue a Bachelor’s degree in Biotechnology at the [university], driven by my desire to explore this newfound muse. Shortly after, I began working as a Research Assistant at the [institute], which is where my creativity really got to thrive. Each new technique or fact I learned felt like adding colors to an ever-expanding pallet; using these unique shades, I was able to paint an ever-clearer picture of my future in immunology and research. Viewing science as art the same as I would a beautiful painting allowed me to fall in love with the journey of learning about this incredibly complex field. No detail could be overlooked, and yet no mistake made along the way was detrimental, each nuance and setback gave me a chance to understand the concept at hand on a deeper level. With time, it became clear that research offered me the perfect balance of scientific discovery and creative freedom, motivating me to further specialize in my craft as a researcher.

I truly fell in love with immunology while working as a lead lab and lecture teacher’s assistant under Professor [name], who challenged my way of thinking and taught me how to ask the right questions about science. Despite being the one responsible for teaching material to students, I found myself learning more each day about what it meant to be a great scientist. I continued in this role for a majority of my undergraduate career; it shaped me into someone who is both well-versed in the field and able to piece together small details into thought-provoking works of art composed of proteins and cytokines. Working as a teaching assistant under Professor [name] showed me that being an artist and a scientist didn’t have to be mutually inclusive. In fact, I came to view my artistic mind as a strength that I could use to my advantage, expressing my creativity by conjuring up thought-provoking research questions that I could then explore using my ever-growing repertoire of paints and brushes. 

After graduating, I was honored to accept the opportunity to become a research assistant under Dr. [name]. In addition to giving me the chance to refine my skills in the lab each day, becoming a part of the [institute] has opened my eyes to the endless possibilities that getting educated at [university] could offer me. During my time as a research assistant so far, I have learned countless lab techniques, including cell culture, flow cytometry, antibody staining, CRISPR-Cas9, and neutralization assays, that have greatly expanded my repertoire of artistic mediums at my disposal to explore the field’s most pressing questions. 

With my current research now having three main focuses, I first posed the question of whether different conformations of HIV’s co-receptor, CCR5, could exist on each subset of CD4+ T-cells. Using my background in immunology, I pulled out all the colors I knew would help me find the answer and began working on CCR5 antibody staining, using flow cytometry and subsequent confocal imaging to measure and visualize any differences of the protein between the subsets. Another research focus of mine involves using ChIP sequencing to find the CCR5 enhancer in memory T-cells, and the integration of immunology and genetics in this project helped me refine my expertise in both areas. Further exploring that integration will not only help me during my graduate program, but it will also allow me to continue expanding my horizons in research. My last focus is a shared project with a coworker which involves finding neutralizing antibodies against HIV using a microneutralization assay; with antibodies being our strongest tool in science, I am excited to see where this project will take me. My goal as a graduate student is not only to continue working on my projects, but to also expand them in different directions as I venture through my studies.

At the heart of all my research pursuits is my desire to further understand molecular and cell biology as a means of creative expression and discovery. Being surrounded by some of the greatest minds of our generation, such as Dr. [name], and spending countless hours at the lab has taught me what it means to be a member of the scientific community and further solidified my decision to pursue this career path. Earning my Master’s in the same field that first captured my curiosity would be both a privilege and a dream come true, and I believe that [university] is the best match for me when it comes to my career aspirations and the progression of my current research. 

Moving to [city] and joining the team at the [university] represented a new chapter in my scientific career; I found ease in moving forward with the research questions that began forming in my mind during my undergraduate years, which is why I have full confidence that [university] is where I am supposed to continue exploring this field. The environment at [university] has nurtured the artistic perspective that I have adopted towards scientific inquiry, and the resources available to me on campus would give me the creative freedom needed to continue exploring the molecular mechanics of the cell and the smallest parts of what make life function. Understanding the biological mechanics that shape our world is the ultimate expression of art to a person like me, and I look forward to a degree program where I am able to continue finding this form of art everywhere.

hi! I asked my boss for a rec letter for my masters degree application and she told me to write a template and send it to her and that I can include whatever I believe I should. I'm very unfamiliar with this kind of thing, is there anywhere I can look to find a guideline?

there's this guy that I have a fling with every once in a while. we've been on and off for three years because I would never actually consider a relationship with him, but he's hot and fun so I like being with him sometimes.

I'm almost sure at this point that I get sick after each time we start seeing each other again. and it's never after I just see him. it's after I KISS him. give it a few days and my throat hurts. why the fuck?? isn't that so weird? is there any logical explanation for this or is it really just a very, very weird coincidence?

hi! I'm fairly new to microneutralization and I use 384 well plates to test neutralization activity of antibodies against HIV pseudo virus.

my confirmation of the pseudo virus we made had pretty high titers (around the 50 thousands). in the plates with the supernatant, its usually around 10k, but my last few plates have had really low viral controls (1 to 2 thousand average) and my variation has been high.

I'm really freaking confused as to why, my coworker and I follow the same protocol and I have not deviated away from it and I'm not sure why my old plates and all her plates are consistent while my last few plates have been awful.

any tips or ideas? thank you very much

My only goal after my high school graduation was to continue going where my curiosity led me. That decision steered me into moving internationally to pursue my bachelor’s in biotechnology at the [University] before it led me to Tampa where I began working as a Research Assistant at [institution]. Unlike my peers, I never had a solid plan from the very beginning, yet the right opportunities continued to find me while I found more and more passion with every day that I was met with something new. One of these opportunities included becoming a lead Immunology lab and lecture Teacher’s Assistant under the supervision of Professor [Name] who, despite not being a Principal Investigator himself, ignited research questions within me unlike any other class or lab had before. I was a Teacher’s Assistant for a majority of my undergraduate career; it shaped me into an individual who is both well-versed in the field of immunology and adept in asking the important questions when it came to science. I believe that my unique experience being a TA set me up for success and immediately distinguished me from peers when stepping into the workplace after graduation.

Another opportunity that found me is my current position as a research assistant under the supervision of Dr. [Name]. Becoming a part of the [Institution] has opened my eyes to the endless possibilities that getting educated at [Institution] could offer me. Being surrounded by the greatest minds of our generation and people who I thought of as celebrities, such as Dr. [Really cool scientist], taught me the value of countless hours I spent working late at the lab and reading hundreds of research papers surrounding my projects. Being recognized by such people and having the privilege of asking them questions while discussing science makes me both proud of my understanding of my field as well as inspired never to stop learning. During my time as a research assistant so far, I have learned countless lab techniques including cell culture, flow cytometry, antibody staining, CRISPR-Cas9, and neutralization assays, amongst many others. My current research has three main focuses, one being analyzing different conformations of CCR5 on different CD4+ T-cell subsets, another being using ChIP sequencing to find the CCR5 enhancer in memory T-cells, and the last being a shared project with a coworker which involves finding neutralizing antibodies against HIV using a microneutralization assay. I am also writing a literature review about CCR5, viewing it as a protein with fluid mechanics and emphasizing its plasticity which sometimes allows viral into the cell. Though I am still early in my career as a research assistant, I am proud of the progress I have made so far, and I look forward to future successes and learning opportunities in this part of my career as I learn more about who I am as a future researcher and professional.

As I continue to work hard on my research, I hope that the next opportunity to find me will be the privilege to do my masters in the field that chose me and honed my curiosity into something I can use. Molecular and cell biology are the basis of all my interest; there would be no understanding of immunology, microbiology, or virology without understanding the molecular mechanics of the cell first, which is why I believe this is the right program for me. I believe that the [institution] is the right place for me because it was the first to give me the tools to move forward in my field and indulge in the research questions that have been brewing inside me since my years as an undergraduate. From the connections I have made with PIs here to the opportunities I see post-graduation, I believe that [institution] is the best match for me when it comes to my career aspirations as well as the progress of my research. I believe that my curiosity led me to [institution] for a reason, and I would be honored to be able to venture into this next stage of my scientific discovery here in an environment that I know inspires my dedication and desire more meaningful impact. 

I'm thinking about starting my PhD here. I'm just not sure about the quality of life that comes with being a PhD student here, and whether we have good PIs who are supportive/ good at graduating students in a timely manner. my options are a PhD in cell and molec bio, immunology. cancer immunotherapy, or alternatively I might consider doing my masters in molec and cell bio.

any advise on where to go from here? thanks :)

ive heard horror stories. i feel like doing a phd (at least in my field which is molec cell bio and immunology) means losing a chunk of your life to being stressed out and hating your life.

is it worth it? i have a lot of passion for my field (im a researcher at the moment) and im aiming for my masters because im scared of committing to a phd. i love my life, i love going on random day trips, i love staying up late with fiends, i love traveling. im scared that would all go away and i'll lose my mind or something.

ive been advised by more advanced people in my field to just go for the phd. but im just scared.

is it possible for a phd to be... chill?

currently not a student, just working on OPT and I'm thinking about starting an internship while working my job. It could bleed into when my master's program starts in the fall. I would like to keep working at my internship but I also need to work as a TA to get a stipend/tuition waiver.

Can I work a TAship (~20 hrs/week) and do an internship (~15hr/week) without violating any rules for my visa?

Thanks!

i made a post on here under a different account talking about how my PI treats the postdoc at my lab teally poorly, basically telling him that he doesn't perform and that he never listens despite him being at the lab basically 24/7.

im new to the lab (22f, just graduated with my bachelors) and she has treated me well so far, but im afraid im in the grooming phase so i'm trying to stand my ground from early on so she doesn't treat me badly later and doesn't overstep my personal boundaries because she is open about how she thinks people who choose science should not have a life outside of it.

my PI is out of town this month. today, my coworker forgot to send her a weekly report about how the lab is going. despite us having a meeting literally this morning, my PI texted me asked if everything at the lab is OK because she didn't receive the weekly report from my coworker. i was in yoga class and didn't see the text. she called me twice after that within the span of 20 minutes after sending the text. i was still in yoga class but hearing my phone ring incessantly made me anxious.

i had to cut my abusive mom off for calling me over and over and over again when i didn't answer her texts (she has bpd and made my life a living hell). this was a year ago and my nervous system is still hardwired to go into fight or flight when i hear my phone ring. i also overall just like my time to myself after work and do not want to receive phone calls from her.

the phone calls late after work along with her mistreatment of my coworkers just put me in a very anxious and uncomfortable state.

I respoded to her text by saying the following:

Good evening!

Sorry for not responding to your calls, I am usually very busy after work and I was in a yoga class.

Everything at the lab went well today, I'm sure [coworker's name] just forgot to send the report.

Have a nice day,

[my name]

she responded with ok thank you. am i like freaking out over nothing? sorry this is long and btw yes i am in therapy for my anxiety.