sample job application letter

May 5, 1988


Dr. Welcome Bender
Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology
Harvard Medical School
Boston, MA 02115
Dear Dr. Bender,


I am currently a graduate student in Greg Mendel's lab at the U. of Brünn and I am writing to inquire about the possibility of a postdoctoral position in your laboratory. I plan on graduating in June, 2004 and I would be interested in beginning between June-September, 2004.
My graduate work has focused on the inheritance patterns of certain traits in the pea Pisum sativum. Since peas have many traits that differ between different true-breeding plants, and since peas can both cross-fertilize and self-fertilize, this has been a good system for studying inheritance. My work has suggested that the inheritance of genetic traits follows two general rules. First, two members of a gene pair segregate from each other into the gametes. Second, during gamete formation, the segregation of alleles of one gene is independent of the segregation of alleles of another gene. This work will soon be published by the Natural History Society of Brünn.
During the course of my graduate work, I have become very interested in Drosophila developmental biology. I have been especially intrigued by studies of the Polycomb complex and how it represses gene expression during development. Thus, I am quite interested in the work going on in your laboratory.
I am planning a visit to the United States sometime early this summer. If possible, I would like to visit your lab at that time. I would be happy to present a seminar on my work.
Enclosed is a copy of my CV. I have asked my three references to send you letters on my behalf. I look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely yours,

Hugo de Vries

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