Sample Cover Letter

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Department of Microbiology
University of Ibadan
Ibadan
Oyo State

Dr. Ngozi Adebiyi
Department of Biochemistry
Obafemi Awolowo University
Ife
Osun State

February 9th 2010

Dear Dr Ngozi Adebiyi

I am writing in response to your advertisement in 'Science' for the post-doctoral research position in protein chemistry. I shall graduate at the end of May from the Microbiology Graduate Program at Obafemi Awolowo University. The subject of my dissertation, which I am due to defend in April, is the design of synthetic inhibitors for microbial proteases, and specifically the major E. histolytica cysteine protease. I have found your studies on viral proteases to be fascinating and I feel that while I will be able to contribute expertise to your project I will also be able to develop and expand my understanding of inhibitor function.

In addition to experience with most molecular biological techniques, my dissertation work has involved production of the recombinant protease, X-ray crystallography (in collaboration with Dr. G. Ogumdipe at the University of Lagos), extensive modelling of the protein's active site and design and testing, in vitro and in vivo, of synthetic inhibitor peptides. This work has been reported in two published papers and one that is currently in press (please see enclosures). I have also recently been able to obtain the three dimensional structure of the protease bound to histostatin (our most potent inhibitor) at a resolution of 2 Å.

I have enclosed a copy of my curriculum vitae, together with the three manuscripts and have arranged for three letters of reference to be forwarded to you. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Yours sincerely,
Taiwo H. Johnson

Taiwo H. Johnson


Enclosures