Dear Dr. D
It is my pleasure to have you as an interviewer during my interview day. I am very happy that we have more to discuss than the time allowed. I have to admit that I admire you for what you have achieved in clinical, research and social-politics related aspects, being in the same age bracket as me. I would feel blessed if I can achieve what you already have now in five to ten years.
I talked with Dr. Zhang after I am done with my formal interview. He told me that he is in your group, both for the ward rounds and for research project. I hope I can also join your group if the program accepts me. As you suggested, I did a search and find out that XXX is a relatively rare disease affecting only one in 5000 children. Considering that only about one third of these patients have schizophrenia, it is even harder to find a patient with XXX complicated with schizophrenia. However, once we find one, and do a relatively thorough laboratory research, it will provide enough data for a good poster or manuscript. This can be an excellent project for a resident who have limited protected time for research but possess strong genetic research background, like Dr. Zhang, or me. It would be interesting to know whether the abnormality in chromosome XXX isolated in XXX patients is also responsible for schizophrenia. It would be beneficial if we can develop a screening method for XXX patient who is prone to develop schizophrenia. This will enable us to do early intervention before the age of XXX or earlier.
Thank you very much for spending time on my interview. Aiming at training of future clinician scientist, this program fits my career goal best. I think I process the background and traits that is valued in this program. I am looking forward to work, to learn and to contribute in this program in the oncoming year.
Best Regards
Sincerely
Riverside
PS
I did not have time to go through more details of the softwares and websites I mentioned during our interview. Here I list several websites that might be interesting to you:
1. The best primer design software, good for conventional PCR, real-time PCR with SYBR green/Taqman probe/Beacon probe. It checks pseudogenes and secondary structures at one click. It is very easy to use and prints the primer information beautifully. The only drawback is it is not free.
http://www.premierbiosoft.com/molecular_beacons/index.html
2. An interesting site to determine gene and signaling pathway. http://www.godatabase.org
3. A perfect website to start and know basic information about a particular gene of your interest. http://www.genecards.org
4. There are more information on this gene database than on NIH genebank. http://www.ensembl.org
Dear Riverside
Thank you so much for your email. It was great to meet you and discuss your research and career possibilities.
I know that the program here is very competitive, but your application is impressive. Should you match to this program, I would be delighted to have you work in my lab. I think your idea of figuring out a screening method for patients who go on to develop schizophrenia in the XXXX population is exciting. I just learned of a 16 yo XXXX patient who would fit the "prodrome," who I will be evaluating soon, who would be perfect for such a screening test.
Please send Dr. Xiu and other people you met with an email about your interview day, as you did with me. The more interest that you show in this program, the more likely you will be remembered in February when the match lists are made.
Good luck with your interviews. Please contact me if you have any other questions, regardless of whether you come to UConn or go somewhere else. I know you will do really well in your career, and I am happy to support you in your future success.
Best regards,
C D
Dear Dr. D
Thank you very much for your kind remarks and support. I did sent emails to Dr. Xiu and other people that I have met. I know when February comes, people would tend to forget about the details of the applicants who did
their interview earlier. But I am confident that the interviewers will remember me, given my perfectly fit research background and very easy-going and caring personality, and above all my interest in psychiatry, particular this program.
I chose a relatively early time for interview because I was hoping I could get a pre-match. We will see whether I did a wise choice or not.
Coming to the United States is an important turning point for my career. Finding a right residency program is the second one. My heart falls for this one. But, just as when I was facing the immigrant officer X years ago when I was in XXXX, I tried my best and the dicision is up to others.
If you would remind to Dr. Xiu about me now and then, I am sure he will consider me more positively.
Thank you for your encouragement. I am looking forward to join your program in the coming year.
Best Regards
Riverside
