Sample Cover letter for a Biomedical Faculty Position

Date
Name, Ph.D.
Vice President for Laboratory Science
Cancer Institute at University Medical Center
Address
City, State Zip
Dear Dr. Name:
I am writing in reference to the advertised position of Assistant Professor in the CI at University Medical
Center, advertised in September edition of Science. I am currently a research fellow at the Research
Institute completing studies examining the selection and activation of naturally occurring CD4+CD25+
regulatory T cells. I welcome the opportunity to engage in translational research of human cancer. I am
also interested in any teaching opportunities that may be conducted in conjunction with this postdoctoral
appointment.
It was while obtaining my B.S. in Microbiology and a minor in Chemistry, at the University of State, that
I began undergraduate research in the laboratory where I eventually obtained my Ph.D. in Immunology.
My thesis project, completed in 2000, entitled The role of the Interferon gamma/Interferon Gamma
Receptor Complex in Signal Transduction was an examination of events subsequent to the
internalization of the extra-cellular, interferon gamma/interferon gamma receptor complex, and its
possible significance in signal transduction. As a result of my graduate research work, I served as primary
author and co-author on a number of publications. I was also given the opportunity to present my research
findings in the form of poster presentations and during invited talks. In addition to the research experience
obtained during my pre-doctoral work, I also served as a laboratory instructor for both the undergraduate
core Microbiology laboratory class for microbiology majors and the graduate level Immunology
laboratory class at the University of State. As a graduate student, I was also selected to serve on a fourperson committee responsible for organizing the 2000 Graduate Student Research Symposium of the
Microbiology department at the University of State.
In order to further enhance my research experience repertoire, as a postdoctoral fellow my research focus
shifted from intracellular protein trafficking to animal model disease (mouse) and T cell activation (both
CD4+CD25- effector and CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells (Treg)). In a primary author publication,
recently accepted for publication in the European Journal of Immunology, we generated data that
corroborates data by others suggesting that CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells may play a role in
tumorigenesis. Specifically, we show that CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cell suppressor function, unlike the
proliferation of CD4+CD25- effector T cells (possessing the same T cell receptor (TCR) peptide
specificity), can be activated by weakly cross-reactive peptide analogs of the peptide that the TCR of the
T cell is specific for. These data suggest Treg suppressor function can potentially be activated in an
environment (such as infection or cancer) where high expression of altered self ligands occurs, thus
modifying the immune response. As a postdoctoral researcher my duties also included the training of
graduate students and laboratory technicians. My record of assisting in the training of graduate students
and technicians is evident in my co-authorship of several manuscripts both published, and in the process
of being published.
I welcome the opportunity to conduct research related to the translational research of human cancer, in
particular pediatric oncology. I also welcome the opportunity to apply for, and seek external funding. My

Researcher 2
appointment to the CI at University Medical Center would permit me the opportunity to contribute my
experience in protein transport, signal transduction, animal model disease, and regulatory T cell selection
and function to the field of tumor research.
Please find the attached C.V. with references. I thank you for considering me for employment within the
CI. I will be visiting family in [city] this week (October 10-14) and will be able to discuss career
opportunities and/or give a presentation of the work to be published in the European Journal of
Immunology. I look forward to hearing from you. I can be reached by phone: 321 123-4567 or email:
mdresearcher@institute.university.edu.
Sincerely,

Mark David Researcher