Project 3
Student id: g14
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Title: WP3: Cover Letter
Author: Ben Gincley
Date:
- Benjamin Gincley
- 700 Columbus Ave, Boston, MA 02120
- 411-666-3333
- gincley.b@husky.neu.edu
Hello,
I am very interested applying for the Foundry Operations Co-op at Ginkgo BioWorks. Last year, I had spoken with representatives of the company at a Northeastern University Biotechnology career event, and had proceeded through to a phone interview with a member of the company thereafter, but was deferred due to lack of experience at the time (as it would have been my first co-op). I am still extremely interested in the type of work that Ginkgo is doing, and the doors it will unlock for further biotechnological innovation, and I believe that an opportunity to work at Ginkgo in Spring 2017 would allow for me to both make a noticeable contribution to the team and work being done, as well as provide a unique and powerful learning and skill-development experience as I strive to further develop my competency in this field.[i.n.]
Through my Bioengineering coursework, with a concentration in Cell and Tissue Engineering, I have gained an understanding of genetics, tissue mechanics, proteomics, and cellular engineering. I continue to pursue opportunities to learn more about the science and find creative ways to apply this knowledge, through conversations with peers and teachers and by reading about advances and research being done in my spare time. [p.n.] While on campus, I have volunteered my time in two research labs, developing and executing mechanical engineering experiments in the Bubble Imaging Lab and learning cell culture/passaging, transfection, and biological assay techniques in the Addiction Sciences Lab, which I continue to be involved with. When not doing research, I serve as a mentor with multiple organizations on campus, further developing strong interpersonal and leadership skills that enable my ability to lead groups and harness initiative.
At my first co-op, I gained experience in a neurobiological research setting at Duke Universtiy, gaining proficiency with MatLab and familiarity with python to develop an automated animal behavior training paradigm and conduct comprehensive analysis of both behavioral and calcium imaging experiments. Throughout this experience, I gained skill and experience with both digesting and writing technical documentation, as well as developed ways to abstract simple meaning and explanation of technical concepts. At the end of my co-op, I gave an hour-long comprehensive presentation of my work with both animal behavior and calcium imaging to the entire lab in a lab meeting.
My coursework in genetic and protein engineering, as well as my experience using coding to automate existing processes while on my previous co-op, would allow me to succeed as a Foundry Operations Co-op at Ginkgo. I believe that this relevant experience, as well as my extreme interest in the work being done/potential applications of the technological paradigm being developed at Ginkgo and my personal qualities[i.n.], would make this a great fit. [p.n.]I eagerly await your call at 1-800-666-5555 so that we can discuss possible next steps and answer questions about moving forward.
- Best regards,
- Benjamin Gincley
Peer review
For Ben's project he is writing a cover letter to Ginkgo BioWorks in hopes of landing a Foundry Operations Co-op position. Throughout the cover letter he discusses his background in school, work and personal life, where he brings up many of his skills and accomplishments that he has gained and why he would be a strong choice for the position. I can tell from reading your letter that you have an understanding of the rhetorical situation and audience that you are targeting. Which means that you know that you are apply for a position in which you hope to get an interview and your audience is someone within an engineering/recruitment staff. What really impressed me in your draft was the seamless transition from element to element. What I think could be improved in your letter is your argument as to why you would be the best candidate for the position. I found that you were able to state all of your skills, experiences, and accomplishments well, but you did not engage as much into the actual position and how/why you would fit in there. I would say that the way that you have structured your background paragraphs seem to be good. It looks like you made it a point to transition from your academic experience to your work experience using your personal experience as a mechanism to get from one to the other which I appreciated. I did not find any of information that you included to be extraneous and I found that by including all of these achievements and going into detail with them that you gave off a stronger image of yourself to the employers. Overall I think that your draft was very well constructed and that there are only a few adjustments that should make to improve it.
Instructor Note
Excellent work here; I think you demonstrate real knowledge of the position, skill set, and attitude required of the position (due in part, no doubt, from your previous contact with them). I made a few small comments above, but on the whole this is very well done and I hope proves useful for you going forward.