GOOD APPLICATION LETTER

By: Fred Winston May 2, 1996 Dr. Welcome Bender Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology ar!ard Medical "chool Boston, M# $211% Dear Dr. Bender, & am currently a graduate student in 'reg Mendel(s la) at the *. of Br+nn and & am ,riting to in-uire a)out the possi)ility of a postdoctoral position in your la)oratory. & plan on graduating in .une, 2$$/ and & ,ould )e interested in )eginning )et,een .une0"eptem)er, 2$$/. My graduate ,or1 has focused on the inheritance patterns of certain traits in the pea Pisum sati!um. "ince peas ha!e many traits that differ )et,een different true0 )reeding plants, and since peas can )oth cross0fertili2e and self0fertili2e, this has )een a good system for studying inheritance. My ,or1 has suggested that the inheritance of genetic traits follo,s t,o general rules. 3irst, t,o mem)ers of a gene pair segregate from each other into the gametes. "econd, during gamete formation, the segregation of alleles of one gene is independent of the segregation of alleles of another gene. 4his ,or1 ,ill soon )e pu)lished )y the 5atural istory "ociety of Br+nn. During the course of my graduate ,or1, & ha!e )ecome !ery interested in Drosophila de!elopmental )iology. & ha!e )een especially intrigued )y studies of the Polycom) comple6 and ho, it represses gene e6pression during de!elopment. 4hus, & am -uite interested in the ,or1 going on in your la)oratory. & am planning a !isit to the *nited "tates sometime early this summer. &f possi)le, & ,ould li1e to !isit your la) at that time. & ,ould )e happy to present a seminar on my ,or1. 7nclosed is a copy of my C8. & ha!e as1ed my three references to send you letters on my )ehalf. & loo1 for,ard to hearing from you. "incerely yours, ugo de 8ries

BAD APPLICATION LETTER

May 2, 1996 Dr. Welcome Bender Department of BCMP ar!ard Medical "chool Boston, M# $211% Dear Dr. Bender, & am currently a graduate student in 'reg Mendel(s la) at the *. of Br+nn, ,here & ha!e )een studying segregation and independent assortment of genetic traits. & plan to graduate ne6t month and & am interested in your line of research. 4herefore, & am applying for a postdoctoral position in your la). My C8 is enclosed. & loo1 for,ard to hearing from you. "incerely yours, ugo de 8ries