STATEMENT OF PURPOSE FOR PhD PROGRAM IN BIOLOGY

My quest to be an insightful scholar and compassionate agent of radical change in areas

of Biological sciences fuels my passion to pursue a PhD program in Biology with a
concentration interest in comparative and conservation Biology. My undergraduate
course work in Animal and Environmental Biology was a rewarding and fulfilling
experience, with my final year project majoring on conservation of mollusc in a threatened
limestone hill in the largest rainforest of West Africa- Cross River, Nigeria.

World Wide Fund 2020 Living Planet Report held some alarming news: The world has
seen an average 68% drop in mammal, bird, fish, reptile, and amphibian populations
since 1970. Much of the loss is caused by habitat destruction/fragmentation due to
unsustainable agriculture or logging from anthropogenic influences. This for me is quite
worrisome and burdens me. The startling figures over the years have not abated,
especially for developing countries within the African coast. Several species of
unidentified wildlife are on the verge of extinction and near threatened.

My undergraduate course work in Animal and Environmental Biology (formally zoology)

and tutelage under Professor Christopher Omamoke opened my understanding to the
underlie between morphology, physiology, anatomy, behavior, origin, and distribution of
living organisms. Professor Christopher of Blessed memory was a seasoned intellectual
zoologist with accolades of major discovery of rare species of land snails in Nigeria. My
undergraduate final year project under his supervision exposed me to the use of the PAST
(Paleontology Statistical Software) to understand its use in analyzing species diversity. I
have a rich field experience in sample collection using the litter technique and I believe
this has prepared me for future research task to build thereupon. During this project I was
able to identify various rare species of endangered and threatened land snail species by
their shell diagnostics. Amongst others, rare species such as Pseudoglossula. Sp (O.
Boetteger.1899). The studies further pointed that surveyed geographical field location had
a narrow-ranged species of rare land snails that where threatened and near extinction.
After my undergraduate course work, I interned with the Nigerian Institute of
Oceanography and Marine Research (NIOMR). My commitment and zeal as a team
player earned me the position as the Head of the intern team. The internship experience
opportune me to attend several enriching seminars and conferences as hosted by the
institute. My daily job roles involved taking of water samples from the Lagos coastal water
for physio-chemical analysis and data entry into the master log and assisting researchers
during different laboratory processes and procedures. I strongly and firmly believe that
the foundation experience I have, would further enhance my competency as a PhD
student in the University of Alabama.

My current role as an Occupational Health and Safety executive (NEBOSH and OSHA
certified) gives me a greater advantage hovering over a wide range of experience cutting
across trainings, hazard mitigation techniques in the manufacturing sector, fintech
industry, oil & gas, consulting and government regulations.

I chose the University of Alabama due its highly seasoned professionals and prolific
resource academia. The course content is well itemized, with a tailored research direction
in place of my concentration interest- the faculty research focus justifies my areas of
interest in Conservation Biology.

The zest to improve human lives is very germane to my long-term aspiration as a

researcher and scholar. I seek to contribute my quota to existing knowledge base in
fostering, improving and ensuring sustainable solutions in areas of ecosystem
conservation globally.

Thanks

Leleji Akpewe James