Thanks for creating this thread! I am applying for the Fall 2021 biology PhD programs in the U.S., and would like to hear your suggestions.
I will complete my graduate degree in 2021 Spring. I had my Bachelor of Medicine in China, and expect to get the Master of Public Health in Biostatistics in the US. I am planning to return to the immunology/genetics track for my Ph.D. As I am writing my personal statement, I found several problems and I think those could be a big disadvantage for me. So, I would like to share with you to see whether we can solve these.
First, my graduate study is mainly focused on biostatistics and epidemiology, which means that they are not immunology-related, they are even not biology-related. I did a lot of data analysis on the evaluation and design of population level intervention. It is hard to connect my present research with my passion to immunology. And the research method I used in the biostatistics is not the same with what I would use in biology. I would not be able to say that I am equipped with the essential laboratory skills in my graduate. However, I had several publications and conference presentations during graduate school and several biology laboratory experience in my undergraduate. I have 3 years of part-time research experience during my undergrad, which are all biology-related.
Third, most of my knowledge of cancer immunology was based on the courses and literature review, instead of experiments. Actually, I have never done any experiment in cancer immunology. Would that be a significant barrier for my application?