patelcm Posted July 15, 2015 Posted July 15, 2015 (edited) I have recently graduated from undergraduate studies with a BA in Cell/Molecular Biology and a minor in Chemistry and Medical Humanities. I am currently applying to medical school but I am very interested in virology research. Below is my CV and I would greatly appreciate recommendations of virology programs that I would be a strong applicant for. I will be taking the GRE soon but I have not taken it yet, however to give you an idea of my standardized test scores I got a 30 on the MCAT. Any help would greatly be appreciated! EDUCATION Bachelor of Science in Cell/Molecular Biology. May 2014 Appalachian State University, Boone, NC Minors: Chemistry, Medical Humanities Honors: University and Departmental GPA: 3.5/4.0 BIO GPA: 3.41 BCPM GPA: 3.38 RELATED SKILLS MTT Cell Proliferation Assay Statistical Analysis Cell Culture Gel Electrophoresis Western Blot Analysis Polymerase Chain Reaction Flow Cytometry Analysis Media Prep Virus Replication ELISA Immunoassay RESEARCH EXPERIENCE Research Assistant: Thesis Project. Dr. Maryam Ahmed, Department of Biology, Appalachian State University, Boone NC. February 2012-May 2014. • We investigated the use of matrix (M) protein mutants of Vesicular Stomatitis Virus, such as rM51R-M virus, act as selective anti-cancer agents by targeting cancer cells while sparing normal cells. • We investigated the mechanisms of resistance in different cervical cancer cell lines and developing combination therapeutic strategies with natural compounds such as curcumin, resveratrol, flavokavain B, echinacea, and quercetin, to augment VSV induced oncolysis of cervical cancers. • Acquired skills include sterile cell tissue culturing (SIHA, C4-2 cervical cancer cells, BHK cells), histology, and infecting cells over a time course for MTT cell proliferation analysis. INTERNSHIP South Africa Clinical Shadowing Internship May 2012-June 2012 • Riverlea Clinic (AIDS/TB) • Chris Hani Baragwanath hospital (Endocrinology, Maternity) • DFC Clinic at Univ. of Johannesburg (Chiropractic, Biokinetics) • Johannesburg General Hospital (Podiatry, Spine Specialist) • Soweto Children’s Clinic (Homeopathic Medicine) Zambia Clinical Shadowing Internship May 2013-June 2013 Ndola Central Hospital (Surgery, Medicine, OBGYN, Infectious Diseases) Arthur Davidson Children's Hospital (Pediatrics) WORK EXPERIENCE Certified Nursing Assistant, Deerfield Ridge Assisted Living Facility. Boone, NC. Jan 2014-May 2014 • Assist with resident care with patients diagnosed with advanced dementia/ Alzheimer's. • Record vital signs of residents. ADDITIONAL EXPERIENCE • Volunteer at Avante Nursing Home: January 2009-May 2009 • Volunteer at Brian's Center: January 2009-May 2009 • Apprenticeship at ACCU at CMC Northeast Medical Center: January 2009-May 2009 • Apprenticeship at Neurology Unit at CMC Northeast Medical Center: January 2009- May 2009 • Volunteer at ER at CMC-Northeast Medical Center (150 hrs): May 2010-May 2012 • Shadowing Experience: ER physician, Cardiac Cath Lab (80 hrs): May 2010-May 2012 • EMT-Basic Training at Caldwell Community: August 2012-December 2012 • Human Pathogen Transmission Course Training August 2012 • Volunteer ASU Science Festival Volunteer February 2013 LEADERSHIP ACTIVITIES • President of BBB Honor Society at Appalachian State University August 2011-May 2014 • Member of Health Professions Club at ASU Homecoming Committee September 2011 • Camp Open Airways Camp Counselor Summer May 2011-June 2011 •Member of South African Exchange Student Welcome Committee November 2012, November 2013 PUBLICATIONS AND PRESENTATIONS Response of Cervical Cancer Cells to Infection with Vesicular Stomatitis Virus (Poster) • 2012 NC American Society for Microbiology Meeting • 2012 State of NC Undergraduate Research and Creativity Symposium • 2013 Science in the Mountains Workshop • 2013 Student Research and Creative Endeavors at ASU The Use of Vesicular Stomatitis Virus and Natural Products for the Treatment of Cervical Cancer (Poster) • 2013 NC American Society for Microbiology Meeting •2013 State of NC Undergraduate Research and Creativity Symposium The Use of Vesicular Stomatitis Virus and Natural Products for the Treatment of Cervical Cancer (Presentation) • 2014 Student Research and Creative Endeavors at ASU The Use of Vesicular Stomatitis Virus and Natural Products for the Treatment of Cervical Cancer (Thesis) •Completed May 2014, Appalachian State University, Boone, NC HONORS Member of Beta Beta Beta Honor Society Member of Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society Member of Pi Gamma Mu Honor Society Member of Omicron Delta Kappa Honor Society Member of Dean’s List 2009-2014 Member of Chancellor’s List 2009-2010, 2013 Member of Honors College at ASU Member of Biology Honors at ASU 2013 College of Arts and Sciences Advisory Board-Biology Representative 2013 ASU Quality Enhancement Plan Student Representative SCHOLARSHIPS/GRANTS 2013 Office of Student Research at Appalachian State Travel Grant 2009-2010 Biology Alumni/Faculty Scholarship 2011-2012 Lloyd L. Hobbs Memorial for the Physical Sciences Scholarship 2011-2012 Ida Bell Ledbetter Scholarship Summer 2012 Williamsen Study Abroad Scholarship Summer 2012 Honors Study Abroad Scholarship 2012-2013 Lloyd L. Hobbs Memorial for the Physical Sciences Scholarship 2012-2013 Biology Alumni/Faculty Scholarship 2012-2013 Peggy Harmon Health Care Scholarship 2013 FND-Study Abroad Scholarship 2013-2014 Biology Alumni/Faculty Scholarship 2013-2014 Derrick Biology Scholarship Edited July 15, 2015 by patelcm 1FJG 1
virus guy Posted July 15, 2015 Posted July 15, 2015 Hey patelcm, I too am interested in virology research and I recently got into a Ph.D program that is heavy in virology research. Your CV is very obviously for med school. There is a lot of stuff in your CV that you don't need, such as your internship section and your additional experience section. Your related skills should be a part of your research experience section. Also do you have any teaching experience? For your presentation section I would make it look more like a list of publications, official title, authors, bold your name where you are in the line of authors. For you research experience what did you do specifically, it sounds like you put down what the lab does in general, the more specific the better. Did you make a plasmid expression vector, your cells and culture experience is very good, talk more about that.
aberrant Posted July 16, 2015 Posted July 16, 2015 Hey patelcm, I too am interested in virology research and I recently got into a Ph.D program that is heavy in virology research. Your CV is very obviously for med school. There is a lot of stuff in your CV that you don't need, such as your internship section and your additional experience section. Your related skills should be a part of your research experience section. Also do you have any teaching experience? For your presentation section I would make it look more like a list of publications, official title, authors, bold your name where you are in the line of authors. For you research experience what did you do specifically, it sounds like you put down what the lab does in general, the more specific the better. Did you make a plasmid expression vector, your cells and culture experience is very good, talk more about that. agreed totally. 1. most grad school application requires CV instead of resume. CV requires nn description of what you have done/learned during a specific work/research. In other words, under your research experience, it should just be 1 line with the information of: name of PI, name of department, time, and your title in the lab/at work. 2. As a result, OP will need to elaborate on the research experience, typically in an essay that elaborates what you have accomplished as a researcher and why are you applying grad school for a virology program, and/or why that specific school. I'm unsure how admission committee view when your CV has a bunch of med school-oriented experience listed in the CV. you definitely need to tailor it so that they don't think you are applying the program because you cannot get into med school -- this is what I have been told once by a professor friend of mine, who was the head of the admission committee for years. mademoiselle2308 1
patelcm Posted July 17, 2015 Author Posted July 17, 2015 Thank you for your insight. I was mostly asking for an opinion from individuals that are already in virology programs whether you believe I would be a strong candidate for certain virology programs and if you could please name them so I can look into them some more. So if you have any information regarding that, I would greatly appreciate it! Thank you for your help 1FJG 1
ballwera Posted July 20, 2015 Posted July 20, 2015 Have to admit I'm a bit confused...are you applying as a backup in case you don't get into medical school (adcoms can see right through this by the way..), MD/PhD? mademoiselle2308 1
patelcm Posted July 21, 2015 Author Posted July 21, 2015 I am just looking into the possibility of applying to virology graduate programs in conjunction with med school applications. The reason for this post is for recommendations of good programs that I would be qualified for based on my body of work that is listed above.
eeee1923 Posted July 21, 2015 Posted July 21, 2015 Why don't you apply for MSTP (MD/PhD) programs at institutes that have strong virology components? mademoiselle2308 1
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