Hello,
I want to send a speculative application at a canadian laboratory. I'm french so I need a native english speaker to detect my mistakes and maybe give some advice. It will be send by email.
Thanks a lot by anticipation for your comments.
Aurélie
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Dear Professor ******,
I am writing to inquire about the availability of postdoctoral positions in your laboratory. I graduated from University of Burgundy (France) in December 2013 in the laboratory of Pr. ***** under supervision of Pr. ******. My PhD research focused on various aspects of social monogamy in the Zenaida dove, a Caribbean bird species. Thus, I am familiar with your work through a number of your papers and the book entitled "Behavioural Ecology of Tropical Birds" you wrote with Dr. ******* (and its updating in Wilson Journal of Ornithology in 2008), which has become my bedside reading during my PhD.
Throughout my years of research, I realized the great lack of information concerning the ecology of tropical species despite of higher biodiversity in low latitudes and the fact that these species are particularly sensitive to environmental variations. I now wish to pursue my professional career in this field and contribute to fill the knowledge gap. Due to my thesis topic, I could easily integrate in to your research team and put my skills at your service. I have acquired knowledge on diverse subjects and versatile methods from ringing and field experiments to molecular biology, through spectrophotometry. Moreover, having conducted my studies on a bird population in Barbados, I am already aware of the inherent constraints of both field work and tropical regions.
So far, I have published one paper on sex roles in territorial defence. In addition, I have submitted two more studies on: (i) mating patterns according to overall heterozygosity and wing chord, and (ii) variations of plumage coloration depending on individual characteristics. I am currently writing papers on pair bonds, divorce and widowhood as well as on mortality rate and influences of individual traits on survival probability. With my advisor, we expect to write at least one more article based on my thesis results on sex roles in some behaviours recorded in our monitoring data base.
I would greatly appreciate if you would give me the opportunity to work as a research fellow in your laboratory. I am willing to work on a project which is already set up with funding or to develop with you a proposal with my own ideas and search for grants independently. Field work periods prevented me from teaching during my PhD study, but I would be glad to help your team in this task as well. Please find enclosed my CV at which I added an abstract of my thesis and contact details of persons who could provide information about my qualifications and progress.
I am looking forward to hearing from you.
Best regards,
Aurélie ******
