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Cover Letter:

Dear Members of the Hiring Committee, 
I wish to apply for the post of Research Associate position. As someone with a robust interdisciplinary background in molecular biology, bioinformatics, and microbial genomics, I would be excited to make contributions to your esteemed institution through collaborative, impactful research. 
While doing my PhD at the Central University of Kerala (India), I headed up a comparative genomics project involving Xanthomonas citri pv. punicae employing an integrative bioinformatics approach to elucidate host-pathogen interactions and identify virulence factors. These projects have trained me to work with a wide variety of environmental and biological samples using biosafety practices and genomic data using a rigorous and hypothesis-driven team science approach. In addition to my research and technical skills, I have taken the initiative in organizing fieldwork in multiple continents, liaising for specimens and logistics, and publishing and presenting at conferences successfully.
I have served as an Assistant Professor of Biotechnology at PRIST University in the past where I taught microbiology, guided students in projects, and assisted in the academic planning of the Department. This made for a great experience for both myself and the students, which taught me valuable academic skills and helped me further understand my interest in environmental microbiology and its application to the real world. My CV is attached here for your consideration. If given a chance, I would love to speak about how my background and interests would complement your current and upcoming research projects.