Cover Letters Template For Academic Job Applications (Page 6 of 6) in pdf

502 W. Main Street #221

Urbana, IL 61801

November 5, 2002

Cell Biology and Genetics Search

Biology Department

Amherst College

Amherst, MA 01002

Dear Committee Members:

I am writing to apply for the assistant professor position beginning September 2003, as advertised in the

October 11 issue of Science. I completed my PhD in Molecular Genetics and Cell Biology from the

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in October 2003. As an alumnus of a small liberal arts college, I

know and value the excellent education that smaller institutions provide to undergraduate students. I would

be honored to join the Amherst community as an assistant professor.

My research and teaching interests have been fostered by several years of undergraduate teaching and

mentoring at Illinois. I have taught discussion and laboratory sections for both introductory molecular and

cellular biology and for introductory genetics for three semesters each. In addition, I also taught a section of

a summer school laboratory course on the principles and techniques of molecular biology and supervised the

undergraduate research of several students here at Illinois.

My research has focused upon elucidating the mechanisms of the P element insertion in Drosophila

melanogaster. My dissertation research on molecular evolution and population genetics of transposable

elements in natural Drosophila populations built upon this topic. This research and the projects that will stem

from it can be adapted to provide undergraduates with research opportunities for their Senior Honors projects

at Amherst and would also complement the existing strengths of the department.

My graduate school experiences have reinforced my appreciation for the liberal arts college environment. I

have missed the small classes, active learning opportunities, and interdisciplinary students motivated by

curiosity and love of learning. I look forward to once again becoming part of a liberal arts community and I

can think of no better environment than the Amherst Biology Department in which to grow as an educator

and scientist.

I am enclosing my CV and statement of teaching philosophy. Letters of recommendation are being mailed

under separate cover. Thank you very much for your consideration.

Sincerely,

Ann Morton

Page 6 of 6

Academic Cover Letter Handout, updated 11/10/2006

Cover Letters Template For Academic Job Applications Page 6