I am a graduate student in the joint UALR/UAMS bioinformatics program in the United States and I am visually impaired. I already have an M.S. in Biology and want to contribute especially to the development of bioinformatics in gerontology and aging research. So far I have done well in my coursework for the Bioinformatics Program. I have a 4.0 GPA. By the end of this fall semester I will have completed my coursework and I will be ready to start research in bioinformatics. Our Graduate Program in Bioinformatics is still growing; so there are not sufficient numbers of faculty available as major advisors in this field.
I am writing to find an investigator who would be willing to work with me as my major advisor. Because I am visually impaired, I need some additional assistance in mastering the reading material and cannot really do bench research. However, over the past 5 years, I have acquired and developed a number of different reading tools (ZoomText, working with assistants in TeamViewer and on Skype) and am able to do research and develop ideas, just at a little slower pace than a normal sighted person with similar expertise. To make up for my disability, I work at least 70 hours a week with at least 40 hours with assistants who help me with reading and analysis under my supervision. I don’t require any funding as long as I can graduate by August 2016. Moreover, since I am working with highly motivated, dedicated and qualified (M.S. in bioinformatics, computer science and biology) assistants here at UALR/UAMS, the long term investment for time spent with me will increase with increasing experience of my research team. For me it is very important to find an adviser soon because otherwise I would no longer be allowed to work in the United States because I would loose my full time student immigration status with the United States Citizen and Immigration Services. Just to note, my assistants here are part of the team to help me here, and do not need to be funded from any outside source.
Requirements for an Advisor:
1. Doctorate in bioinformatics or related disciplines, such as gerontology, biology, genomics, proteomics, biotechnology, computational biology, computer science, etc.
2. A time commitment to supervise dissertation research and guide me through the process of earning my doctorate by August 2016. After that date, the funding for my bioinformatics graduate education runs out.
3. An ability to work remotely with me and my assistants via Team Viewer (remote computer access software) and Skype12/12/2013
4. An ability to provide me with a meaningful, exciting and realistic research project
5. An ability to collaborate on my training with at least four (4) professors at my home university because I must have at least one external faculty member on my committee and the rest can be at my home institution
Preferences:
I am especially intrigued by any kind of research aimed at extending our lifespan and good health span. I have a very strong passion for this field. My dream for many years is to become a very successful and significantly contributing researcher in this field.
However, if the research topic is not related to a better understanding of aging in order to reduce its deleterious effects, I am also interested in any kind of research aimed at discovering gene therapies for disabilities such as my own. I am visually impaired due to Albinism caused by total lack of melanin pigment.
If you’d like to learn more about Albinism and how it affects me and what I can and cannot do with it please watch http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ypRXnE__Dw0. That way you might get a better idea how I could best contribute to a research project.
I am also interested in research aiming at curing or at least delaying major neurodegenerative and aging-associated diseases such as Alzheimer’s. I have synesthesia and therefore I am also interested in research in it. I am also interested in any kind of research that could potentially contribute to a better understanding of our brain and how to preserve the information contained in it.
The country of residence of my advisor should not matter since other students from my department had external advisers located in other countries. However, this needs to be approved on a case by case basis. Considering my special situation, the chances for getting approval of an external adviser from another country are pretty good.
In order to provide you with some background knowledge about me, I have attached my CV. Could you please let me know if you’d like any kind of further information?
If you are seriously interested in helping me to continue my education despite my handicap of being visually impaired, I would love to talk to you. If you are not in a position to work with me directly, could you please forward this information to someone who might? Or could you please recommend me other places where I might want to post this advertisement?
Thanks in advance for your assistance and best regards,
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