Statement by MIPT Alumnus (11/2002)
The Biophysics Student admitted to Biology Departments at Harvard
University
Statement of Purpose
Applicant’s name: Ivan Ivanov
It is noticed that science develops in splashes, each significantly
advancing our understanding of the Nature. The 19th century was the time
of rapid development of thermodynamics and electrodynamics; in the
beginning of the 20th century quantum mechanics and relativity theory
were born. In the search for secrets of nature science has reached
extremely high and low energies as well as large and small length
scales. Still until recently we knew very little about one of the most
complex on everyday’s length and energy scales systems – life. Now we
are at the dawn of efflorescence in molecular biology, which provides an
excellent basis for application of modern physics, biochemistry and
computational techniques. Revelations of molecular structure become
extremely crucial, as they provide insights into the way molecules work.
My interest in the role of biomolecular structure in information
processing and signal transduction pathways in the cell has developed
during the last two years, while I have been a student of Molecular
Biophysics sub-department of MIPT. Processing of biological information
plays a crucial role in the existence and development of biological
systems and its infringement often leads to different kinds of diseases.
The structure and, consequently, the function of the involved
biomolecules is an important key to the understanding of these
processes. To further study processing of biological information and
methods of structure determination I joined the research group of Dr. X,
focusing on the structure and function of membrane proteins, lipids and
lipid-protein systems.
In September xxxx I started my research in the group of xx, Small City,
Russia. I studied the properties of xxx under various conditions. Work
there not only deepened my knowledge about crystallisation and lipid
systems, but also gave me knowledge and experience of strengths and
limitations of structure investigation by neutron scattering. I became
familiar with the theoretical background of small angle neutron
scattering, experimental setup and data treatment techniques.
In March xxxx I continued my research in the group of Dr. X at the
Institute of XX. The ultimate goal of our research is to explain all
stages of signal transduction during the chemo- and phototaxis.
Currently I am involved in several projects on the structure and
functioning of xxx, the specimen of microbial phototaxis system, in the
complex with xxx as well as without it. My current task is to obtain
crystals which xxx. During this work I acquired a broad range of
experimental experience and theoretical background necessary for
crystallisation and structure determination of membrane proteins. One of
the most challenging tasks in my project was to find the best conditions
for trapping intermediate states of xx in crystals. It was a combination
of thorough theoretical analysis of spectral properties of the protein
with further experimental examination and finally implementation of
theoretical findings. As a result I obtained crystals of xxx which
diffract to xx on a synchrotron.
Having succeeded in the current research, employing the knowledge from
different fields of physics and biochemistry, I feel well prepared for
the further challenging studies and research in the fields of molecular
and structural biology, perhaps on very different topics, as well as on
the topics I am familiar with. I regard structure investigations to be
not only the method of obtaining a particular structure, but one from
the collection of methods of life sciences which together advance our
understanding of molecular mechanisms of life. Therefore I want to study
a range of biophysical, biochemical and computational techniques that
are used to reveal function of biomolecules and information processing
by biological systems. Spectroscopy, quantum chemistry and computational
structural biology techniques, like molecular dynamics and Brownian
dynamics are of great interest to me as they are hand in hand with
structure determination methods. Therefore multidisciplinary training
program in Molecular, Cellular and Chemical Biology perfectly suits my
scientific interests. Research in these areas is very active in Dr. X's,
Dr. X’s, Dr. X’s, and Dr. X’s groups at XX University.
I want to continue my education at the Department of Molecular and
Cellular Biology of XX University. I am convinced that my participation
in your Ph.D. program will give me thorough education and excellent
research experience, which will advance me to my dream – discovering new
secrets of Nature.
Ivan Ivanov
16th of November, 2002