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Research Assistant Cover Letter At Mind & Body Lab
Mind & Body Lab
Skills & Qualifications • Ability to work independently and efficiently. • Strong organizational and task prioritization skills. • Excellent communication skills and proficiency in performing administrative and clerical tasks. • Proficient in general laboratory procedures
techniques
and documentation. • Willingness to learn and adapt to new techniques and technologies. • Fluent in English
Spanish
French
and Catalan. • Proficient in statistical analysis and software such as SPSS
MATLAB
and Python. • Proficient in using various software programs
including Microsoft Office Suite (Word
Excel
PowerPoint). • Advanced knowledge and experience in 3D cell culture techniques. • Skilled in protein isolation
Western Blot
PCR
rt-qPCR
toxicity testing
IHC
Northern Blot
and ELISA. • Proficient in anatomical dissection studies for medical and veterinary purposes. • Experienced in static analysis of behavioral data and microarray data. • Familiarity with electrophysiology
imaging
protein purification
and optical and electron microscopy techniques. • Advanced level proficiency in conducting animal experiments
behavioral experiments
anatomical dissection
and molecular analysis. Communication Teamwork Creativity Time management Adaptability Leadership Problem solving Decision-making Interpersonal communication Professionalism Critical thinking Flexibility Conflict resolution Stress management What is the most evidence-backed treatment in all of modern medicine? It’s not vaccines
or antibiotics
or even a healthy diet and regular exercise. Rather
it’s placebos
inert treatments that patients believe are the real thing. In the United States
every new medicine has to be tested against a placebo in order to be approved by the FDA. Consequently
every clinical trial provides additional evidence for the “placebo effect
” the phenomenon of placebos inducing significant healing responses. Yet
if placebos are simply sugar pills or sham surgeries
where do their healing effects come from? They come from us
and specifically
our thoughts
beliefs
and expectations about the treatment we think we’re receiving. We are interested in understanding how these thoughts
beliefs
and expectations affect our health both within and beyond the realm of medicine
in domains such as exercise
diet
and stress. More specifically
we aim to isolate the mind’s influence on our health
explain how the mind influences health
and harness this influence
with the intent of improving public health and healthcare. Below we dive into these three aims in greater detail
and highlight some of our ongoing and past research projects. Aim 1: Isolate One reason why the role of the mind in health is overlooked is simply that it’s difficult to study. Isolating the effects of our beliefs from the myriad of factors that influence our health is challenging. Our lab works to address these challenges by using creative methods to experimentally manipulate beliefs and expectations
and measure objective health outcomes. In our work exploring the mind’s influence in shaping the benefits of exercise
we found that hotel housekeepers who were randomly assigned to learn that their work constitutes good exercise lost weight and had lower blood pressure compared to a control group who did not receive that information (Crum & Langer
2007). Similarly
we have found that people who see themselves as less active than others have a significantly higher mortality risk 21 years later than those who see themselves as more active
controlling for actual activity levels (Zahrt & Crum
2017). We have also explored the mind’s influence in shaping physiological effects of food consumption. In one study
we had a group of participants drink identical milkshakes
but labelled some of the milkshakes as high-calorie and others as low-calorie. We found that participants who consumed the “high-calorie” milkshakes responded physiologically as if they had consumed more food
experiencing greater decreases in the hunger hormone ghrelin (Crum et al.
2011). Our more recent work has showcased the role of the mind in shaping our genetic risk of disease (Turnwald et al.
2019). In another study
we analyzed participants’ genetic risk of obesity
and then randomly assigned them to receive either a ‘high-risk’ or ‘low risk’ genetic test result
independent of their actual risk. To test the effect of perceived risk
we compared physiological outcomes within individuals before and after being told their (randomly assigned) genetic risk. We found that informing individuals of high (versus low) genetic risk on a gene related to reduced exercise capacity had a self-fulfilling effect on their actual cardiorespiratory fitness during exercise. In other words
people who believed that they were at greater genetic risk for poor fitness experienced actual declines in their capacity to exercise. Aim 2: Explain But how do these subjective beliefs have objective effects on our weight
hormone levels
respiration
and other physiological outcomes? Our lab has worked to outline the pathways by which our minds can influence our health. One critical and often overlooked factor is that the body has a natural ability to heal itself with time
and our beliefs can evoke this healing response in the body. Our beliefs themselves are shaped by social and contextual factors such as physician characteristics
medical rituals
medicine branding
and cultural norms. Consequently
something as seemingly innocuous as the label on a milkshake can evoke physiological responses in the body by shaping our beliefs about the food we’re consuming. This model reveals that placebo effects are not mysterious
unexplainable forces
but rather products of psychological and contextual factors that can be systematically measured and manipulated (Figure 1) (Crum
Leibowitz
& Verghese
2017). For example
in one study (Howe
Goyer
& Crum
2017) we manipulated both beliefs (by telling patients an inert cream would either boost or diminish their allergic reaction to histamine) and social context (by varying the doctor’s warmth and competence through verbal and nonverbal cues). We found that when a doctor conveyed cues of both warmth and competence
they elicited stronger placebo effects as measured by the size of the allergic reaction. Similarly
we’ve found that White patients show weakened responses to the placebo cream when their doctor is Black or female
illustrating how societal biases surrounding a provider’s race and gender may alter treatment outcomes (Howe et al.
2022). Moreover
our lab has identified a certain class of beliefs that seem to be especially influential in shaping our health
which we term mindsets. Mindsets are core assumptions about aspects of the self and the world. Because mindsets are general beliefs as opposed to specific expectations
they tend to be stable across contexts and situations. For instance
you might see the stress you experience during a poker game as thrilling and work-related stress as exhausting
but what do you believe about stress in general? Is it enhancing or debilitating? Something to be avoided or utilized? The answers to these latter questions would constitute your stress mindset. Similarly
we might hold a mindset that healthy foods are fundamentally depriving (or indulgent)
or that chronic illness is a catastrophe (or an opportunity). Because mindsets are consistent across contexts
they have more wide-ranging effects on our health than do situation-specific expectations. As shown in Figure 2
the mindset we hold toward a specific aspect of our health can change what we expect to happen (Expectations)
why we think things are happening (Attributions)
and what we want to happen (Goals). For example
people who see stress as enhancing (vs. debilitating) may expect to be resilient in the face of stressful circumstances
attribute personal growth to stressful experiences
and welcome stress as an inevitable part of achieving their goals. This set of beliefs then influences what we pay attention to
how we feel
what we do
and our physiology. In the case of stress
we might experience more positive emotions
be more inclined to pay attention to others who are thriving
use more positive coping methods for dealing with stress
and even secrete more growth-promoting hormones. All of this adds up to markedly different health outcomes between people who see stress as enhancing vs. debilitating
with the former experiencing less muscle tension and insomnia
higher quality of life
and lower risk of cardiovascular disease. Moreover
the framework in Figure 2 illustrates how mindsets and their meaning systems are shaped by our cultures and social interactions
as well as by our own conscious choice (more on that later). Altogether
our health is co-created by our subjective mindsets and the objective properties of the domains our mindsets are about (e.g.
aging
diet
stress
illness
and treatment). The generic framework (Panel A) can be applied to a wide-variety of different mindsets. Panel B showcases the theorized (italics) and explored effects in the context of mindsets about stress. Aim 3: Harness So if mindsets are so powerful
how can we harness this power to become healthier and happier? Increasingly
our lab is focused on identifying mindsets that may be especially beneficial for our health
and developing interventions to help people adopt those mindsets. Our research on stress mindset shows that delivering vivid
persuasive
and actionable information about the potentially enhancing effects of stress can help establish the mindset that “stress can be enhancing” and
in turn
improve health (see Figure 2 above) (Crum
Salovey
& Achor
2013; Crum et al.
2017). Similarly
our research on food mindsets suggests that altering public health messaging to establish the mindset that “healthy foods can be indulgent and delicious” may be a more effective route for improving health and motivating healthy behaviors than messaging that harps on the importance of eating healthily (which can inadvertently reinforce a mindset that “healthy foods are depriving/disgusting”) (Turnwald et al.
2017; Turnwald et al.
2019). In several studies (Turnwald
Boles
& Crum
2017; Turnwald et al.
2019; Turnwald & Crum
2019)
we’ve found that labeling vegetables with tasty and indulgent descriptors led to a 29-40% increase in consumption compared to highlighting their health characteristics. Relatedly
our research on exercise mindsets has yielded several important insights for making physical activity guidelines more effective (Zahrt & Crum
2020). My lab also partners with medical teams to design and implement randomized controlled trials that improve treatment experience and outcomes by instilling more adaptive mindsets. In one study (Howe et al.
2019) we improved the outcomes of children going though Oral Immunotherapy Treatment (OIT) for peanut allergies by altering their mindsets about side-effects associated with the treatment. Half of the participants were randomized to receive a typical warning message: side effects are negative outcomes that need to be managed and endured. The other half were given messages to instill the mindset that some mild symptoms are often a sign that the treatment is working (which is true in Oral Immunotherapy Treatment). Compared with families informed that symptoms are negative side effects
families informed that “symptoms are positive signs of treatment efficacy” experienced significantly less anxiety
fewer symptoms during the highest doses
and improved IgG4 levels
an immune marker of allergic tolerance. This study suggests we can inform patients about side effects without exacerbating them and is representative of the vast potential for similar studies to test mindset interventions in healthcare. Our current work includes developing and testing mindset interventions for cancer patients
people living with osteoarthritis
older adults
and people dealing with long-term outcomes from the COVID-19 pandemic.
By Melike Cansel EREN
Melike Cansel EREN
123 Main Street
Anytown, USA 12345
mcelike@gmail.com
555-123-4567
August 15, 2021
Alia J. Crum, PhD
Mind & Body Lab
456 Research Road
Anytown, USA 12345
Dear Dr. Crum,
I am writing to express my enthusiasm for the Research Assistant position at Mind & Body Lab, as advertised on your website. As a highly motivated and passionate researcher with a strong background in psychology and biology, I am confident that my skills and qualifications make me an ideal candidate for this role.
First and foremost, I am drawn to Mind & Body Lab's mission to understand the mind's influence on health and wellbeing. Your groundbreaking research on the placebo effect and the role of beliefs and expectations in shaping our health is truly inspiring. I am particularly interested in your aim to harness the power of mindsets to improve public health and healthcare, as it aligns perfectly with my own research interests.
As an individual with a diverse academic background, I possess a unique set of skills that make me well-equipped to contribute to your team. With a Bachelor's degree in Psychology and a Master's degree in Biology, I have a solid foundation in both fields, which allows me to approach research questions from multiple perspectives. Moreover, my PhD in Neuroscience has provided me with advanced knowledge and experience in various laboratory techniques, including 3D cell culture, protein isolation, Western Blot, PCR, rt-qPCR, IHC, Northern Blot, and ELISA.
Aside from my technical skills, I also bring a range of other valuable qualities to the table. I am highly organized and possess excellent time management skills, which have allowed me to successfully complete multiple projects simultaneously. Additionally, my proficiency in various software programs, including Microsoft Office Suite, SPSS, MATLAB, and Python, allows me to efficiently analyze and interpret data.
One of my greatest strengths is my ability to work independently and as part of a team. I value the input and perspectives of my colleagues and am able to effectively communicate and collaborate with them to achieve our research goals. My adaptability and willingness to learn and embrace new techniques and technologies have also allowed me to excel in my previous research experiences.
Furthermore, my strong background in communication and interpersonal skills has been instrumental in my success as a researcher. I am fluent in English, Spanish, French, and Catalan, which has allowed me to effectively collaborate with researchers from diverse backgrounds. I am also a skilled communicator, both in written and oral form, and have experience presenting my research at conferences and publishing in peer-reviewed journals.
I have been particularly impressed by Mind & Body Lab's aim to isolate and explain the mind's influence on health through creative and innovative research methods. Your past studies on the placebo effect and its mechanisms have been groundbreaking, and I am eager to contribute to this line of research. I am also excited about the opportunity to work on current and future projects that explore the mind's influence in domains such as exercise, diet, and stress.
In my previous research experiences, I have successfully designed and executed experiments to manipulate beliefs and expectations and measure objective health outcomes. For example, I have led a study that found individuals who see themselves as less active than others have a significantly higher mortality risk, even when controlling for their actual activity levels. I am confident that my skills and experience will allow me to make valuable contributions to your research projects.
In addition to my academic and research achievements, I am also passionate about promoting diversity and inclusion in the field of science. I am proud to have been part of initiatives that aim to increase representation and opportunities for underrepresented groups in STEM fields. I am excited about the opportunity to continue this work at Mind & Body Lab, which shares my commitment to promoting diversity and inclusivity.
I am thrilled at the prospect of joining your team and contributing to your research efforts. Thank you for considering my application. I am confident that with my skills, qualifications, and passion for your research, I will make a valuable addition to Mind & Body Lab. I look forward to the opportunity to discuss my application further.
Sincerely,
Melike Cansel EREN