Gillian Ward

gward@cwnchs.org
724-766-3008

March 26, 2017

Janet Hahalyak Weckerle

Program Coordinator
Magee-Womens Research Institute
204 Craft Avenue, B408
Pittsburgh, PA 15213

Dear Ms. Hahalyak Weckerle,

I am very interested in becoming involved with the Magee-Womens High School Summer
Internship Program. Currently, I am a junior at Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic High School in
Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania. Upon discovering this program, I was extremely excited
that an opportunity, like this, was available to students with an interest in biomedical research as
a prospective career.

I have always had a passion for science, especially in research and experimentation. Even when
I was little, my favorite television show and book series was The Magic School Bus. My love of
science has not changed, and as I was exposed to different areas of medicine, science, and
psychology in high school, I realized I wanted to study an area that combines all three interests.
Currently, I aim to pursue a degree in neuroscience or neurobiology, and conduct biomedical
research targeted at genetic mental disorders and diseases, possibly incorporating the use of
gene editing. These diseases affect not only the millions diagnosed with them, but their families
as well. I have had people in my life who were affected by mental disorders, and have seen the
impact is makes on their lives and the lives of the people around them. I want to be on the front
line of research, pursuing a cure with others. I hope that one day my work in the field will
impact others, and I believe I can have an impact starting with this internship opportunity.

In high school, my goal was to expose myself to a variety sciences to see what truly interested
me. You will be receiving references from Ms. Williams, my medical perspectives and forensic
science teacher, and Mrs. Murray, my former honors biology teacher. I recently combined my
love for writing and science and wrote an argumentative research paper for my English class
detailing the significance CRISPR gene editing will have on the future of medicine and science.
I am open to basic or clinical research involving genetics and epigenomics in the MWRI
research areas of Pregnancy and Newborn Medicine or Womens Cancer. Though I am first
drawn to genetics, I am open to working in other areas of research.

I am excited about this opportunity to work as an intern and be apart of the future of womens
health research.

Sincerely,

Gillian Ward
 Gillian Ward
gward@cwnchs.org
724-766-3008