Every time I think about the 2006 traumatising incident of Bird Flu epidemic in Maharashtra and

Gujarat states of India, it gives me Goosebumps. I never thought that an organism so ultra microscopic
could produce an epidemic which would succumb so many hens to their death. This incident aroused in
me the feeling of hatred and anguish that this disease had brought with it and forced me to think why
were these speechless animals sacrificed by this disease? Unfortunately, in the process I was set aback
when my own mother was detected with an unprecedented deadly disease of cancer, when I was in my
7th grade . At that time I wasn't aware of the disease and its catastrophic adverse effects which included
alopecia and extreme weight loss. Even after approaching highly reputed doctors my mom's misery
never ended.

Finally I landed up in the course of biotechnology at Elphinstone College, Mumbai which enabled me to
seek and explore infinite possibilities that biology would have when incorporated with technology. I was
fortunate enough to have got the opportunity to work with Dr. Arunan at CUBE lab, TIFR, HBCSE,
Mumbai which taught me to deal with situations during research with the minimum amount of
requirements and logical thinking. Dr. Arunan, keeping in mind my capabilities offered me a project on
Regeneration in earthworms and interlinking it with cancer. We learned about the regeneration
mechanism by Wnt signalling pathway which is directly related to the etiology of cancer. Further, I
presented my work at Indian Society of Developmental Biologists (InSDB) Biennial Conference
at IISER, Pune, and advances in the same project at an International Conference of IAN at Ravenshaw
University, Cuttack.

While working on my project I came across a research paper titled ‘Wnt signaling and its role in stem
cell-driven intestinal regeneration and hyperplasia’ By Dr. Julia Cordero et. al.. Through quick searches I
got to know that she is a working at your esteemed university. Her work impressed me a lot and I would
be very fortunate if I get to learn from such people. University of Glasgow is one of the rare places
where people respect the fact that being different is actually the new norm. Your esteemed university
will give me exposure to other research fellows and alumni’s working in similar fields. Your community
is truly diverse and will give me a chance to meet people from all over the globe and work alongside
them in seeking answers to my questions. I am looking forward to seek guidance from highly qualified
professors at your university, which will help me in quantitative as well as qualitative research.

Considering my life after this course at your University, I would like to work in the field of Research.
Remembering the words of Obaid Siddiqui ‘Sophistication is required in the mind, not in the lab’, I
would like to emphasise on a false notion that research can be carried out only with high end
infrastructure and sophisticated laboratories, and change this wrong perception in the people's mind,
whereas, research just requires a sound mind and a zest for the desired field, rest all comes with it
gradually. If people inculcate this notion and initiate their research in early years, there will be a time
where we can have a peaceful life without any such ailments. Although we have come very far in the
field of cancer biology, a lot remains to be yet discovered; and such discoveries will surely make human
life better. My plan after the master’s is to secure a place of a professor at any reputed university in India,
where I would get a chance to interact with high number of students. A high number of students in India
want to work in field of research, but usually lack proper guidance; I will work for bringing as much as
possible number of students in the field of research and contribute my best to the field. Not only this, I
also want to explore many hidden mysteries that are left behind in the field of cancer. As many people are
suffering from Cancer around the globe I would like to work extensively in this field of research, and my
ultimate goal is to eradicate cancer from its root cause. And hence to learn more and more about the
subject, I feel your university is the perfect choice for allowing me to pursue my dream and I wish to be a
part of it.