Application letter (Post #03)

Phyllis Chen Zixuan

Blk 35 Bedok North Street 4

#08-374

S(460035)

(+65) 9151 8982 (m)

phyllischenzx@gmail.com

February 18, 2013

Dr. Esther Clews

Tropical Marine Science Institute

National University of Singapore

S2S 18 Kent Ridge Road

Singapore 119227

Dear Dr. Clews:

Application for research assistant inland waters EMID

As a graduate from National University of Singapore (NUS) in life sciences, I would like to apply for the research assistant position in Ecological Monitoring, Dynamics and Informatics (EMID) group which was advertised on Tropical Marine Science Institute of Singapore (TMSI) official website.In line with the goal of EMID, I have always been passionate about sustaining the aquatic environment. Hence, Dr. Sandric Leong, my internship supervisor from the marine biology lab of TMSI recommended this job position. Moreover, having the relevant aquatic research skills and being a versatile team player make me a suitable candidate for this job vacancy.

Through the two years of internship, I have gained vast knowledge on scientific equipment and acquired analytical skills for research purposes. In scientific laboratory, I am responsible for microalgae culture maintenance and sample nutrient analysis by using analytical equipment  During field trip expeditions, I am accountable for water sample preservation for nutrients analysis, as well as, on-site data handling to determine the target destination for water quality parameter sampling. For both scenarios, the ecological data obtained was processed, analysed and interpreted using specific software. Hence, my internship opportunity honed my proficiency in equipment handling and on data analysis which will facilitate an efficient research process.

I have always believed that teamwork is essential for both work and social setting. As an intern in marine biology lab, I have successfully collaborated with different laboratory personnel to accomplish research projects on harmful algal bloom. From these projects, I have gained important teamwork skills which are mandatory to yield desired results. As an orientation house leader, I have effectively worked with 4 group leaders and led a house of 150 freshmen through their orientation camp. With excellent teamwork between the leaders and the freshmen, my house was awarded the ‘best house’ for science orientation week 2011. In essence, the teamwork skill I have attained prepares me for research team.

I believe that the relevant aquatic research skills and knowledge will help EMID research group to sustain the aquatic ecology in Singapore, and I look forward to meeting with you to further explain how I can contribute to EMID research group. If you have any questions, please contact me at 91518982, or by e-mail at phyllischenzx@gmail.com. Thank you for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,

Phyllis Chen Zixuan

 Job advertisement: http://www.tmsi.nus.edu.sg/research-assistants-research-associates-emid-inland-waters-cluster

* thankyou in advance for your valuable feedbacks and critiques.

*Revised on 27/2/2013. [Thank you Sharlene, Sofie, Mikaela and Xiaowei for your critiques.]

Resolving Interpersonal Conflict (Post #02)

Interpersonal conflict between individuals is often inevitable. This type of conflict not only happens between project mates, friends but also closest kin. As I am an extrovert, I enjoy holding conversations with people. Personally, I see the importance of active listening in every conversation. Hence, it really gets on my nerves when the one whom I am conversing with had their attention on something else.

For instance, there is once when I blew my top and scolded my best friend for ignoring me when I was speaking to him. Let’s call him A. I have known A since the start of my university life, and he has been my lecture buddy for almost every module. Therefore, I spent most of my time in school with him and we became very good friends. However, as time goes by, I realized that his non-verbal actions were showing that he was not interested in the “stories” I am telling. I felt ignored as he preferred to play with phone and to look elsewhere than to listen to my woes. After being ignored for several times, I snapped and raised my voice to gather his drifted attention. At that point of time, he gave me a shocked expression and asked what he had done wrong. I paused for awhile to gather my thoughts, and frankly told him how I felt towards his actions. To my surprise, A told me that he was not aware of his actions and was listening to me all the while. He also explained that he might seemed to be ignoring me as he has very short attention span on long conversations and he finds eye contact very awkward.

Upon understanding the reason behind his fidgety behavior, I tried to engage him in shorter talks and I asked for his opinion from time to time. Whereas for eye contact, I tried not to position myself in front of him, but at an angle which he is comfortable with. After all these adjustments, I no longer feel that I am ignored but there were still instances where his attention would drift off to this phone. Are there other ways to keep him focus on the conversations?