Brian Ward

Subject: Prospective PhD student: Vaccines Dear Professor Ward, My name is [your name], and I am a [your current degree or role] at [your institution]. I am applying for a PhD position starting in [term and year]. I read your paper "An enveloped virus-like particle alum-adjuvanted cytomegalovirus vaccine is safe and immunogenic: A first-in-humans Canadian Immunization Research Network (CIRN) study." (2024), and it connects closely to my own work on [your research topic]. [One or two sentences on what you did and what you learned.] I also saw your CIHR-funded project "Open-label, phase 1/2, dose-escalation and dose-confirmation clinical trial to establish a Controlled Human Infection Model (CHIM) by determining and confirming the optimal, safe, and reproducible Influenza A:H3N2 dose administered intranasally to healthy adults 18-40 years of age that induces mild symptomatic infection and detection of Influenza A:H3N2 in nasal secretions by culture and/or PCR" (2023), and I would be glad to contribute to work in that direction. Are you accepting new PhD students for [term and year]? I have attached my CV and transcripts, and I would be glad to talk at a time that suits you. Thank you for your time. Kind regards, [your name]