Hi Dr. [name], I hope you and your team are doing well. I’m writing to introduce myself and discuss potentially joining your team as a postdoc. I'm currently wrapping up my PhD at Virginia Tech where I work with Mike Fox and study the development and circuitry of the rodent visual system, focusing on the LGN and SC. I plan to defend in May 2021 and aim to move to a new lab as a postdoc during the summer of that year. One of the main findings of my doctoral research is the discovery of subtype-specific lamination in the vLGN where molecularly distinct GABAergic neurons organize into adjacent layers. Using trans-synaptic viral tracing, I showed that these distinct subtypes cells receive monosynaptic inputs from the retina. This finding was really exciting to me because it suggested a means by which this visual area of the brain organizes incoming non-image-forming information into parallel channels by anatomically segregated layers of distinct subtypes. This potential ‘logic’ of subtype-specific circuits got me interested in potentially distinct roles for each circuit in behavior. So, of course, I was thrilled to follow the work from your lab, led by [former postdoc], dissecting the circuits underlying [behavior]. A big question that motivates me now is learning how sensory information is encoded in the brain and transformed into behavior. I’m interested in tackling this from the perspective of the visual system using genetic, behavioral, electrophysiological, and molecular tools. My interest in your lab comes from an appreciation of the technical breadth and creativity of your work, and the innovative questions you tackle. I would love to meet with you and discuss your current work and the possibility of opportunities in your lab. I think it could potentially be a great fit! I’m attaching my CV here for your consideration. All the best, Ubadah