To the Stipendium Hungaricum Selection Committee,

My name is Priscilla Silva and I am currently a stipendium hungaricum scholarship holder

with a MSc degree scholarship. I have a BSc degree in Biological Sciences - Genetics &
Biotechnology and previous experience with population genetics, cellular and molecular
immunology (inflammation) and proteomics.

Currently I am an intern at the Nemzeti Népegészségügyi Központ, under the supervision

of professor Dr. Nagy Orsolya (a letter of recommendation from her is attached to this
application), and my research aims to assess the cross-reactivity among flaviviruses
through serological metods. I am also writting an article at ELTE to be published in an
international scientific journal, as well as the results of my MSc degree research, which
will also be published.

I am currently applying to continue my studies here through this PhD scholarship for the
following main reasons:
1. I would really love to continue working with virology during my PhD.
2. I believe that as a researcher, I should be consistent and continuous with the subject
that I work with, and I plan on keep working with virology, which is why continuing the
work that I am already doing here now during the PhD would be a perfect deal for me,
as I am already familiar with the teachers, laboratories and the work I will be doing.
3. If granted this scholarship, my PhD research would benefit not only Hungary but Brazil
and the whole scientific community as well (PhD research proposal also attached to this
application).
4. I am completely in love with Hungary, Hungarian culture and Budapest. I am already
learning Hungarian and this is the country where I want to live and stablish myself as a
researcher.

The main objective of my PhD research proposal is to identify a new natural or synthetic
compound that could prevent the HIV virus from entering the cell, and in case I succeed,
these results would be very important in the scientific community and in the field of
research with HIV virus. It could take us one step closer towards finding an effective cure
for this disease, which still haunts millions of people particularly in developing countries.

In five years from now I see myself working in a prestigious research institute or
university, not only doing research but teaching too, which for me is the greatest thing
one can do with the knowledge he/she possesses: share this knowledge and pass it on
to future generations. Semmelweis has great reputation within the scientific and medical
community not just in Hungary but europe-wise, and being able to develop my PhD
studies there will be a major asset in my CV and will must certainly open doors so that I
can get my dream job working as a virologist in the future in prestigious research
institutes or universities. Besides that, my PhD research plan (if granted this scholarship)
aims to establish a scientific partnership between Semmelweis and my alma mater
university in the Amazon during my PhD studies so that these two universities can
exchange scientific knowledge, technologies and experiences. This way, both
Semmelweis and my alma mater university will benefit from the results of my research.
Besides that, I am accountability, quick learner, highly motivated, detail-orientated,
focused worker and I also can adapt easily to new places, teams and cultures as you
can see from my previous experience. I’m extremely communicative and resilient, I have
a great team spirit, but I also have enough autonomy to work alone. Furthermore, I also
have excellent computer skills, data entry, data analysis and some knowledge about
hardware in general. I consider all my previously mentioned skills useful for this position,
because they demonstrate how versatile can I be, and I think versatility is an extremely
important feature in the course of this research. This position offers an exciting
interdisciplinary scenario, in which I would have the opportunity to extend my knowledge
in more than one field. As I understand it, this scholarship is very competitive, attracting
highly motivated students. However, I have the ability to perform all tasks effectively, and
I am excited about the idea of working with such a dynamic and international team.

With my kind regards,