Jaden Zacharia

Dear Sam D’Alfonso,

Driven by a commitment to rigorous inquiry and project excellence, I am writing to express my interest in joining Dr. Reina Bendayan's Lab this summer. My experience spans the analytical demands of global strategy at the World Economic Forum and Google, the logistical complexities of healthcare administration and international infrastructure projects. I offer the University of Toronto a proven track record of translating complex objectives into tangible results, and I am prepared to contribute this same level of diligence to the advancement of your pharmaceutical research.

Dr. Bendayan's lab focuses on membrane transporters and the Blood-Brain Barrier which requires a researcher who is not only technically capable but also meticulously organized and has integrity. My professional experiences have prepared me for this in three key ways:

• Analytical Rigor and Data Synthesis: During my time as a consultant for Google and the World Economic Forum, I specialized in comparative analysis and the synthesis of large-scale, complex data. I am comfortable performing scholarly literature reviews and extracting key insights from dense technical frameworks; skills essential for the high-level background research required in pharmaceutical studies.
• Ethical Data Management: Working within a local health clinic, I managed sensitive patient records and navigated strict regulatory and privacy protocols. This experience ingrained in me a "data hygiene" mindset and a deep respect for the ethical standards critical to clinical and laboratory research.
• Operational Execution and Resilience: My fieldwork in Rwanda and Honduras required me to act as a project liaison, delegating tasks and coordinating between NGOs and local leaders to build permanent school infrastructure. I have a proven ability to "get results" in resource-limited, high-pressure environments, a trait that translates directly to the persistence needed in laboratory experimentation and project troubleshooting.

Beyond my technical skills, I am a communicator who can bridge the gap between complex research goals and community impact. Whether raising capital for a new school department or assisting in pediatric nutrition programs, my focus has always been being able to get tangible results that will aid the research of this lab.

I am particularly drawn to Dr. Bendayan’s research because of its potential to revolutionize drug delivery systems for viral infections and central nervous system disorders. I am confident that my ability to manage complex workflows and my results-oriented mindset will make me a productive and reliable addition to the team this summer.

Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to the possibility of discussing how my diverse background can support the Bendayan Lab’s mission

Best Regards,

Jaden Zacharia

For over 2 years I have been independently developing a theoretical framework for a novel gene therapy aimed at treating mitochondrial dysfunction in Parkinson’s Disease. My research focused on overcoming the cargo capacity limitations of standard Adeno-Associated Virus (AAV) vectors by proposing the use of engineered bacteriophages as a delivery vehicle. Specifically, I designed a strategy to deliver Cytidine Deaminase-derived Base Editors (DdCBEs) to correct pathogenic mtDNA mutations without inducing double-strand breaks. This proposal included a targeted entry mechanism utilizing ligand-specific binding to glutamate receptors on dendritic spines, effectively creating a 'programmable nanobot' to prevent metabolic failure in the neurons.