Application Letter for a Working Group

(Your address)

January 22, 2002

Dr. Melba Ripley

The School of ArchitectureUniversity of Louisiana

100 Webber Hall

Baton Rouge, LA 70814

Dear Dr. Ripley,

I am a researcher at School of Materials Engineering, Purdue University.I have devoted nearly five years to the study of how inexpensive housing canbe made of native materials in Third World countries; I was intrigued' by therecent accomplishments of you and your students in designing and providinginstant" housing to victims of the recent hurricane in Central America.Therefore, I wish to learn about construction tecniques of developing newstructures in your working group for six months, preferably during April through September.

During the past three years, I have been an assistant to Dr. Graham Bensonwho has shared the rostrum' with you at many academic and global conferenceson housing. Together we, along with a group of students, have spent the pasttwo summers showing people in South Central Africa how to mix a speciallyprepared binder developed by our research lab with local materials to makedurable homes in a matter of days. I would truly like to have the opportunity to do research work in your group so as to learn state-of-the-art technology in housing-building materials.

I would greatly appreciate it if you could send me more information aboutapplication at your earliest convenience.

                                                                                             Sincerely yours, 

                                                                                              Thomas Lamb