2003 got Ph.D in Microbiology from top 50 university in esat coast. Cancer immunotherapy related project. 2003 to present post-doc in non-profit research institute.
7 publish. 3 first author. Did not submit citation information at all. ( and my lawyer told me it is not important, all his approved cases did not submit citation).
5 recommendation letters. one from master PI in China, one from ph.D PI , one from post-doc PI. Two independant letters, One from univeristy PI, one from former CDC PI, emphasised his past 17 years goverment service experience.
My phD PI background is very strong: he serviced as lots of national/goverment committee including: UN Biotechnology Development Projec key consultant, US congress biotechnology committee , Consultant to the States of Ohio, Louisiana, North Carolina and New York for the development of State funded Biotechnology Programs and Advisor/Consultant to the office of the Presidential Science Advisor (President Regan)....
So You can see I do not have super strong background. But my recommendation came from strong PI. and indirect goverment PI (CDC).
Good luck all!