Dr YYY recommended me to check the availability of postdoc position in your lab

Dr YYY recommended me to check the availability of postdoc position in your lab

List below is a email I will use for job hunting. Thanks in advance for anyone who could make a correction.
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Dear Dr. XXX:

I am a Ph.D. student at Purdue University who has recently passed defended my thesis on (topic of thesis here), recently and I am currently looking for a postdoctoral position. Dr. YYY is one of my committee members, and therefore he knows me well and would like to recommends your lab for my postdoctoral training. I have read your papers to use as my references in my thesis such as ‘ZZZ’. (or "I have read many of your papers including ‘ZZZ’...")

Do you currently have any postdoctoral openings? List Below is just a short summarization of my background for your reference.

I will get my Ph.D. from Purdue University. I co-authored six peer-reviewed papers during my graduate study, which mainly focused on quantitative genetics and association mapping. In, 2012, I was given an recognized as Excellent Ph.D. Research Award (one per year) in department of agronomy at Purdue University. If a postdoctoral position is available, please let me know and I will forward you my CV for your further consideration.

Thank you very much for your time, I hope to hear from you soon. to read this letter, and Have a nice day. 

Best regardsYours,
Ching


*I think postdoctoral sounds more formal than postdoc.  

Dr YYY has recommended that I check with you on me to check the availability of a postdoc position in your lab.

Listed below is a email that  I will use for job hunting. Thanks in advance for anyone who could make a any corrections.
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Dear Dr. XXX:

I am a Ph.D. student who has passed defense (what is this, it does not make sense, is it an exam or a course) recently and I am currently looking for a postdoc position. Dr. YYY is one of my committee members, therefore he knows me very well and would like to recommends your lab for my postdoc training. I have read your papers regarding as my references such as  ‘ZZZ’.

Do you currently have any postdoc openings? Listed below is just a short summarization of my background for your reference.

I will get my Ph.D. from Purdue University. I co-authored six peer-reviewed papers during my graduate study, mainly focused on quantitative genetics and association mapping. In, 2012, I was recognized as awarded the Excellent Ph.D. Research Award (one per year) in from the department of agronomy at Purdue university. If a postdoc position is available, please let me know and I will forward you my CV for your further consideration.

Thank you very much for your time and I look forward to hearing from you. to read this letter, and have a nice day!  Have a nice day!
Yours,
Regards,

Ching