Hi I am applying for PhD in interdisciplinary biosciences. It is SUPER urgent. Please ignore the conclusion. I am still working on it. Thanks
One of my most vivid childhood memories is witnessing the emergence of an adult cicada from a nymph, thus solving the mystery of the cocoons that deluged my backyard every summer. As a child, this discovery gave me a first taste of the satisfaction that animal research can offer. As an adult, research gave me a sense of purpose that was nothing short of revelation to someone who has struggled with bipolar disorder most of his adult life.
Following my graduation with a MEng in Electrical and Computer Technology, I conducted for the first time interdisciplinary research in the biosciences as research assistant in the Digital Signal and Image Processing Laboratory of the University of Patras. My first task was to develop image processing algorithms for biomedical applications. I focused on filtering and segmentation techniques and achieved high accuracy in the detection of tumors in Magnetic Resonance Images (MRIs). I went on to work on the processing of electroencephalographic (EEG) signals and the efficient removal of unwanted electromyographic (EMG) and eye-induced artifacts.
Even though my experience at the University of Patras proved invaluable, I still had the feeling that I had not found my ideal research field. However, during my graduate studies towards an MSc at the Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering of the University of Strathclyde, I read a book that had a great influence in the formation of my research interests. As a passionate, if amateur entomologist, I was intrigued by the Department's research on insect acoustics and proceeded to read Kenneth D. Roeder's seminal Nerve cells and Insect Behaviour. This book introduced me to bat-moth interactions, neurophysiology, and the potential to map motor behaviours on specific neurons. Roeder described his experiments with such contagious enthusiasm that I eventually based my MSc thesis on his hypothesis that moth wings have evolved to absorb the ultrasonic cries of bats. In order to test this hypothesis, I conducted a comparative study of the ultrasound absorbance between diurnal and nocturnal moths. Subsequently, based on Scanning Electron Images (SEM) images that reveal the porous structure of the wing scales, I derived analytical models that aligned with the experimental results. The thesis confirmed the hypothesis and received the top grade among all Master's theses in the Department. It is currently under revision with intent to submit a paper for publication in February. More important, the hours I invested in rigorous research for my thesis were the most blissful I had experienced in years. After a perennial struggle with depression that among others caused an extension to my graduate studies, I had finally found my true calling in the application of my engineering knowledge to the study of animals.
The Interdisciplinary Biosciences DTP is the ideal programme to pursue my research interests. Coming from engineering, the training during the first year is invaluable. Furthermore, I am offered the opportunity to be part of the world-class Animal Flight Group. For my DPhil project, one of my ideas is to investigate the mechanical impact of flight on the auditory system of a moth and test the hypothesis that there is an element of active tuning in the moth ear. Through my DPhil, I seek to gain expertise in neurophysiology and biomechanics and by the time I finish I hope to have fulfilled my potential as interdisciplinary researcher.
For the first few years following my graduation, I would like to travel and work in biomechanics labs around the globe. When I feel confident that I have made connections and obtained a global perspective of the research in my field, I wish to settle in an institution and begin to climb the academic ladder. My ultimate goal is to lead my own lab. I dream of it as a lab where neurophysiology, bioacoustics, biomechanics and engineering meet. There, I can continue my research as well train and pass my knowledge to the next generation of professionals, scientists, researcher, and, why not, Nobel winners.
I am excited to live in an era that technological advances offer the opportunity to study animals in such depth. As a DPhil student in bioscience with background in engineering, I will aim to provide a fresh approach and apply interdisciplinary methods to answer fundamental questions on how organisms work.
Athanasios, as I proof read your essay, I see that it fits well with the purpose of your essay.
You're gunning for interdisciplinary bioscience and I believe the essay showcase how passionate
you are in this course and to your future career in this field, though you have a different background,
you are still able to pull it through in very professional manner without turning your back on engineering.
Now, since you are having doubts on your conclusion, let me help you out.
Conclusion
- I am excited to live in an era thatleaning forward to technological advances
- offerand the opportunity to study animals in such depth.
- As a DPhil student in bioscience with background in engineering, I will aim to provide a fresh approach
- and applyapplication to interdisciplinary methods to answer fundamental questions on how organisms workin this field .
There you have it, I believe with the corrections above, your conclusion is more established now and ready to complete the entire essay for submission.
I hope my remarks helped.
Athanasios, while I understand that you have submitted a separate PhD proposal for your scholarship application, it would be more informative for you scholarship SOP if you mention your thesis title and the name of the publication that it is being considered for. This is to help the reviewers confirm the information that you are providing. These days, it is important that you provide verifiable information in your essay. You never know when they might secretly confirm your claims as part of the vetting process. So be specific and make sure you can support your claims :-)
Now, when you discuss your desire to assist with Pr0f.******, expand upon the information if you can by tying your PhD proposal with the research of this professor. If possible, explain how you will be able to enhance his research so that there will be a solid sense of possible academic achievement and potential on your part. While you have mentioned your credentials previous to your application for a PhD, informing them of your future ambitions, academic intentions, and possibilities will further create the solid platform for your potential success that the essay requires.
When it comes to your scholarship need, the part where you say :
I have amassed approximately £4,200
You need to inform the scholarship committee that you plan to use the full amount for your academic pursuits. Just clarify it for the reviewer because you have a hanging sentence at the moment that does not have a clear message.
The overall content of your SOP is strong enough to plead your case. A little adjustment to the content should help make it much stronger for consideration. Good luck with your application!
I think that application must include an idea of what you want to research during the course of your studies. You don't necessarily need to have the exact title, but you do need to write about the research in general terms in an SOP for PhD and explain your reasons for the interest.
Topics that should include in writing a statement of purpose such as
-Your experience in this field of research and what you have done to prepare you for the PhD program
-The reasons why you think this particular university is the one that will meet your needs
- How you feel this program and your research interests will further your future goals
Hi Athanasios :-) I reviewed your essay and as far as I can tell, you have provided enough information for your statement of purpose. I have just one question though, did the prompt, in its original form, allow you to discuss the possibility of getting a scholarship at the end of the statement? Normally, a statement of purpose is just that and does not allow for any reference to the possibility of scholarships nor pleading your case as a scholarship candidate. I just want to make sure that you are not presenting information at the end of the essay, about the scholarship request, that might be unappreciated by the reviewer. They normally frown upon the inclusion of information that has no place in the statement of purpose. Just clarify that point for me so that I will know if I should recommend that you remove the reference to the scholarship at the end or not :-) Perhaps you should be writing an addendum essay for the scholarship request?
The new version of the essay is quite well developed and clearly highlights your important accomplishments, future ambitions, and purpose for higher study. Save for my concern about the scholarship part of the presentation, I would have to say that this essay is good enough and ready for submission. All we have to do at this point, is make sure that there isn't any unwarranted information contained in the final version :-)
The SOP is adressed to an organisation that provides scholarships. The instructions are as follows: The ******* offers scholarships to the academically highest scoring applicants with demonstrated financial need. Please give reasons why you believe you should be considered for a scholarship and mention those for which you consider yourself eligible;
Therefore, I think I should mention the scholarships in my SOP
Hi Athanasios :-) Thank you for the information. Yes, you should definitely keep the scholarship reference at the end of the essay. The way that you discussed your accomplishments and qualifications register quite strongly in the overall content of the essay. At this point, I am reconsidering the opening paragraph that you have because of the way that it does not really offer a strong introduction for your essay. Reviewers tend to roll their eyes when they read references to anything related to "One of my most vivid childhood memories " or something similar. They don't really believe that such an influential experience can be had by someone who has yet to learn about the world.
Rather than that introduction, I think you should consider the possibility of bringing up your last paragraph relating to the scholarship instead. Remember that you are applying for a scholarship and the best way to get their attention is to discuss the reasons why you feel you need a scholarship. Then you can present your credentials as a candidate with the last paragraph of the essay referring again to your desire to win the scholarship and a reference to the scholarships you believe you can qualify for based upon your credentials. I believe that formatting the essay that way will make it much stronger than it already is :-)
Thank you again for your comments. If I get the scholarship it will be thanks to you!
I love engineering and I love biology - my academic path has been marked by the quest for the research field that would allow me to combine these two disciplines. Eventually, Berthold Hedwig's "Insect Hearing and Acoustic Communication" introduced me to neurophysiology and bioacoustics, and even inspired the subject of my MSc thesis. Now I wish to read for a PhD in Zoology under his supervision, and the Cambridge Trust can provide me this opportunity by considering me for the following awards: the Cambridge European Scholarship, the St Edmund's Duke of Edinburgh Scholarship, and the Vice-Chancellor's Award.
Following my graduation with an MEng in Electrical and Computer Technology, I gained my first experience in interdisciplinary research as assistant in the Digital Signal and Image Processing Laboratory of the University of Patras, where I developed biomedical signal processing applications. Though my experience at the University of Patras proved invaluable, I had yet to find my field; this would happen with my MSc thesis, which tested the hypothesis that moth wings absorb the echolocation cries of bats in order to render the moth inconspicuous. The thesis received the top grade among all Master's theses in the Department and I am now adapting it into the paper "Ultrasound Absorption in Moths: a Comparative Study between Nocturnal and Diurnal Species" for submission to a peer-reviewed journal. More important, after a seemingly perennial struggle with depression that caused an extension to my graduate studies, I had eventually found my true calling to be the application of engineering to the study of bioacoustics.
My MSc thesis equipped me with a solid background in insect bioacoustics and now I wish to advance my knowledge with a PhD that will investigate hearing in the genus Bicyclus (Lepidoptera: Satyrinae) by means of intra- and extra-cellular recording, neuroanatomical tracing, imaging, and laser vibrometry. My plan is to begin with the examination of the hearing organ, named Vogel's Organ, and proceed to the identification of its neural projections and the mapping of the auditory pathway. I am confident that the skills and knowledge on biological sensory systems acquired through my PhD will prepare me for a successful career in academia; my ultimate goal is to establish my own interdisciplinary lab and incorporate this knowledge into engineering solutions, such as hearing aids and microphones inspired by the tiny insect ears.
Since the completion of my MSc, I have amassed approximately £4,200, which I intend to invest in my PhD. My parents have also offered me their support; however, due to the current financial situation in Greece, they cannot afford more than £2800 per annum. Without financial support from the Cambridge Trust, I am unable to read for a PhD in Cambridge. I am well aware of the prestige and responsibility that come with the Cambridge Trust awards and I am certain that, given the opportunity, I will thrive in such an intellectually stimulating institution as the University of Cambridge.
I am excited to live in an era where technological advances offer the opportunity to study animals in such depth.
Athanasios, I think you need this essay to be less than 500 words right? I have 447 after editing it. I revised some sentences, improved the content of others, and removes some parts that I feel are not necessary for the reviewer to learn about. I aimed to make your application paper sound as academic and professional as possible. Here is what I came up with for you:
// too similar to the original (duplicate content) //
Thanks. I believe it's ready for submission. Fingers crossed.
I have been accepted for a PhD in Zoology. This is for a Scholarship application to an external organisation. The directions for the personal statement read:
Please start a new thread.
