Hi,
Below is the SOP I have written for admission at EPFL's computer science program. Please add any feedback you have.
Here is how EPFL describes SOP: "The statement of purpose should not exceed 1000 words. You are required to describe your academic background and your career strategy. Please be precise about the objectives you wish to reach through your studies at EPFL."
At <Cloud Company A>, I was inspired by stories from seasoned colleagues about small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) bursting with innovative ideas yet constrained by funding limitations. This resonated deeply with my experience at <Cloud Company B>, where the hefty costs of training AI models often stifle ingenuity.
These encounters ignited my passion to contribute to the evolution of public cloud offerings. I am keen to explore research on resource management and other areas that could make cloud solutions more accessible. My ambition is to master high-performance computing (HPC) and distributed computing, democratizing access to AI and high-performance infrastructure, and empowering organizations of all sizes to unleash their full potential.
To realize this vision, I aspire to transition into a research engineer role at companies such as IBM Turbonomic, specializing in cloud optimization after my postgraduate studies. The MSc in Computer Science program at EPFL, with its Software Systems specialization, serves as the ideal pathway to cultivate the expertise I seek. The core courses align seamlessly with my focus on distributed computing and research skills, while the program's versatility encourages the exploration of a broader array of relevant subjects.
I am particularly drawn to the EcoCloud Research Center at EPFL, their mission to champion sustainable cloud computing technologies resonates with my desire to ensure these resources are accessible and affordable. I am eager to contribute to their pioneering research alongside EPFL's distinguished faculty, absorbing their wisdom and collaborating for a more sustainable future in cloud technology.
The EcoCloud Industry Affiliate Program (IAP) presents valuable opportunities to engage with industry partners, gain hands-on experience through internships and projects, and expand my knowledge and network.
The Distributed Algorithms and Concurrent Computing courses taught by Prof. Rachid Guerraoui will deepen my understanding of the technologies and algorithms that power applications in distributed environments, enabling me to tackle the challenges of high-performance workloads in the cloud.
I am also enthusiastic about the curriculum, particularly the chance to learn about modern data center architecture in the Advanced Multiprocessor Architecture course taught by Prof. Babak Falsafi, whose insights from his work at Eurocloud will be invaluable to my journey.
My degree in Electronics Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology <redacted> laid a strong foundation in mathematics, microprocessors, and information theory. My final year project, inspired by a desire to solve real-life problems, focused on developing a glove interface to translate sign language into English.
My team utilized flex sensors to capture hand motions processed by an Arduino Nano, employing a Long Short-Term Memory model for translation into English words. A Transformer Neural Network then refined these into coherent sentences. With a 96% accuracy in identifying individual gestures and 72% in generating meaningful sentences, we showcased the potential for technological innovation. However, our progress was limited by the scarcity of training data for converting hand gestures to words. This constraint restricted our glove's vocabulary to only 20 common English words.
Beyond my academics, a software engineering intern at <software MNC> provided me with insights into various web exploitation techniques and their mitigation strategies. I expanded my skill set by exploring web development, cryptography, operating systems, computer networks, and machine learning through online courses, personal projects, and workshops.
After graduating, I joined <Cloud Company A> as a Software Engineer on a Platform-as-a-Service team focused on workload deployment and management. My contributions included integrating our service with the <cloud> frontend layer, deploying and managing cloud infrastructure, and designing backup solutions for Oracle databases. This role empowered me to develop efficient, maintainable cloud applications, embracing microservices architecture and understanding the intricacies of distributed databases while fostering knowledge sharing within my team. Collaborating with customers, cloud service architects, and industry veterans gave me insight into the accessibility challenges SMBs face when utilizing cloud services.
Driven by a curiosity for low-level systems, I transitioned to the GPU and Telemetry team at <Cloud Company B>, where we collect and analyze data from millions of VMs within Google's infrastructure. Our work ensures the reliability of business-critical GPU VMs for customers' training and development of large language models (LLMs). This invaluable experience has deepened my understanding of design principles behind planet-scale services, virtualization, and the intricate interplay between technology and user needs, fueling my journey toward making a meaningful impact in the field.
My academic and professional experiences have provided me with the knowledge, skills, and exposure required to pursue a rigorous multidisciplinary program and contribute to the research in distributed computing. I am confident that an education at EPFL will allow me to grow as a research engineer and pursue my ambitions.
Below is the SOP I have written for admission at EPFL's computer science program. Please add any feedback you have.
Here is how EPFL describes SOP: "The statement of purpose should not exceed 1000 words. You are required to describe your academic background and your career strategy. Please be precise about the objectives you wish to reach through your studies at EPFL."
At <Cloud Company A>, I was inspired by stories from seasoned colleagues about small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) bursting with innovative ideas yet constrained by funding limitations. This resonated deeply with my experience at <Cloud Company B>, where the hefty costs of training AI models often stifle ingenuity.
These encounters ignited my passion to contribute to the evolution of public cloud offerings. I am keen to explore research on resource management and other areas that could make cloud solutions more accessible. My ambition is to master high-performance computing (HPC) and distributed computing, democratizing access to AI and high-performance infrastructure, and empowering organizations of all sizes to unleash their full potential.
To realize this vision, I aspire to transition into a research engineer role at companies such as IBM Turbonomic, specializing in cloud optimization after my postgraduate studies. The MSc in Computer Science program at EPFL, with its Software Systems specialization, serves as the ideal pathway to cultivate the expertise I seek. The core courses align seamlessly with my focus on distributed computing and research skills, while the program's versatility encourages the exploration of a broader array of relevant subjects.
I am particularly drawn to the EcoCloud Research Center at EPFL, their mission to champion sustainable cloud computing technologies resonates with my desire to ensure these resources are accessible and affordable. I am eager to contribute to their pioneering research alongside EPFL's distinguished faculty, absorbing their wisdom and collaborating for a more sustainable future in cloud technology.
The EcoCloud Industry Affiliate Program (IAP) presents valuable opportunities to engage with industry partners, gain hands-on experience through internships and projects, and expand my knowledge and network.
The Distributed Algorithms and Concurrent Computing courses taught by Prof. Rachid Guerraoui will deepen my understanding of the technologies and algorithms that power applications in distributed environments, enabling me to tackle the challenges of high-performance workloads in the cloud.
I am also enthusiastic about the curriculum, particularly the chance to learn about modern data center architecture in the Advanced Multiprocessor Architecture course taught by Prof. Babak Falsafi, whose insights from his work at Eurocloud will be invaluable to my journey.
My degree in Electronics Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology <redacted> laid a strong foundation in mathematics, microprocessors, and information theory. My final year project, inspired by a desire to solve real-life problems, focused on developing a glove interface to translate sign language into English.
My team utilized flex sensors to capture hand motions processed by an Arduino Nano, employing a Long Short-Term Memory model for translation into English words. A Transformer Neural Network then refined these into coherent sentences. With a 96% accuracy in identifying individual gestures and 72% in generating meaningful sentences, we showcased the potential for technological innovation. However, our progress was limited by the scarcity of training data for converting hand gestures to words. This constraint restricted our glove's vocabulary to only 20 common English words.
Beyond my academics, a software engineering intern at <software MNC> provided me with insights into various web exploitation techniques and their mitigation strategies. I expanded my skill set by exploring web development, cryptography, operating systems, computer networks, and machine learning through online courses, personal projects, and workshops.
After graduating, I joined <Cloud Company A> as a Software Engineer on a Platform-as-a-Service team focused on workload deployment and management. My contributions included integrating our service with the <cloud> frontend layer, deploying and managing cloud infrastructure, and designing backup solutions for Oracle databases. This role empowered me to develop efficient, maintainable cloud applications, embracing microservices architecture and understanding the intricacies of distributed databases while fostering knowledge sharing within my team. Collaborating with customers, cloud service architects, and industry veterans gave me insight into the accessibility challenges SMBs face when utilizing cloud services.
Driven by a curiosity for low-level systems, I transitioned to the GPU and Telemetry team at <Cloud Company B>, where we collect and analyze data from millions of VMs within Google's infrastructure. Our work ensures the reliability of business-critical GPU VMs for customers' training and development of large language models (LLMs). This invaluable experience has deepened my understanding of design principles behind planet-scale services, virtualization, and the intricate interplay between technology and user needs, fueling my journey toward making a meaningful impact in the field.
My academic and professional experiences have provided me with the knowledge, skills, and exposure required to pursue a rigorous multidisciplinary program and contribute to the research in distributed computing. I am confident that an education at EPFL will allow me to grow as a research engineer and pursue my ambitions.
