zetrova
Sep 3, 2011
Graduate / Review my Chemical Engineering SoP; applying to USA Graduate School [NEW]
Hello everyone, would you kindly review and give constructive critics to my Statement of Purpose please? Not limited to moderator, everyone's opinion is welcome.
This statement will be submitted to several USA university and entering Chemical Engineering pursuing PhD.
Without further a do, here we go:
I have one ultimate goal in my life. That is to build and design my own chemical plant. This feeling is accumulated by my experiences in chemical engineering undergraduate life. The material and energy balances course in the beginning, continued by transport phenomena, heat transfer, separations, reactor design, and finally process control course are guiding me to be a person capable of designing a chemical plant. However, after observing the real chemical instruments from Parr Instrument Company, I feel that these theories are not enough. The knowledge gained from these courses is merely a surface. I am still too green and need far deeper knowledge to build my own chemical plant. Therefore, I believe continuing my study to graduate school until PhD is the way to gain the knowledge I need.
My first independent study was with Dr. XXX' group in developing catalyst for production of 2,5-dimethylfuran (DMF) in hope to replace ethanol effectively in current biofuel. Weekly, I tested different catalysts varied in composition system, BET surface area, and calcinations temperatures. Then, I observed the conversions of reactants into DMF, concluded the experiment and wrote a report and a presentation. From this study and for my ultimate goal, I have learned that in order to produce a successful product, the product must be interested by society, green to environment or at least renewable, and researched thoroughly. Additionally, I have also learned that by going to graduate school, I could build contacts with companies that play in the field.
My second independent study was with Dr. XXX's group in simulating a packed bed reactor using OpenFOAM as the computational fluid dynamic program. This study taught me that by having a correct simulation, I could possibly reduce the capital of building a plant. This could be achieved by replacing pilot plant with simulation by computer. Indeed, I have experienced simulations that do not act the same as the experimented object. However, I believe if I could have a chance to study deeper in this matter, I could find weaknesses of simulation and create a conclusion or a life experience of which parts of a chemical plant could be simulated perfectly by computer.
In order to achieve my ultimate goal, I have to master these research areas: process control, computational fluid dynamic, catalysis and reaction engineering, and bio-products. I believe by mastering these areas by the time of my PhD graduation would create me as a person capable of building my own chemical plant.
However, I realized that graduate students would mostly be assigned into only one research area. Therefore, I would like to define what my objectives are in each area. In process control, I would like to understand and be specialized in creating controls that are controlled by computer automatically. In computational fluid dynamic, I would like to be specialized in creating codes that would simulate a system perfectly as the experimented object. In catalysis and reaction engineering, I would like to be specialized in understanding of which catalyst would work perfectly with a product. Just like a doctor which medicine is appropriate for the disease, I would like to be able to tell instantly which catalyst would work with a certain product. Finally, in bio-products area, I would like to produce a new product that I could mass produce for my future chemical plant. Additionally, as my life in graduate school goes by, I would like to build contacts and relationships with professors, co-students, and companies in the field. These people are critical in order for me to create not only a chemical plant but a successful one.
I have researched XXX University professors and their research areas respectively. Dr. XXX of process control, Dr. XXX of computational fluid dynamic, Dr. XXX of catalysis and reaction of engineering, and Dr. XXX of producing XXX bio-products perfectly match to my ultimate goal line. I am looking forward to work with these professors. I hope they would support me in achieving my ultimate goal.
In conclusion, I have decided to join XXX University chemical engineering department. After thorough researching the department, I have gained a belief that the people in this department could help me in achieving my ultimate goal; that is to build my own chemical plant after I graduated from my PhD. Therefore, I am looking forward to study in XXX University.
P.S. Of course, I will delete some research areas if the university does not have the areas. But, is it okay if I put multiple research area of interest?
P.S.S. I'm always bad at ending. Please give me some ideas how to construct a good ending for this.
Thank you very much for kindly spare some time and help for me.
Hello everyone, would you kindly review and give constructive critics to my Statement of Purpose please? Not limited to moderator, everyone's opinion is welcome.
This statement will be submitted to several USA university and entering Chemical Engineering pursuing PhD.
Without further a do, here we go:
I have one ultimate goal in my life. That is to build and design my own chemical plant. This feeling is accumulated by my experiences in chemical engineering undergraduate life. The material and energy balances course in the beginning, continued by transport phenomena, heat transfer, separations, reactor design, and finally process control course are guiding me to be a person capable of designing a chemical plant. However, after observing the real chemical instruments from Parr Instrument Company, I feel that these theories are not enough. The knowledge gained from these courses is merely a surface. I am still too green and need far deeper knowledge to build my own chemical plant. Therefore, I believe continuing my study to graduate school until PhD is the way to gain the knowledge I need.
My first independent study was with Dr. XXX' group in developing catalyst for production of 2,5-dimethylfuran (DMF) in hope to replace ethanol effectively in current biofuel. Weekly, I tested different catalysts varied in composition system, BET surface area, and calcinations temperatures. Then, I observed the conversions of reactants into DMF, concluded the experiment and wrote a report and a presentation. From this study and for my ultimate goal, I have learned that in order to produce a successful product, the product must be interested by society, green to environment or at least renewable, and researched thoroughly. Additionally, I have also learned that by going to graduate school, I could build contacts with companies that play in the field.
My second independent study was with Dr. XXX's group in simulating a packed bed reactor using OpenFOAM as the computational fluid dynamic program. This study taught me that by having a correct simulation, I could possibly reduce the capital of building a plant. This could be achieved by replacing pilot plant with simulation by computer. Indeed, I have experienced simulations that do not act the same as the experimented object. However, I believe if I could have a chance to study deeper in this matter, I could find weaknesses of simulation and create a conclusion or a life experience of which parts of a chemical plant could be simulated perfectly by computer.
In order to achieve my ultimate goal, I have to master these research areas: process control, computational fluid dynamic, catalysis and reaction engineering, and bio-products. I believe by mastering these areas by the time of my PhD graduation would create me as a person capable of building my own chemical plant.
However, I realized that graduate students would mostly be assigned into only one research area. Therefore, I would like to define what my objectives are in each area. In process control, I would like to understand and be specialized in creating controls that are controlled by computer automatically. In computational fluid dynamic, I would like to be specialized in creating codes that would simulate a system perfectly as the experimented object. In catalysis and reaction engineering, I would like to be specialized in understanding of which catalyst would work perfectly with a product. Just like a doctor which medicine is appropriate for the disease, I would like to be able to tell instantly which catalyst would work with a certain product. Finally, in bio-products area, I would like to produce a new product that I could mass produce for my future chemical plant. Additionally, as my life in graduate school goes by, I would like to build contacts and relationships with professors, co-students, and companies in the field. These people are critical in order for me to create not only a chemical plant but a successful one.
I have researched XXX University professors and their research areas respectively. Dr. XXX of process control, Dr. XXX of computational fluid dynamic, Dr. XXX of catalysis and reaction of engineering, and Dr. XXX of producing XXX bio-products perfectly match to my ultimate goal line. I am looking forward to work with these professors. I hope they would support me in achieving my ultimate goal.
In conclusion, I have decided to join XXX University chemical engineering department. After thorough researching the department, I have gained a belief that the people in this department could help me in achieving my ultimate goal; that is to build my own chemical plant after I graduated from my PhD. Therefore, I am looking forward to study in XXX University.
P.S. Of course, I will delete some research areas if the university does not have the areas. But, is it okay if I put multiple research area of interest?
P.S.S. I'm always bad at ending. Please give me some ideas how to construct a good ending for this.
Thank you very much for kindly spare some time and help for me.