alliswell123
Aug 26, 2014
Graduate / 22 years in the pursuit of my dreams - evaluate my SOP for Grad school [3]
Please give me reviews about this SOP. If you feel there is some area which needs to be improved kindly suggest. Thanks in advance.
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE
I have always believed that to be fulfilled and content one must pursue their passions with dedication. In my case, what started off as a curiosity gradually developed into an engaging interest in how process industries make the most out of their resources. Through various experiences in my life, I have realized that my passion lies in the field of Process Design, Control and Optimization. I want to build a career in industrial research in this field, and help with the efficient operation of process plants. To that effect, I want to obtain a Master's degree which will enhance my skills and knowledge in this area.
Born to a family of professors, my upbringing was centered on curiosity and a quest for knowledge. I was engrossed by mathematics and science, and scored an aggregate of 96.3% in my high school. My penchant for physical chemistry and wide industrial applications offered by Chemical Engineering made me choose this as my Bachelor of Technology Major, at the xxx (ranked amongst the top ten in India). During my study here, I have strengthened my core subjects and also been part of research fellowships which laid a strong foundation for my interest in academics and research.
My Interest in modeling developed in 2012 during my fellowship at xxx. I modeled a simple batch distillation unit to predict its batch time and also studied the effects of heat and mass transfer on batch time. The challenge was to approximate the behavior of a real system using mathematical equations. This experience fortified my modeling skills and I came to appreciate the importance and benefits of process simulation. In my final year, I worked on a capstone project to design a continuous production facility for stearic acid. The work involved technology evaluation, material and energy balances, equipment design and layout, economic evaluation, safety and environmental considerations. While tweaking my plant model, I observed how small changes in some parameters significantly improved performance. I was awarded an 'Excellent' grade for my approach to the problem statement. Later at xxx, I realized that my tweaking activity was a primitive attempt at model based optimization. I have briefly explored other fields through projects on Dielectric Properties of Material and Nanotechnology and in 2010 and 2011 respectively.
After graduating, I joined xxx at their naphtha cracker plant to gain industrial experience. The extent of heat integration in the 900 KTA ethylene plant to operate at temperatures ranging from -1650C to 1200 0C, helped me appreciate the innovation behind the design. I had the opportunity to explore the rationale behind various design decisions like: different tray-types in the same fractionator, Joule-Thompson heat recovery schemes, level control for phase-change exchangers, and so many more, which I could never have learnt in the classroom. I worked in Poly Butadiene Rubber Plant during its commissioning phase; performing loop-checks familiarized me with the instrumentation side of Process Control. My assignments on Real-Time-Optimizer and Advanced Process control systems have helped me understand how plants respond to market forces by fine-tuning process parameters accordingly. I have faced numerous challenges, especially during emergencies, where I was involved in troubleshooting and ensuring safe operations. My most significant contribution was the improvement of safety and reliability of the Spent Caustic Unit. A chronic problem of polymer formation was choking the downstream equipment, causing unsafe conditions. After sampling and analysis, I identified the kind of polymer and inhibitor to prevent its formation and also designed a new filter for safe disposal of the polymer. My recommendations are currently being implemented.
Graduating in the top 5% of my class with a GPA of 9.16 on 10, winning fellowships and merit scholarships for academic performance stand as an evidence for my dedication and interest for academia. My undeterred passion for academics helped me overcome the testing times in my life. In 2011, I was hospitalized due to an epileptic attack. Despite being advised to take a long break, I insisted on attending classes since missing them made me restless. I couldn't concentrate on studies due to the sleep-inducing medicines; my grades slipped. Artistic pursuits like poetry and photography helped me recover quickly. I went on to score highest grades ever, and have never suffered another attack.
I am drawn towards optimization challenges encountered at various stages, right from planning and scheduling to plant control. Model predictive controllers for handling Interacting systems and Real-Time-Optimizers for profit maximization have sparked my interest; I want to participate in the design of such tools. I have undergone courses on linear and non-linear programming, numerical optimization and software packages like Aspen-Plus and MATLAB. My fellowships and work-experience have added to my theoretical knowledge and enhanced my practical skills. I am confident about doing full justice to the advanced subjects at graduate school, while simultaneously working with professors to make meaningful contributions to application-based projects.
After spending a year in the industry, I now have a better view of my strengths, interests and priorities. I have realized that a career in research will give me more intellectual satisfaction. Graduate school will enable me to meet people with similar passions, learning advanced skills, and developing in-depth knowledge will aid me in my pursuits.
xxx has one of the best research groups in Process Systems Engineering in the world. I was glad to see that my background fits well with the research interests of most professors in this department. I admire the works of Prof. xxx on Advanced algorithms for flow sheet simulation, optimization, and sensitivity analysis, Prof. xxx work on Logic-based and Global Optimization, and Prof xxx on Process Operations. I am impressed by the extensive research done at the Center for Advanced Process Decision Making; it would be a great learning experience to be associated with it. I promise that I will work hard to prove to be one of the students whom xxx will be proud of.
Please give me reviews about this SOP. If you feel there is some area which needs to be improved kindly suggest. Thanks in advance.
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE
I have always believed that to be fulfilled and content one must pursue their passions with dedication. In my case, what started off as a curiosity gradually developed into an engaging interest in how process industries make the most out of their resources. Through various experiences in my life, I have realized that my passion lies in the field of Process Design, Control and Optimization. I want to build a career in industrial research in this field, and help with the efficient operation of process plants. To that effect, I want to obtain a Master's degree which will enhance my skills and knowledge in this area.
Born to a family of professors, my upbringing was centered on curiosity and a quest for knowledge. I was engrossed by mathematics and science, and scored an aggregate of 96.3% in my high school. My penchant for physical chemistry and wide industrial applications offered by Chemical Engineering made me choose this as my Bachelor of Technology Major, at the xxx (ranked amongst the top ten in India). During my study here, I have strengthened my core subjects and also been part of research fellowships which laid a strong foundation for my interest in academics and research.
My Interest in modeling developed in 2012 during my fellowship at xxx. I modeled a simple batch distillation unit to predict its batch time and also studied the effects of heat and mass transfer on batch time. The challenge was to approximate the behavior of a real system using mathematical equations. This experience fortified my modeling skills and I came to appreciate the importance and benefits of process simulation. In my final year, I worked on a capstone project to design a continuous production facility for stearic acid. The work involved technology evaluation, material and energy balances, equipment design and layout, economic evaluation, safety and environmental considerations. While tweaking my plant model, I observed how small changes in some parameters significantly improved performance. I was awarded an 'Excellent' grade for my approach to the problem statement. Later at xxx, I realized that my tweaking activity was a primitive attempt at model based optimization. I have briefly explored other fields through projects on Dielectric Properties of Material and Nanotechnology and in 2010 and 2011 respectively.
After graduating, I joined xxx at their naphtha cracker plant to gain industrial experience. The extent of heat integration in the 900 KTA ethylene plant to operate at temperatures ranging from -1650C to 1200 0C, helped me appreciate the innovation behind the design. I had the opportunity to explore the rationale behind various design decisions like: different tray-types in the same fractionator, Joule-Thompson heat recovery schemes, level control for phase-change exchangers, and so many more, which I could never have learnt in the classroom. I worked in Poly Butadiene Rubber Plant during its commissioning phase; performing loop-checks familiarized me with the instrumentation side of Process Control. My assignments on Real-Time-Optimizer and Advanced Process control systems have helped me understand how plants respond to market forces by fine-tuning process parameters accordingly. I have faced numerous challenges, especially during emergencies, where I was involved in troubleshooting and ensuring safe operations. My most significant contribution was the improvement of safety and reliability of the Spent Caustic Unit. A chronic problem of polymer formation was choking the downstream equipment, causing unsafe conditions. After sampling and analysis, I identified the kind of polymer and inhibitor to prevent its formation and also designed a new filter for safe disposal of the polymer. My recommendations are currently being implemented.
Graduating in the top 5% of my class with a GPA of 9.16 on 10, winning fellowships and merit scholarships for academic performance stand as an evidence for my dedication and interest for academia. My undeterred passion for academics helped me overcome the testing times in my life. In 2011, I was hospitalized due to an epileptic attack. Despite being advised to take a long break, I insisted on attending classes since missing them made me restless. I couldn't concentrate on studies due to the sleep-inducing medicines; my grades slipped. Artistic pursuits like poetry and photography helped me recover quickly. I went on to score highest grades ever, and have never suffered another attack.
I am drawn towards optimization challenges encountered at various stages, right from planning and scheduling to plant control. Model predictive controllers for handling Interacting systems and Real-Time-Optimizers for profit maximization have sparked my interest; I want to participate in the design of such tools. I have undergone courses on linear and non-linear programming, numerical optimization and software packages like Aspen-Plus and MATLAB. My fellowships and work-experience have added to my theoretical knowledge and enhanced my practical skills. I am confident about doing full justice to the advanced subjects at graduate school, while simultaneously working with professors to make meaningful contributions to application-based projects.
After spending a year in the industry, I now have a better view of my strengths, interests and priorities. I have realized that a career in research will give me more intellectual satisfaction. Graduate school will enable me to meet people with similar passions, learning advanced skills, and developing in-depth knowledge will aid me in my pursuits.
xxx has one of the best research groups in Process Systems Engineering in the world. I was glad to see that my background fits well with the research interests of most professors in this department. I admire the works of Prof. xxx on Advanced algorithms for flow sheet simulation, optimization, and sensitivity analysis, Prof. xxx work on Logic-based and Global Optimization, and Prof xxx on Process Operations. I am impressed by the extensive research done at the Center for Advanced Process Decision Making; it would be a great learning experience to be associated with it. I promise that I will work hard to prove to be one of the students whom xxx will be proud of.
