Graduate /
SOP for my phd (Masters in Automotive and Motorsports Engineering) [3]
Dear All
Its great to be here in this forum
I am trying for the phd and after looking at different SOP and valuable suggestion form different people. I have drafted sop, but I feel like its very normal not impressive at all!
I have just written my experiences to express what I have learned and understood and what I am able to do
here it goes
I am John Rambo, a graduate from Hollywood University, with Masters in Automotive and Motorsports Engineering. My major courses and project research work was in the field of chassis and transmission system design, strongly focusing on the design and development of new transmission system which enables change in the camber angle and contact pattern of the tyre, thereby improving dynamic control of the vehicle and shifting the Centre of Gravity to certain angle. I am applying for admission with suitable financial aid to the Ph.D. program in Structural and dynamic design of engine and powertrain at the Polytechnic University of Hollywood. Information about my interests and research experience is illustrated below.
Since, schooling I was always searching for some science principles to work out with. Out of curiosity, I was able to carry on the engine maintenance during 10th year of my schooling education and looked forward to fabricate a small "Kart", though I was able to build the chassis and bought the engine, but had to stop half way through due to financial limits. Since, then I made up my mind to do Mechanical engineering and successfully build one in future. My hobbies encouraged learning and demonstrating science principles, which made me study hard at high school, to qualify myself for Mechanical Engineering. It helped me score 92% in mathematics, physics and chemistry at high school, ultimately resulting in fetching scholarship in the first year of engineering.
Courage, motivation and dream to achieve my aim, gave me an opportunity to fulfil my childhood dream, designing a "Vehicle", but I was financially weak. At the beginning of the second year, I started conversing with my fellow mates, which got me 13 students and a workshop to build a prototype "All Terrain Vehicle" by the end of second year. Project has also taught us different latitude of approach in designing and manufacturing techniques like, DFMA principles. By carrying out major part of design, validation and fabrication of the main part helped us to correlate theory with practical nature of engineering. The project bought us laurel by winning the "Best Project award" at national level, judged by Professor from MIT USA. This encouraged my fellow juniors to participate in SAE Mini Baja in coming years.
Working on the project has not only given me a certain set of skills but has also made me to develop intense curiosity to explore and to identify my academic strengths and weaknesses. As a result I decided to continue my work in the final year, which involved design and fabrication of "Trike". I chose to work on this topic because of two different natures of theories involved. The project enabled me to appreciate the difference existing between the dynamic nature of Two Wheeler Vehicle and Four Wheeler Vehicle and flexibility in the different elements associated with chassis system and transmission elements. It took two months to build the project and it received "Best Concept Award" at National level and was appreciated by the judge from R&D department of Auto Industries.
In the enthusiasm to learn more about the advanced technology in the automotive field, I got admitted at Hollywood University with MSc in Automotive and Motorsports Engineering. I chose Hollywood University based on the curriculum content, participation at FormulaStudent Race and adequate laboratory infrastructure boosted confidence in me. Formula Student team decided to participate in Class 1(200). I selected to work on hybrid chassis, design of chassis not only helped me to discover the vast area of knowledge, but also gave me the basic understanding of the behaviour of the vehicle and other kinematically linked components under extreme conditions.
Solar Car design assignment gave me further challenges to deal. Design was based on the given driving terrain condition, the design work was carried out in a team of four, which introduced me to the efficient application of electronic system in the Automobile sector. It helped me to gain expertise in CAD/CAE software required for design and validation by analysis of the entire vehicle.
My main dissertation was developed from the problems I had faced while designing Trike, during my undergraduate. I planned to design an All Wheel Drive system for the Trike with a leaning or tilting characteristic of bike. Initially design started with redesigning of the differential gear box based on the principle I developed during my research. But, looking at the design and manufacturing technique limitations, I had to reconsider my research for further process. From my past experience of working on the Trike, I was able to come up with an simple design and it was not only accepted by my school but, also awarded "A".
My further research gave me an idea of using the above application in a four wheeler which will result in establishing better camber patch and the forces generated during cornering can contribute in better grip formation of the tyre rather than losing the grip, thereby improving dynamic stability of the vehicle and avoiding oversteer or understeer to a very reasonable extent.
Polytechnic University of Hollywood has consistently been ranked amongst the leading universities particularly in the field of Automobile engineering. A strong research emphasis is laid on transmission elements, active suspension and steering research, which will play a crucial role in my research work. The faculty and the individualized nature of the doctoral program will definitely bring out the best in me. I hope you will take a favourable decision regarding my admission to the Ph.D. program and I look forward to joining Polytechnic University of Hollywood.
ANy suggestion to improve the content or organising in better way!
After writing this sop my friends said make it better by adding some proverbs or by adding enough fancy english words, bcoz after going through there SOP, I felt they have written wat they have learned, but they havnt not added any commendable action they took to show it!! (its not point of criticism, it just to understand the level of genuinity)
and one of the blog I have been to, there the person has suggested to keep the thing to the point and I feel i have specified what I have learned made me to put into action
Please I need to know the sop makes u think like!!!
Kind regards
damo