Graduate /
Statement of Purpose for Aerospace Engineering being a student of Electronics & Comm [9]
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE
As it is said, the universe is the most mystical subject to study. The more you try to explore, you realize that the less you know about it. Whenever I gaze at the night sky, I feel myself connected to some other world. I wish to know more about it, more about how mankind can surpass its own limits in understanding it. This incessant desire for gaining in-depth knowledge of the dynamic and ever-evolving field of aerospace has motivated me to pursue a Master of Science in Aerospace Engineering.
During my childhood, my father, a modern Renaissance man, introduced me to the various advancements taking place around the world in many different fields. This kindled my interest in science and research. He always encouraged me to explore, break boundaries, and take chances to reach success. While pursuing my Bachelor's course in Electronics and Communication Engineering, I realized that what I have learnt so far has not quenched my thirst for knowledge but fueled it more. Hence, obtaining a Master's degree has become imperative for me in order to become proficient in this field, to realize my goal of being a part of ground-breaking research in Aerospace and work with some of the best minds in the research industry. I wanted to pursue Aerospace in my undergraduate years, but there was no university in my state that offered it as a major.Therefore, I had to opt for studying Electronics and Communication at one of the best colleges in my state. I have been introduced to many core electronic subjects like "Microprocessors, Microcontrollers and Embedded Systems", "Satellite Communication" and "Wireless Communication",. Though I have become proficient in these subjects in the course of completing my Bachelor's program, I believe that I still need to take this knowledge further and use it in the field of Aerospace. By doing this, I hope to open new doors of innovation and creativity in the field.
As an undergraduate, I have worked on many projects involving circuit designing and microprocessor/microcontroller programming. These projects include a two-wheeled, self-balancing robot, a battery-level indicator, a motion sensor for security lights, an LCD interfacing with a microcontroller, and a moving LED display. Working on these projects has helped me learn the concepts of electronics and circuit-designing techniques. Moreover, using microcontrollers has shown me the importance of programming and enhanced my programming skills in C and assembly languages. Navigating through such diverse projects, I have been enriched not only academically, but also socially. All these were group endeavors of which I was an active member. I led the team effort in some of the projects, ensuring that each member was fully motivated and that job distribution complied with individual competencies. Extensive brainstorming sessions and testing projects together taught me to work effectively with people who have different ideas and perspectives.
I have always been keen on continuously upgrading my skills and knowledge, as I believe that engineers should keep themselves updated on the latest developments in existing as well as emerging technologies. I had mastered C and C++ during high school, which later helped me to easily understand the basics of assembly language and other programming concepts involved in MATLAB and the microcontroller. Introduction to Java in college has further honed my programming skills. I have also learnt to work on various design tools like OrCAD, Xilinx ISE, EDA (Electronic Design Automation), LTSpice and ADS (Advanced Design System). Not only this, I have also become efficient in working on computing languages like VHDL.
One of the major breakthroughs in my professional career so far has been the opportunity to work in TATA Consultancy Services (TCS), which is the No.1 Ranked IT Company in Asia. I am working as an Assistant Software Engineer in a project for the Carlsberg Beverage Company, to provide them with business mobility service on iPAD. I am currently working on SUP and Afaria, SAP products that act as middleware between User Interface and Backend. My role in the project is as a developer responsible for this middleware system.
Of the areas I have explored so far, my interests lie in Propulsion and Combustion, Space Systems, Flight Mechanics, Structural Analysis, and Airplane Design. I am particularly thrilled by the research opportunities in the Department of Aerospace Engineering at the Pennsylvania State University. With renowned faculty such as Professor Gregory Belenky and Professor Peter M. Djuric, I will be a part of an intellectually-stimulating environment at one of the world's premier universities. The research being carried out in the Mixed-Domain Embedded Systems Lab for the design of performance-optimized systems and the ongoing research projects in the Optoelectronics lab, particularly on Ga Sb-based Type-I QW diode lasers, have fascinated me the most.
The strong graduate program in the Aerospace Engineering department, the preeminent faculty, the extensive research facilities, and the bright student population have all been the key factors that have influenced my decision of pursuing a Master's degree from the Pennsylvania State University. Being a part of the ongoing research work in the department will really stimulate my innate technical and analytical abilities, expose me to the latest technologies, and give me the competitive edge to achieve my goals. Hence, to contribute to the research at the Pennsylvania State University and culminate my own intellectual development, I would like to apply for an M.S. in Aerospace Engineering.