I wish to pursue graduate studies in Chemical Engineering in the University of _____after careful consideration of my academic credentials and research interests.
Belonging to an erudite parentage, I was taught to question the world around me and was counselled to study hard to gain knowledge. My father, himself an engineer, encouraged me to read at a young age, while his subscriptions to children's science magazines sparked my interest in science. By the end of High School, I developed a special interest in chemistry and mathematics. However, since I knew that bookish knowledge was not enough and practical consequences were the sole criteria for knowledge and value of science, I chose to study Chemical Engineering, as it combined my academic proclivities with their direct application to more tangible problems.
The Chemical Engineering course at my undergraduate institute introduced me to a gamut of subjects that revealed to me a dynamic field which integrates tools from sundry disciplines to touch every facet of modern life. Its broad domain encouraged me to explore various complex and interdisciplinary courses like Green Chemistry, nanotechnology and even Supply Chain Economics. As an undergraduate new to the field, since my interests continuously evolved with every new subject, it was my conscious effort to explore various aspects of chemical engineering while I had the opportunity to. Thus, I worked hard to excel at every course, trying to gain experience in the lab on a multitude of topics.
It was during an industrial internship at _____ that I had the opportunity to apply the bookish knowledge gained until then on a real-world scale. I studied the Ammonia and Heavy Water plant and conducted material and energy balances for consumption of synthesis gas. While doing so was gratifying, what really piqued my interest were the data sheets on the Effluent Treatment Plant. I was taken aback by the amount of money, material and technology that went into treating the waste streams of the plant. This influenced me to develop an interest in environmental engineering and, looking to probe into the topic, I took an elective concerning the same in my junior year.
During a class of Green Chemistry in my junior year, I learned about biodegradable polymers like.... that use carboxylic acids as raw materials. Currently, reactive extraction and isolation of these acids from natural sources and fermentation broths necessitates cheap and hassle-free methods, like reactive extraction. I took up a project under ____ that dealt with the reactive extraction of Gallic acid from aqueous to organic phase (1-octanol, 1-heaxanol) using Trioctylamine as extractant. The relative ease and extent of extraction was studied for both cases.
I am also interested in Energy and sustainability. As conventional fossil fuels are depleting fast, it has become imperative to explore alternative sources of energy, store it and improve the efficiency and usability of existing ones for sustaining the needs of the current and future generations. This is especially important for a country like India that has high energy requirements but low per capity energy consumption. Studying complex subjects like reaction engineering and mass transfer revealed to me that catalysis was a fundamental element of the study of energy efficient technologies. I started working on the production of biofuel from fatty acids like Palmitic acid using methanol, isopropanol and butanol, using heterogeneous silica catalyst (MCM-41) in a batch reactive distillation set up under the guidance of ____ Presently, I am comparing the conversion in this case with that in a normal batch reactor, with different system parameters like catalyst loading and acid to alcohol ratio.
I worked under ____ during Summer, 2013 at ____where I explored an interesting application of silica catalyst SBA-15 in the field of biotechnology, working on the Laser Desorption/Ionisation of small peptides (like Bradykynin) on SBA-15 surfaces, and demonstrated conclusively that the peptides are protected by the silica surface, even under conditions that otherwise degrade the peptides to a large extent (like high laser intensity, presence of a solvent). Analysis was done using Matrix Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionisation Mass Spectrometry..
There have been some enriching experiences during my undergraduate studies. At ___, my instrument had a problem with the vacuum gate; on learning that a replacement would be available only a couple of weeks later, I designed alternate experiments and coordinated with project assistants accordingly to chalk out a plan so everyone's work could be completed in time when the machine was fixed. Patience and team work are some minutiae that I have inculcated over time.
Under the tutelage of my professors, I have been influenced to believe that any research done in the field of Science and Technology should be for the betterment of life and for solving intricate problems, which, more often than not, entails an interdisciplinary approach and a broad perspective that can be gained only by sufficient knowledge in dealing with varying facets in the field.
It is, therefore, very important for me to take up graduate studies, which will help me delve into the complexities of chemical engineering. Moreover, it will be a stepping stone to realise my higher goal, which is to do a PhD in the field of my interest. As an undergraduate, it is daunting to commit to a specialised area before having extensive knowledge about it, and the graduate program at ---- will give me the requisite knowledge and maturity for advancing into the intellectually rewarding field of research. In the long run, I wish to work for the research and development of technologies that address the salient issues of process industries: environmental constraints and energy inefficiency, thus contributing to their overall advancement while paying attention to sustainability.
After carefully perusing a plethora of Graduate programs, I chose the one at McKetta Department of Chemical Engineering mainly because UT has distinguished faculty and research facilities, coupled with an ambience that will develop my an interdisciplinary approach in me. It is unique in its focus on energy and the environment, as is evident by its diverse research areas that deal with topics like Green Chemistry, biofuels and catalysis and the course "Design for Environment". I am also excited about fields I have not explored before, like manufacturing processes for microelectronicser. I am influenced by Professor ----'s work on _______ , and professor ______ and I hope to have an opportunity to work under them. I hope that my background and credentials are found apt for a Masters' degree in Chemical Engineering at the University ____
HELLO,
Aside from a few spelling/grammar mistakes, this is pretty good. You hit all the major aspects of a good SOP. You talk about your background, past education, internships, futures interests and goals and end with what you hope to gain from studying at UT. -Admissions Advice Online
Hope this help
