STATEMENT OF PURPOSE FOR PhD IN CHEMICAL ENGINEERING
MICHIGAN TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY
BAWAH, ABDUL-RASHID
I developed a keen interest in Chemical Engineering at the time I was pursuing my undergraduate degree program in Chemical Engineering at Ghana’s premier science university, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST). At KNUST I had the greatest opportunity to study a wide range of subject areas, inside and outside the field of chemical engineering, such as reaction engineering, mass transfer, heat transfer and fluid transport. Prior to completing my undergraduate studies, it was the field of energy and sustainability that attracted my interest. At that juncture I had already made up my mind to continue my studies in that field of chemical engineering.
In my third year summer holidays, I was offered the chance to embark on a project, with other colleagues, involving the design, construction and testing of a solar reflector for the purpose of biomass torrefaction into biochar, which I accepted due to my desire to research intensively into this globally important subject area. I wish to state that the selection of the team members of that project was based on class ranks, and as such the top 5 students were selected out of a class of about 106 students. During the period of this project I had the opportunity to pragmatically apply the academic knowledge I had gained from the classroom over the three years of study. Albeit, doing so satisfied my desire, what actually perturbed my enthusiasm and curiosity was the process of converting biomass into energy. I have also worked on a project involving the design, construction and testing of a venturi scrubber for the control of gaseous pollutants.
Globally, crude oil a...
... middle of paper ...
...erage dropping less than a point below the first class mark. This was as a result of financial issues on the part of my parents who were also my sponsors. My capabilities are evident from the results for other semesters including my year four semester two where I excelled.
I have prudently perused a pull of Graduate programs, and finally chose the one at Michigan Technological University, Department of Chemical Engineering, mainly because Michigan Tech has distinguished faculty and research facilities. It also possesses an environment that will inculcate an interdisciplinary approach to problem solving in me. The uniqueness of the university is characterized by the diverse research areas in the various engineering disciplines. It is my hope that I will be granted the opportunity to pursue a PhD degree in Chemical Engineering at The Michigan Technological University.
I have always been inspired by the workings of chemistry and mathematics. My studies of these subjects have developed my understanding and have made me pursue my interest in these two topics. I want to take up chemistry as it involves a large amount of mathematics which I value and understand to be challenging, yet very enjoyable, as there is always an alternative route to obtain the answer. Additionally, I am drawn to the course because it is a mixture of all these exacting subjects, forming a degree that is very demanding and stimulating. Chemists are constantly thinking of new ways to produce viable drugs containing different isomers to improve the pharmaceutical sector using mathematical equations. Chemistry is about innovation, applying information to new areas and how to do things better than they were before, the degree appeals to and fascinates me.
Smith, Roland. Conquering Chemsitry: HSC course. 4th ed. Vol. 1. N/A: Cengage Learning Australia, 2010. 74-90. 1 vols. Print.
Ever since I began studying science and mathematics at all levels of educations I have always had an interest in the production of useful materials. In the growing turmoil of today; a world full of global warming and diminishing resources, questions often arise in my mind such as, "can we make a more efficient, more durable and a renewable resource that will overshadow fossil fuels? and have less of an impact on our environment?" Up to now, I have not found a solution to these questions and answering these questions is a personal aspiration of mine which I aim to fulfil by achieving a degree in Chemical engineering and eventually I will contribute to the field in my own unique way. The debate surrounding sustainable energy fascinates me, having recently learned from personal research I have understood what an authoritative role chemists and chemical engineers play in the industry at the present time and how, by working as a team, they contribute to an improved future for the whole world. However, one of the main reasons that has single-mindedly driven me this far to want to study chemical engineering is a book I have read, “Beyond the Molecular Frontier: Challenges for Chemistry and Chemical Engineering” While reading this book, I had solidified my understandings of what chemical engineering is all about. Also, one of the main processes mentioned was polymerisation and is something I already study in A-level chemistry, it is something that not only interests me, but is a personal career aspiration of mine. Reading this book gave me a determination to be the person who helps improve the future of the industry and provide an answer to the questions I always ask myself by studying this degree.
Ever since I was a child, I have had a great interest for the automotive industry. From car trivia to novel innovations, my innate passion for the automotive industry has always made me research the minutest detail of every vehicle that interested me. Since elementary school I would draw sketches of cars which incorporated technology which were unheard of at that time; novel devices such as electrochromic windshields, HUD displays, and wind turbines which would constantly re-generate electricity for the car. While growing up, my hobbies largely consisted of constructing countless Lego and Meccano sets, and repairing my mom’s 19 year-old car. In middle school, math and science were my favorite subjects: applying science and mathematics to solve real-world problems has fascinated me and I have also taken further steps to reach my goals. By the age of thirteen I devised a scaled model of a heliostat power plant, which successfully powered a light bulb. The mathematics beyond the focus points of parabolic dishes and thermodynamics was very advanced for my age, but I took up the challenge...
Learning is a continuous process and the day that you stop learning is the day that you start decreasing your rewards and lower levels of satisfaction. My ardent desire to acquire knowledge has motivated me to pursue higher studies at graduate level, and to take up a career in research in industry. I have taken this decision after carefully considering my academic background, profound interest in research and strong aptitude for problem solving.
Though many people fail to realize it, chemistry is a subject essential to everyday life, due to the fact that it is the branch of science that deals with the identification of the substances of which matter is composed. But what we must understand is that everything in the universe is composed of matter, hence chemistry is necessary in learning more about the world and universe that we live in. There are many careers and fields affiliated with chemistry that people pursue to learn more about the composition of the universe, but for now, let us examine the logistics of three of these careers. These three careers involving chemistry are geochemistry, environmental chemistry, and chemical engineering.
Poliakoff, M., Fitzpatrick, J. M., Farren, T. R., & Anastas, P. T. (2002). "Green Chemistry: Science and Politics of Change." Science, 297, 807-810.
Real knowledge, like everything else of the highest value, is not to be obtained easily. It must be worked for, studied for, thought for, and, more than all, it must be prayed for”
People travel miles in search of their true passion; some find them early in their life and I consider myself lucky enough to be one among them. I found my true calling at the age of 12 on a field trip to a milk factory. It seemed like the Disneyland of science with huge machineries, conveyer belts running all around, and instruments working about in their own rhythm with sheer intricacies and perfection. As a kid, I was eager to understand the mechanics behind this magical rhythm. The desire of gaining in-depth knowledge about Control System and Automation eventually led me to choose Electronics and Instrumentation Engineering as my undergraduate study.
The development of every nation hinges on the effectiveness of their transportation systems. Movement of goods, services and people to and from locations is made possible by transportation systems. The importance of effective transportation systems cannot be over-emphasized. Many countries face transportation problems and my country Ghana is no exception. A trip of about 30 minutes usually takes about an hour or more due to traffic jams. This is seriously impacting productivity and has become a topical issue in the country. The situation is the same in Uganda where I currently work. To this end, Transportation Engineers are needed to design roads/ highways that will stand the test of time, plan effective traffic management systems to reduce
An ambition to learn and grow and having passion for engineering have prompted me to go in for graduate studies. Chasing my Dreams! While growing up at a young age I was always intrigued by objects that produced mechanical work and energy be it prime movers such as automobiles, construction and mining equipment, turbo machinery such as jet engines, space shuttles or complex mechanisms of mechanical watches, I used to spend a lot of time trying to learn and figure out their basis and propositions, it was necessary for me to explore my inner conscience to understand my fascination towards machines and their ingenuity, Mechanical engineering seemed a direct consequence of my convictions. I have always admired my father as a civil engineer and his hard work and struggles throughout his life; He has always been a role model for me. He motivated me to pursue my dreams so I decided to pursue my undergraduate study in Mechanical Engineering
Throughout my school career I have always loved chemistry. In Chemistry there was always a sense that there was more, there was always something new and exciting to be discovered and theories to be proven (or even disproven). Chemistry was the main subject with a real practical aspect to it during school and it is this, along with my genuine fascination with the subject, which fuels my desire to study it further.
This perfectly holds true for me in the world of Computer Engineering where novel ideas are not a novelty. It is this novelty that entices me to this field and gives me a deep sense of professional pride. In this context, I would like to pursue my graduation in Computer Engineering, which not only supplements the knowledge that I possess but also provides a strong platform for my future career goals.
From my perspective, excellent electronic engineers are a group of gifted and imaginative talents who bravely explore and innovate, change the world with passion and innovation. I have always dreamed of becoming one of them. For realizing this dream, I started from China 's Jilin University and then joined The University of Manchester for BEng (Hons) Electronic Engineering to take more advanced professional courses. In UoM, I managed to gain GPA of 4.0. Yet, my pursuit of the dream does not end there, since I plan to apply for M.S. program in Electrical and Computer Engineering in the Carnegie Mellon University, where I can receive the best education among the world.