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Personal Statement

The applicant is seeking a PhD in Electrical Engineering at XX University. They have a strong interest and background in control systems and nonlinear dynamics from their undergraduate and masters studies. Their masters thesis involved using output regulation theory to solve robust control problems with uncertainties and achieve disturbance rejection for spacecraft altitude control. They are motivated to continue conducting innovative research on solving challenging problems in nonlinear control theory and applying these methods to practical systems.

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Zahid iqbal
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729 views

Personal Statement

The applicant is seeking a PhD in Electrical Engineering at XX University. They have a strong interest and background in control systems and nonlinear dynamics from their undergraduate and masters studies. Their masters thesis involved using output regulation theory to solve robust control problems with uncertainties and achieve disturbance rejection for spacecraft altitude control. They are motivated to continue conducting innovative research on solving challenging problems in nonlinear control theory and applying these methods to practical systems.

Uploaded by

Zahid iqbal
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Sample Personal Statement for Electrical

Engineering
My deep interest in Electrical Engineering has provided me with a focus to
my life that many people search a lifetime for but never find. XX University’s
Ph.D. program in Electrical Engineering is the perfect fit for my aptitudes and
for my future career as a university professor and professional researcher,
and it is my sincere desire to continue my studies at your honorable
university.

At the beginning of my university studies I was searching for direction. I tried


many different areas including electric motor control design, and I conducted
research on micro-motor drive controls. I learned to develop a sound,
methodological approach to control circuit design. This area was
underdeveloped in China, and initially it seemed that I had found my focus.

After graduating from university, I went to work for XX, one of the best and
most progressive companies in China. As an engineer, I learned the latest
technologies in micro-processing systems, personal responsibility and
teamwork. But the longer I worked at XX, the more dissatisfied I became. I
found that the work was repetitive and techniques were simply copied from
others – there was little room for innovation. Discouraged, I knew that I
needed to find another direction where I could pursue my own creative
development, so I returned to XX a research assistant in the Advanced
Control and Simulation research laboratory. Using C language and Matlab, I
worked on flight system simulations, automatic drive modeling and system
identification, but as I studied and worked at XX, I realized that what I was
learning was too limited and out of date. I became even more determined to
study abroad.

Currently I am working towards my Master’s Degree in XX, where I have


finally found my motivating field of interest. My major is in the theory and
applications of nonlinear control, which involves research into the ability to
control systems while making them more human. With only four classes in
graduate school, I have done a tremendous amount of outside reading in the
field of nonlinear control. Furthermore, writing papers, reading books, and
working as a teaching assistant have inspired me to pursue a career in
academia.

In addition to outside reading, I have also attended many conference and


workshops where I have had the chance to listen and learn from many
prominent scholars that has further motivated my research and study. For
example, I attended the Symposium on Automation Science and Engineering
in China, the XX Conference (as a volunteer), the XX Congress on XX, and
the XX International Symposium on Complex Systems. All of these events
have only deepened my interest in system and control.

I am working on my thesis in the field of the application of output regulation


methods to altitude control and disturbance rejection of spacecraft. I have
just passed my yearly oral presentation. Most papers in this field use
adaptive methods to deal with uncertainties and gain global convergence,
however, the adaptive method cannot guarantee asymptomatic disturbance
rejection – at most, it can gain disturbance attenuation. I used output
regulation theory to formulate the problem and then solved it with the
associated method. The global robust control problem with uncertainties
could be solved in this way and I was able to achieve disturbance rejection
the very first time. Although only my first paper, it may be published for the
highest-ranking academic conference in the field of Control in China.

The study of nonlinear systems has met with great difficulties, including the
solvability of the global robust stabilization problem, global output regulation
problems etc. I want to use my strong research abilities, my professional
knowledge, and my deep motivation to find progressive solutions. I would
also like to apply the current nonlinear control theories to practical systems
such as spacecraft control, ship path following, robot trajectory control etc.
My education has given me strong motivation and a clear sense of purpose
while my diverse experiences have broadened my horizons and stimulated
my mind with an intense desire to succeed. I am well grounded in
engineering and I have taken many related courses, such as circuits, electric
motors, spacecraft, robots, intelligent materials and neural networks.

One reason that I am very confident in my abilities is that my supervisor in


the Chinese University of XX, through a rigorous screening process, was
recently selected as an IEEE fellow – the highest honor for an IEEE member.
This professor has not only encouraged me but also enthusiastically
endorsed my application to your Ph.D. program.

The United States is the world leader in technology and education and where
I can best apply my talents to reach my full potential. Polytechnic University’s
Ph.D. program is highly attractive to me because of its reputation, diverse
student body and excellent teaching faculty. I am familiar with Professor XX,
who is a friend of my supervisor – in fact I attended his short course earlier
this year. We share very similar research interests and I look forward to
working him within your program. Furthermore, XX’s laboratories in Control
and Robotics and Control and Telecommunications Research fit perfectly
with my research and future career interests.

My personal attributes include great originality and creativity – I am not afraid


to face challenges. I have an indomitable willpower that helps me to
overcome difficulties and an enterprising spirit that helps me find innovative
solutions to difficult problems. I am brave in facing my shortcomings and
good at self-analysis, self-correction and self-stimulation, which has helped
me to become successful in the past and will lead to me to even greater
success in the future. It is my heartfelt desire that I may continue on my path
to success within your esteemed Ph.D. program.

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