SOP_UPEN_MEAM
SOP_UPEN_MEAM
I understand that each branch of engineering is interrelated but the world of materials, along with
their mechanics, such as why they behave in such way, why certain materials are suitable for
certain purposes and what are the physics behind their behavior intrigues me profoundly. As
confining the materials to lower dimensions can help us achieve superior device performance and
unlocking the physics behind these properties, I desire to be a part of this incredible journey
overcoming the challenges as I face them.
The world of materials; which is on the verge of a breakthrough, charms me remarkably and I
desire to be a part of this journey. My grounds become stronger when I joined as a teacher assistant
at my university. Along with teaching the students and interacting with them, the excitement of
sharing knowledge with them, keeping tracks with the ongoing researches drives me forward to
pursue the Ph.D. degree. The hunger for knowledge from the theoretical developments to the
experimental verification, I find myself enthusiastic in understanding scientific problems and
finding their solutions. I believe that a Ph.D. degree bestows a person with responsibilities towards
his community and the field of his specialization. Should I be able to earn the Ph.D. degree, I
intend to serve the scientific community being an academician who can direct the curious and
talented young souls in the right way. Such a role will help me fulfill my responsibilities as well
as keep me in the pursuit of advanced research and knowledge which I truly desire.
The Ph.D. program offered by the Mechanical Engineering and Applied Mechanics Department
of University of Pennsylvania with state-of-the-art research facilities and renowned research
groups, is a perfect match for my aim. I have sought to keep abreast of the latest trends in
computational mechanics and mechanical properties at the nanoscale through my undergraduate
courses and online courses from prominent universities. Following the works from Dr. John L.
Bassani on atomic-level properties of continuum mechanics to model mechanical behavior of
nanomaterials and Dr. Robert W. Carpick’s experimental works on nanoscale characterization of
friction, I have found their research interests to be closely aligned with mine. Dr. Jennifer R.
Lukes’s works on understanding thermal transport phenomena for nanomaterials using MD tools
fascinates me highly. In addition, I am inspired by the works of Dr. Paris Perdikaris on developing
machine learning algorithms to model complex engineering problems.
In my undergraduate program at BUET, I have obtained the departmental Dean's List and
University Merit scholarships for four consecutive years along with Board scholarships. In my
view, both curricular and extracurricular activities hold utmost importance and so I have devoted
sufficient time to build up a strong extracurricular profile. Participation and awards in competitions
such as 2nd position in the Extempore Speech by Notre Dame College and 5th position in Physics
Olympiad in National Science Festival introduced me to more advanced and fascinating branches
of knowledge. My experience as an organizer of major cultural programs at my undergraduate life
made me a better leader who understands the true potential of cooperation and makes necessary
decisions promptly. I was awarded the Best Volunteer prize in National Science Festival and have
successfully organized ‘Carrier Talk’, ‘Project Show’, and ‘Cultural Programs’ under Mechanical
Engineering Association, BUET where I was an association representative during my whole
undergraduate period. I am an active member of Badhan, a voluntary organization that promotes
blood donation and helps the patients find the proper donor around-the-clock all over the country.a
In addition, my athletic abilities help me to receive a prize from Vice-Chancellor of my University
for ‘Faculty Running Competition’. I am confident that all these qualities will help me thrive in
the multicultural and diverse community of University of Pennsylvania.
I believe I can tackle any perplexing problem with an innovative perspective and solve it with
determination. However, to attain true excellence, I require an atmosphere that stimulates
excellence. In my journey from an artist learning scientific tunes to the maestro creating great
symphonies of knowledge, University of Pennsylvania is the orchestra I wish to be part of. This
institution’s impeccable record of producing leaders in technology inspires me to join this exciting
scientific community, which will propel me towards my career goal of becoming a leading
researcher and educator in the field of advanced technologies.