SOP Sample for MS in Structural Engineering - India Applicant

STATEMENT OF PURPOSE

[NAME]

Looking back into the past, my parents always believed in active learning and wanted to identify my passion. I remember the crazy challenges and puzzles that I had with my dad and mom. Little did I know that such activities instilled an interest in me to solve practical problems. My father, an electrical engineer, loves tall structures as he predominantly works on the erection of transmission towers. Involuntarily, he exposed me to structures ranging from ancient temples to modern-day marvels and shared the influence of such structures in transforming the economic status of the nearby areas. Captivated by the art of building structures and the broad applications of structural engineering ranging from tiny dental implants to the tallest Millau Viaduct, I decided to pursue a bachelor's in civil engineering at [UNIVERSITY], one of the leading engineering colleges in India.

My undergraduate built a strong basis of my fundamentals through academic courses and projects. I registered myself in various analysis and design courses in concrete and steel structures to acquire a broad spectrum of knowledge. To gain command over the theoretical concepts and explore on-site experience, I did an internship in [COMPANY] involving the construction stages of a three-story school with Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (AAC) blocks. I understood that a successful project involves efficient design and planning that incorporates available materials and feasible construction methodology for timely completion.

In my sophomore year, I got inducted into Builders' Hive, the Research and Development Club of [UNIVERSITY]. Surrounded by like-minded, enthusiastic people to ideate on pressing social issues, I participated in [COMPETITION] (an inter-college technical competition). We designed and fabricated an automatic river cleaning conveyor system mechanism and phytoremediation-based artificial wetland that removes floating debris and dissolved chemicals, respectively. The experience was truly invaluable as it rooted the research interest deep within me despite losing the competition. As an added advantage, the guest lecture from [NAME], Director of [INSTITUTION], about damage detection and repair and rehabilitation of structures widened my scope of interest.

To delve deeper into structures' durability and life span, I did my research intern in [UNIVERSITY] on the cathodic protection of concrete structures with epoxy coated steel rebars and the durability assessment of steel-cementitious systems. I had an excellent opportunity to interact with numerous scholars and professors regarding their projects that made me fall in love, not just with the results but also the research work process.

Apart from the excellent coursework and flexible curriculum, the college empowered me beyond imagination with its multicultural background and the student-run fests. I oversaw publicity and public relation & hospitality for [EVENT] (Civil Symposium of [UNIVERSITY]). The core role of bringing in enough footfall and being the first point of contact for the incoming students honed and polished my communication, planning, team management and leadership skills. In addition, I became the president of Builders' Hive and supported my juniors on their project in terms of the problem statement, technical difficulties, and innovation.

I realized that the best way to aid others and move forward is to have expertise in my field of study. To expand my horizon, I registered for core electives like prestressed concrete, finite element method, and construction management. In my junior year, [SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM] (Research Scholarship of Canada) provided an opportunity to work at [UNIVERSITY], Canada, regarding prototyping how to trap CO2 in infrastructure materials. I worked on the valorization of Kimberlite tailings (a mining by-product) by carbon sequestration—determined the efficiency of thin-film carbonation by varying the moisture content, percentage of CO2 concentration and temperature. Carbon sequestered samples were used to make cement bricks and compared with the strength of the control specimen. The research experience taught me patience from the recursive failure in experiments, the never to give up attitude and learning from the mistakes, owing to which, we successfully published the article.

Coming back to India with a positive attitude and new insights, I wanted to work on structural optimization. I believe that strength and durability are significant factors in the design of structures; however, sustainability is the need of the day. Being exposed to research in durability and sustainability of construction materials, I wanted to apply those concepts to optimize a structure without compromising its strength. As my final year dissertation, my team and I brainstormed to optimize the structural elements using ETABS (design and analysis software) and reduce the carbon footprint by performing a life cycle energy assessment (LCA) following the cradle to grave approach. Despite the COVID-19 outbreak, we managed to adapt and work remotely by restricting the scope to optimizing the design and a literature review on LCA with embodied energy analysis.

After my graduation, I joined [COMPANY] (one of the largest multinational conglomerates in India) as a design engineer for experience and exposure to the industry. I worked on various projects with land and marine facilities. With profound knowledge in STAAD, I have designed numerous steel and concrete structures. I learned the importance of gathering every required input before addressing an issue, which is key to any research. Working for over a year, I observed that the structural modelling and analysis followed in the industry is very conservative for steel structures. Additionally, I realized the need to learn dynamic analysis, finite element modelling and computational methods to optimize the structures effectively.

As a result, and means to follow my passion, I decided to pursue a MS in Structural Engineering at [UNIVERSITY]. I am confident that the quality knowledge, impeccable guidance from esteemed professors like [PROFESSOR NAME], [PROFESSOR NAME] and [PROFESSOR NAME], and advanced research facilities that your institution provides will aid me to innovate and transform the industry in the long run. If given an opportunity, I am positive that I will match the standards set by your prestigious University and will be an invaluable addition to the student community.