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In this essay I outline my academic and extra-curricular accomplishments. Alsodiscussed are my career objectives and the motivation to pursue the program in

at the of Massachusetts, Amherst.

The under curriculum in Chemical at IIT, Kharagpur, introduced me to a wide gamut of subjects, both in and outside the field. Various courses like Mass Transfer, Heat Transfer, Fluid Mechanics and Transport Phenomena have provided me with a strong footing in the theoretical concepts of Chemical .

It was the field of Technology which particularly captured my interest. The desire to delve deeper into this subject persuaded me to take elective courses inIndustrial (Air) Pollution Control, Non-conventional Energy and Earth Sciences. While offering both depth and breadth across this field, these courses put into perspective the importance and relevance of Chemical and the application of its fundamentals to environment related problems. I came to realize that although traditionally Studies has been under the domain of , the increasing complexity and magnitude of problems have resulted in a growing need for the services of disciplines other than .

During the eight week Summer Training at the Development Consultants Ltd.,I wasassigned to the Cement Cell, where I received a detailed of the cement manufacturing processes. As an Industrial Intern, I was assigned a project on Cement Plant Design (1800 TPD), which encompassed Raw-Mix Design and Capacity Calculations for various equipment. Here, I got aquainted with the Pollution and Energy Con

servation problems faced by the Cement Industry and devoted a significant portion of my project to the pollution abatement methods.

My final year dissertation was on the Manufacture of Phosphoric acid from rock phosphate using Sulfuric acid (Design of 100 tpd Plant). This covered the designof Reactor, Extractor (for acid purification) and Evaporator (for acid concentration). As a natural outcome of my interest in Pollution control, adequate emphasis was provided to waste gases and waste water treatment which involved off-gasscrubbing (venturi design) and discharge method details, gypsum disposal methods, disposal of fluosilicic acid as waste material and the incorporation of all these in the Plant Layout/flow-sheet.

At IIT, Kharagpur, I have received the best possible under education in Chemica

l in India. Throughout, my scholastic records and achievements have been outstanding. I have consistently ranked in the top 2% of the students of my class, inschool, and consider the high point of my achievements as being ranked in the top 1% of more than one lakh students who wrote the Joint Entrance Examination for admission to one of the six Indian Institutes of Technology.

Throughout my school and under education, I have been a keen participant in extra-curricular activities. Getting elected as the School Pupil Leader ( Head Girl) helped me hone my organizational and interpersonal skills. At IIT, I have beeninvolved in the Annual cultural Fest as Head of the Control Tent Team. I have also taken active part in dramatics and made my contribution to the Technology Dramatics Society (English chapter) at IIT, as its member and later as the Governor. I was also the member of the NSS at IIT where I had the opportunity to be inv

olved in it's Literacy and Health & Nutrition Programs. I continue to be a member of the Helpage Society of India, which provides palliative care to the terminally ill cancer patients.

The years of under education have been an enriching experience - both academically and otherwise, and I am determined to maintain the high levels of excellence throughout my career.

My immediate degree objective is an M.S in a rapidly evolving field with animmense potential for . I wish to follow it up with a Ph.D, to pursue a career


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in and experience the excitement and satisfaction of being at the forefront ofthis vast expanding field.

An extremely distinguished faculty, a milieu replete with academic activity, anda program which blends high quality course work and facilities at the cutting edge of every sub-field are the factors which have motivated me to choose the

of Massachusetts, Amherst for studies. I believe the program offered will help me acquire the versatility needed to reach my full potential as an engineer.

It would, therefore, be a privilege to be able to secure admission to pursue studies, with adequate financial assistance at the of Massachusetts, Amherst. Iam confident that I will match the high standards set by your .The motivation and directions to pursue my studies in are influenced bythe prevailing conditions of my country. A developing country like Bangladeshis facing enormous challenges to control pollution due to widespread arsenic contamination of ground water, untreated disposal of industrial effluent, crude open dumping of solid waste in low lying areas and lack of sewerage and sanitation system in different parts of the country. About 80% of diseases in Bangladeshare originated from the unclean and polluted water. The situation in the urban areas is more alarming. In the capital city of Dhaka about 20000 m3 wastewater with high pollution load (including heavy metals) is discharged daily in the mainriver Buriganga from different leather tanning, textile, chemical and pharmaceutical industries. About 3000 ton of solid waste is dumped in the poorly managedand designed landfills and about 2000 ton of solid waste is disposed daily in d

rains and canals. Lack of proper and low-cost technologies as well as paucity oflocal experts in the field of have influenced me to pursue in similar fields so that I can contribute to improve such situations.

This predilection was further reinforced during my under studies in Bangladeshof and Technology (BUET). I found the best place to strengthen my as BUET

is deemed as the best academic institution in our country and only the best students are enrolled here after an extremely rigorous screening process. During my studies I came across interesting courses on groundwater pollution, aquifer properties, ground water flow, water treatments, microbiology of sewerage and wastewater, primary and secondary treatments of industrial effluents, sludge treatment and disposal techniques etc. Especially the courses CE 331 ( I), CE 333 (

II) and CE 332 ( Sessional I) taught me about different processes of envir

onment and thus I was able to perceive the importance of well-managed environment. Therefore I was totally convinced to pursue my higher studies in .

I have always maintained a balance between thorough study and in-depth understanding of the course in hand. This approach has paid rich dividends in my academiccareer. Maintaining a CGPA of 3.77 I was able to secure the 9th position among204 graduating students in my under studies. For such result the degree was awarded with Honours. I got highest grade in Project and Thesis Work where I needed to develop computer models using programming . The which was executed under the guidance of my supervisor taught me the ability to take an idea and follow it while at the same time maintaining a balancing act involved in allocating time, money and energy to a project. My supervisor influenced me with his tenaciousapproach to perform a task under limited resource and time.

With such motivation and objective I started my career in teaching. My penchantfor teaching and in was further fulfilled when I taught several courses on

Pollution and its Control, Environment Development Projects, Design of WaterTreatment Plant and Design of Sewerage System etc in the Department of andin The of Asia Pacific. My experience with my senior faculty members of thedepartment has raised my confidence about the methods and techniques for pursuing further in the field of . While taking course on Computer Application in

and , I got opportunity to use and teach different software related towhich I believe are required for computer aided projects. As I am working as


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an associate designer of the ETP design of a textile mill it was possible for meto identify the limitations of treatment plants, disposal techniques and unavailability of low-cost technologies.

Through such and experience I selected few areas for my studies and I wantto pursue my in any of these areas. I am interested in working in the field of wastewater and drinking water treatment, fate of contaminants, source-zone remediation technologies, simulation and modeling techniques and solid waste management. Biological wastewater treatment is more advantageous in comparison to physico-chemical treatment systems from the view point of cost effectiveness and also less objectionable sludge production. I am interested in Biological Nitrogen and Enhanced Biological phosphorous removal, microbiological community analysis,treatment of landfill leachate, bioremediation process and hybrid system consisting of biological and physicochemical treatment processes. As the conventional water treatment processes are not able to address adequately the removal of a wide spectrum of toxic chemicals and pathogenic microorganisms in raw water, theapplication of membrane technology and advanced oxidation processes is importantto ensure increasingly stringent regulations related to the drinking water quality. A membrane hybrid process combined with other physicochemical processes such as ozonation, activated carbon adsorption, coagulation etc. is also very attractive to me and may be very effective.

Also the input, transport and fate of organic contaminants in groundwater systems are of particular importance to me. In order to remediate contaminated subsurf

ace systems, it is imperative to first characterize the contaminant source zone.Under the direct supervision of teachers of such background in the Department of of the of Waterloo, the goal of my program can be to develop practicaland reliable methods of characterizing contaminant source zones, and determining the fate of these source zones, in subsurface systems. These data are fundamental prerequisites to the development of new and innovative remedial strategies,as well as the successful implementation of existing remedial strategies. Successful restoration of groundwater resources depends on our understanding of the fundamental processes governing the movement of water and chemicals in the soil. Modelling is an essential part of the risk assessment process and any remediationof the subsurface.Landfill has been the key disposal route for most of our waste including contami

nated materials for many years as it was very cheap. Space for landfill is likely to run out within few years. So approach of disposal of waste should be towards waste reduction, reuse, recycling and recovery. The reliance on landfill mustbe reduced in future. I hope that I can contribute to sustainable waste management practices implemented through fundamental contribution to increased recyclingand composting, and increasing the recovery of value from waste. The remediation of subsurface formations contaminated by non-aqueous phase liquids (NAPLs) isalso a major impediment to the restoration of many hazardous waste sites. Identifying the relationships between NAPL mass depletion, contaminant mass flux fromthe source zone, and dissolved plume properties through bench-scale experimentsand numerical models can be also interesting fields of to me.

I wish that my will combine both field work and controlled laboratory experime

nts in the well-established infrastructure of the of Waterloo. I believe the faculty members in the Department of of the have in-depth and experiencein my intended fields of interests. The rich course contents and facilities inthe field of Water Resources and encourage me to apply for my studies inthe of Waterloo. Up to now, I have always enrolled in the best institutions ofmy country and I want to pursue my future studies in one of the best institutions of the world.

My desire is to continue up to Ph.D. in my intended fields, if possible and I like to come back to Bangladesh and continue my job as a faculty member. As a facu


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lty member my intention is to disseminate the of my degree to my students in Bangladesh. I also want to invent new, effective and low-cost technologies of water and wastewater treatment or solid waste management in which area I will be able to complete my higher studies. I believe my will of value to the people ofmy country and I can originate and continue on fate of contaminants and modelling techniques in Bangladesh.

I am a M.Sc. student in discipline in the department of , Construction andat the North Carolina State (NCSU). The motivation and directions to purs

ue my studies in are influenced by the prevailing conditions of my country. A developing country like Bangladesh is facing enormous challenges to control pollution due to widespread arsenic contamination of ground water, untreateddisposal of industrial effluent, soil water intrusion in coastal areas, crude open dumping of solid waste in low lying areas and lack of sewerage and sanitation system in different parts of the country. About 80% of diseases in Bangladeshare originated from the unclean and polluted water. The situation in the urban areas is more alarming. In the capital city of Dhaka about 20000 m3 wastewater with high pollution load (including heavy metals) is discharged daily in the mainriver Buriganga from different leather tanning, textile, chemical and pharmaceutical industries. About 3000 ton of solid waste is dumped in the poorly managed and designed landfills and about 2000 ton of solid waste is disposed daily in drains and canals. According to a World Bank report about 15-thousand deaths couldbe avoided and about 800 million dollars could be saved a year if air pollutionin four major cities was reduced to acceptable limits in Bangladesh. Lack of pro

per and low-cost technologies as well as paucity of local experts in the field of have influenced me to pursue in similar fields so that I can contributeto improve such situations in future.

This predilection was further reinforced during my under studies in Bangladeshof and Technology (BUET). I found the best place to strengthen my as BUET

is deemed as the best academic institution in our country and only the best students are enrolled here after an extremely rigorous screening process. During my studies I came across interesting courses on groundwater pollution, aquifer properties, ground water flow, water treatments, microbiology of sewerage and wastewater, primary and secondary treatments of industrial effluents, sludge treatment and disposal techniques etc. Especially the courses CE 331 ( I), CE 333 (

II) and CE 332 ( Sessional I) taught me about different processes of envir

onment and thus I was able to perceive the importance of a well-managed environment. Therefore I was totally convinced to pursue my higher studies in .

I have always maintained a balance between thorough study and in-depth understanding of the course in hand. This approach has paid rich dividends in my academiccareer. Maintaining a CGPA of 3.77 I was able to secure the 9th position among204 graduating students in my under studies. For such result the degree was awarded with Honours. I got highest grade in Project and Thesis Work where I needed to develop computer models using programming . The which was executed under the guidance of my supervisor taught me the ability to take an idea and follow it while at the same time maintaining a balancing act involved in allocating time, money and energy to a project. My supervisor influenced me with his tenaciousapproach to perform a task under limited resource and time.

With such motivation and objective I started my career in teaching. My penchantfor teaching and in was further fulfilled when I taught several courses on

Pollution and its Control (Water and Air pollution), Environment DevelopmentProjects, Design of Water Treatment Plant and Design of Sewerage System etc in the Department of in the of Asia Pacific. My experience with my senior faculty members of the department has raised my confidence about the methods and techniques for pursuing further in the field of . While teaching a course onComputer Application in , I got opportunity to use and teach different software related to which I believe are required for computer aided projects. B


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efore coming in NCSU I was enrolled in Masters program in Bangladesh of andTechnology (BUET) where I completed courses titled Theory of Water Treatment and Impact Assessment.With such and motivation I started my studies in NCSU in Fall 2005. Now I amdoing my masters in solid waste investigating Potential of landfill bio-coverto oxidize methane in different laboratory conditions. Column experiments are being conducted in three phases with aged green waste which is used as a daily coverin landfills. In each phase eight columns are being operated to test methane oxidation for different experimental variables such as pressure gradient, methane flow regime and moisture infiltration. My work in developing this experimental system has given me confidence about laboratory scale . I have learnt minute details in experimental work are really important in obtaining good result which canvalidate the theory. I believe the process through which I went through to develop a plausible system to investigate the potential of landfill bio-cover is a resourceful experience to apply to other fields. Erection of columns with properdetails, compaction of compost inside the columns, controlling the gas and air flow to the columns, gas collection and analysis techniques have also taught me how a system has to be implemented from a preliminary design. The opportunity also experienced me to work with sensitive laboratory equipment and taught me to keep a Check and Balance System to interpret the experimental result.My course work in this discipline also provided me wide-span of in different fields of . It was helpful for me to decide which field I want to pursue for my doctoral . I have taken the following courses: Chemical Principles of , Biological Principles of , Ground Water Hydraulics, Physical Principles of , P

ples of Solid Waste Management, Bioprocess Technology, Modeling and Analysis ofSystems and Principles of Air Pollution Control. Three fundamental courses Chemical, Biological and Physical Principles of together with other supporting courses and respective term papers have helped me a lot to understand the relationship among soil, water and air. I will be also taking a course "Performance Monitoring at Bioreactor Landfills" and also auditing a course " Behavior of OrganicContaminants" in Spring 2007 which I believe will widen my in .

Through such and experiences I selected few areas for my Ph.D. studies and Iwant to pursue my in any of these areas in of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.I believe my background and motivation will support to work in the following areas. I am interested in working in the field of contaminant transport and fate of contaminants in water and sediments, groundwater hydrology, source-zone remedi

ation technologies, solid and hazardous waste management and remediation, and wastewater and drinking water treatment.The input, transport and fate of organic and chemical contaminants in groundwater, soils and sediments are of particular importance to me. In order to remediatecontaminated subsurface systems, it is imperative to first characterize the contaminant source zone. Under the direct supervision of teachers of such background in the Department of and of of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, the goalof my program can be to develop practical and reliable methods of characterizing contaminant source zones, and determining the fate of these source zones, insubsurface systems. These data are fundamental prerequisites to the developmentof new and innovative remedial strategies, as well as the successful implementation of existing remedial strategies. Successful restoration of groundwater resources depends on our understanding of the fundamental processes governing the mov

ement of water and chemicals in the soil. Modeling is an essential part of the risk assessment process and any remediation of the subsurface. I believe my mathematical and programming will help me to work in subsequent simulation and modeling if required.

Landfill has been the key disposal route for most of our waste including contaminated materials for many years as it was very cheap. As the space for landfill is running out a more holistic approach in which the landfill is operated as a biological system to enhance waste decomposition is now being adopted. The approach referred to as a bioreactor landfill, involves controlling the distribution of


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liquids and gases in the landfill to accelerate waste decomposition and stabilization. My work can be to develop quantitative, field-validated, methods toimprove the design and operation of solid waste and hazardous waste landfills. It might also include sustainable waste management practices implemented throughfundamental contribution to increased recycling and composting, and increasing the recovery of value from waste. The remediation of subsurface formations contaminated by non-aqueous phase liquids (NAPLs) is also a major impediment to the restoration of many hazardous waste sites. Identifying the relationships between NAPL mass depletion, contaminant mass flux from the source zone, and dissolved plume properties through bench-scale experiments and numerical models can be alsointeresting fields of to me.Biological wastewater treatment is more advantageous in comparison to physico-chemical treatment systems from the view point of cost effectiveness and also lessobjectionable sludge production. I am interested in Biological Nitrogen and Enhanced Biological phosphorous removal, microbiological community analysis, treatment of landfill leachate, bioremediation process and hybrid system consisting ofbiological and physicochemical treatment processes. As the conventional water treatment processes are not able to address adequately the removal of a wide spectrum of toxic chemicals and pathogenic microorganisms in raw water, the application of membrane technology and advanced oxidation processes is important to ensure increasingly stringent regulations related to the drinking water quality. A membrane hybrid process combined with other physicochemical processes such as ozonation, reverse osmosis activated carbon adsorption, coagulation etc. is also very attractive to me as a topic.

I wish that my will combine both field work and controlled laboratory experiments in the well-established infrastructure of of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.I believe the faculty members in the Department of and of the have in-depth and experience in my intended fields of interests. The rich course contents and facilities in the field of and encourage me to apply for my studies in of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Up to now, I have always enrolled inthe best institutions of my country and I want to pursue my future studies in one of the best institutions of the world.

I think I would be able to render my services to the humankind most efficientlyas a potential er and an innovative engineer. After completing Ph.D., I wish towork as a and teaching faculty in universities as my future profession either

here in USA or in Bangladesh. As a faculty member my intention is to disseminate the of my degree to my students to make this world a better place to live. Ialso want to invent new, effective and low-cost technologies with the in myarea. I believe my will of value to the people of my country and to the people of the world.I intend to pursue PhD program focusing Structural in Department of andat Michigan State (MSU). My primary inspiration to seek doctoral degree stemmed from my fascination to contribute to global pool of . My teaching experienceof one and a half year validated my competence to contribute in academia. I findteaching as a very captivating profession and doctoral education will enhance my skills and . So I would be able to impart advanced to the next generationsmore effectively.I understand that pursuit of doctoral degree requires tremendous hard work and t

enacity along with intellectual excellence. It is also well-known that MSU setshigh standards for its prospective students to match up with its chronicle of great accomplishments. My academic achievements lend me the confidence to performat this topmost tier. I d in with Honours from Bangladesh of and Technology (BUET) in October, 2009. My grades throughout my studies remained consistent resulting CGPA 3.79 out of 4.00. My merit position was 8th among 185 graduating students. I selected Structural as specialization during under (UG) studiesand secured highest grade in most of the structural and mechanics courses. Ireceived Deans List awards and Merit Scholarships for my academic performance.As I always cherished life in academia, after graduation I have chosen teaching


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as my career. Currently I am a lecturer at Islamic of Technology, Bangladesh which is renowned for its orientation towards and quality education. While I enjoyed courses on structural and obtained good grades during my studentship, myinterest on pursuing higher studies in structural peaked as a course teacherof UG structural courses. I believe ideas and creative thinking flourish whenyou try to transmit your to students and you feel you need to understand moreabout the topic to convey it properly. This urge of venturing beyond my presentstate of cognition helped me to choose Structural as my specialization for studies.To be more specific about my passion in structural , I should mention about myes on structural fire . For my UG thesis, I worked on response of concrete columns with load eccentricity under standard fires. My thesis involved use of ABAQUS finite element analysis (FEA) package and Visual Basic programming language.I analyzed heat transfer by FEA and developed a computer program which can predict interaction diagrams for fire damaged columns with reasonable accuracy. I received highest grade for my thesis and presented my findings in a local conference. Now I am working to refine the technique and preparing a journal publicationon these findings. During my independent after graduation, I developed a simple calculation approach for isotherm location within a concrete member. I intendto present it in 7th Structures in Fire conference in 2012.I also collaborated with Bangladesh Fire Service and Defense, and academics from other universities in es related to fire safety aspects in megacities whereI provided technical information and guidelines. These es involved extensive survey and visual judgment of buildings vulnerability in case of a fire. I co-autho

red a journal paper and few conference papers on these topics. I am also actively involved in intradepartmental activity involving seismic vulnerability assessment of buildings and bridges.My choice of MSU was established by its reputed Center for Structural Fire andDiagnostics with its well furnished lab facilities and esteemed Professor Venkatesh Kodur. Conducting doctoral under such supervision would enable me to apply my abilities to their best use. At the same time, I am confident that I wouldbe capable of making MSU proud with my efforts and my thirst to excel. My previous experiences strengthen my confidence for conducting independent es as wellas contributing to a team work. I believe I am capable to make my mark on thehorizon by transfusing my skills, , and cognition through doctoral .After completing PhD, I intend to continue teaching and as my profession at leading institutes in this field. I want to spread my acquired to the curious mi

nds and seek beyond present concurrently. As I always believed in application-based , I hope to make significant contribution to safe design and constructionpractices through my findings. I find Department of and of MSU as the perfect milieu for fulfilling my goals. I hope that MSU will provide its famed platform to launch myself to the endeavor of .I am very enthusiastic about conducting laboratory experiments and supporting them by finite element analysis. My experience of teaching theory and laboratory courses on structural will definitely help me to understand and interpret results. My UG project required use of ABAQUS and Visual Basic programming. I am acquainted to finite element modeling of cohesive layers, crack propagation and viscoelastic materials. I was in charge of Geotechnical and Lab of IUT. This opportunity provided me valuable insight into equipment installation and their operations which might be useful for my .

intend to pursue PhD (SM-PhD) program in the field of geotechnical and geo at Department of and of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). My primary inspiration to seek doctoral degree stemmed from my fascination towards contributing to global pool of . My teaching experience of one and a half years validated my competence to contribute in academia. I find teaching as a very captivating profession and this opportunity will enhance my skills and . So I wouldbe able to impart advanced to the next generations effectively.I understand that pursuit of doctoral degree requires tremendous hard work and tenacity along with intellectual excellence. It is well-known that MIT sets highstandards for its prospective students to match up with its chronicle of great a


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ccomplishments. My academic achievements lend me the confidence to perform at this topmost tier. I d with Honours in from Bangladesh of and Technology(BUET) in October, 2009. My grades throughout my studies remained consistent resulting CGPA 3.79 out of 4.00. I have secured my place around top five percent ofthe graduating students. As I wanted to lead my life in academia, after graduation I have chosen teaching as obvious choice. Currently I am a lecturer at Islamic of Technology (IUT), Bangladesh which is renowned for its orientation towards and quality education. I have taught theory and laboratory courses on geotechnical . I was also in charge of Geotechnical Lab. This opportunity providedme valuable insight into equipment installation and their operation. While I enjoyed geotechnical courses and obtained good grades during my studentship, myinterest on pursuing higher studies in geotechnical peaked as a course teacherof UG geotechnical courses. I believe ideas and creative thinking flourish whenyou try to transmit your to students and you feel you need to know more aboutthe topic to convey it properly. Being a very young branch of , I find geotechnical most intriguing with its unsolved problems and huge potential for . As a young er, I feel challenged by the unpredictability of soil and rock behavior.I am actively involved in intradepartmental activities focusing fire and seismic risk assessment. I authored two journal papers on these topics. My collaboration with academics in other universities also worked very well. I presented sixpapers in different conferences while three others are under review.I am very enthusiastic about conducting large scale experiments and supporting them by finite element simulation. I know that a lot of has already been done i

n these fields but I believe that a far greater is yet to be explored.I find Department of CAEE of UT as the perfect milieu to fulfill my goals. Understandably, my choice of UT for doctoral studies has been firmly established by its well furnished lab facilities and faculty members with tremendous expertise in my field of interest. I am familiar with illustrious achievements of thedepartment in the fields of structural fire safety. Conducting doctoral underthe supervision of such esteemed faculty members would enable me to apply my abilities to their best use. At the same time, I am confident that I would be capable of making UT proud with my effort and my thirst to excel. I believe I am capable of pushing the envelope by transfusing my skills, and cognition through doctoral .My endeavor is to make a safer living for human. I think I can attain this goalthrough my with the support of renowned mentors at UT . After completing PhD,

I intend to continue teaching and as my profession at leading institutes in this field. I want to spread the I acquired to curious minds and seek beyond present at the same time. I hope that Department of , Architecture and ofof at will provide its famed platform to launch myself for fulfilling my goals.I intend to pursue a PhD (MS degree leading to PhD) degree in the Department of, Architectural and with an emphasis in . I wish to expand my career asa professional er and faculty member in this field. I feel that I need academicpreparation beyond my under education in order to make meaningful technical contributions to society. My main motivation for applying to of at stems from the presence of state-of-the-art laboratory facilities and most importantly, eminent and distinguished faculty members with interests aligned with that of my own. I believe program of of at is the best place where my skills

in formulating questions and in solving those questions will be enhanced.The initiation of my formal education occurred when I enrolled for under studies at Bangladesh of and Technology (BUET), Dhaka. I found this the best place to strengthen, cultivate and evolve my as BUET is deemed as the best academic institution for in Bangladesh and only the best students are enrolled here after an extremely rigorous screening process. Basic and advanced courseshelped lay a solid foundation to my career. Furthermore, in my under studies I learnt about the practical implementation of theories and the immense challenge involved in dealing with and providing solutions for real-life situations,which are very challenging and demanding in the growing economy of a developing


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nation like Bangladesh.As part of my under thesis, under the guidance of my supervisor, I carried outsome on the water supply system in rural areas of Bangladesh. In my thesis I needed to developed laboratory experimental set up, pragmatic decision making through fieldwork and computer aided designs. The analytical attributes and persistence required for such a make me confident that I have the aptitude necessaryto cope with the rigors of .Throughout my under studies I remained steadfast in my resolve to attain excellence in academics and . This resolve paid rich dividends and I d securing 3rdposition among 192 students in my class with a CGPA of 3.84 out of 4.00. Immediately after graduation, I had the opportunity of joining Department of Presidency as a Lecturer. I taught several laboratory and theory course on . Currently, I am working as a lecturer in the Department of and of Islamic ofTechnology (IUT), Bangladesh. I am teaching several courses such as structural mechanics and construction materials laboratory, Geology etc. in IUT. I amalso acting as coordinator for the laboratory in IUT. I find distinct joy in teaching as I see my students eagerly and proactively grasping on to various concepts. During the period of time as a lecturer I feel that my leadership qualities are developing and I am being able to motivate my students towards and exploration. I believe my professional goals as an academic and er can be furtherrealized upon attainment of post degrees. As faculty member of the Departmentof & , IUT, I have been actively involved in some activities in sustainable construction, landfill leachate treatment etc. I realize that publication of

is paramount. I am trying to develop new publication ideas and proactively wo

rking with my colleagues for publications. I have co-authored two journal and several conference proceeding which are under review process.I am interested in carrying out on Infrastructure management. The directionsto pursue my studies in this area are influenced by the prevailing transportinfrastructures conditions of my country. A developing country like Bangladesh is facing enormous challenges to allocate the resources in various development sectors due to limited resources. sector has the significant share of the annualdevelopment budget. But due to lack of proper management system, the allocatedbudgets have little impact on the development of transport infrastructures. There is much scope for in this context. I would also like to concentrate my studyon pavement analysis, design, performance and management. In addition to this Iam also interested in pursuing my study on fracture and damage mechanics, nondestructive testing of pavement, recycled materials, pavement materials, advanced

cementitious materials and chemically treated and stabilized soils also draw mystudy interest. Although Bangladesh is a densely populated country with limitedresources, the countrys economy is progressive. This progressive economy of the country has its impact of the high demand for transport. For this reason Travel demand modeling, planning and design of public transport systems and transport planning are of particular importance to me.I am decisively looking forward to continue teaching and as my profession, completion of Ph.D. is mandatory to augment my opportunities in this profession. Ihope to play my part in disseminating to my students and carrying out innovative and meaningful . I am confident that of at with her strength in will provide me the necessary platform to pursue my intellectual aspirations. I hope that as a student at of at I can contribute towards strengthening and fortifying her tradition of excellence.

Impacting lives positively- is the best portion that drew me to . Now a senior year student, I expect to in February 2013 from Bangladesh of & Technology, nations best school. I intend for MS in at of at in fall 2013, as part of a long term goal elaborated later in the essay.During my junior year, I discovered my fascination for through its introductory courses. Its interdisciplinary flavor and necessity in developing Bangladesh inspired me further to take it as major. I feel drawn to pavement materials and pavement , planning, safety and public transport since I believe sustainable pavement materials and accurate planning together can build the firm basis for new-age scenario. I aim to to find ways for it and my intrinsic analytical per


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ception is an impetus to it.In academic coursework, I achieved the top grade in Project Planning & Management and Transport & Traffic Design courses and practical course on pavement materials and traffic . I enjoyed studying Highway design & Railways course as well.I took this semester- Transport Projects & Operations course for my interest inplanning. The practical course on traffic studies helped me realize the nuance

s of planning concerns. Dr. Tanweer Hasan is my supervisor of the thesis on Bus Stop Access Characteristics of Dhaka City Travelers. The abstract awaits acceptance of Transport Forum, USA. Through this experience, I learnt the skill of commitment, tenacity and inquisitiveness required in , which ensures my maturity for independent in MS. Beyond academia, I worked as enumerator in two transportprojects coordinated by Dr. Charisma F Choudhury, where I gained the hands-on experience on traffic data collection. I also volunteered at IABSE-JSCE Joint Conference, Advances in Bridge -II under supervision of Dr. AFM Saiful Amin, whichhas been a major exposure for me to professional societies. I am an active member of Students Association, BUET as well.I agree that my results fluctuated in first two years. The 4th semester was especially below ideal due to illness. Taking challenge, I raised my CGPA exponentially. With my respectable GRE score, my aptitude and preparedness for such majordegree as MS is evident, which my CGPA obscures. I am fully aware that requires self-motivation and I am prepared for that.s Cockrell School has the reputation of being the light-house for brilliant minds. Among its ers, Dr. Amit Bhasins on moisture damage of pavements, which is amajor concern in our flood-prone country, completely fits my interest. My thesi

s experience also inclines me to Dr. Chandra Bhats on modeling and Greenhouse Gas emission. Upon prior contact, Dr. Bhasin had interest to be my supervisor. Mygrades in pavement material related courses show my competence for his topic too. With all its resources, Center of can nurture any endeavor. Thus, thesefacts has shaped my decision of applying to this school.As long term goal, I plan to be involved in a consultancy firm after MS. Afterfew first-hand professional experience, I shall complete PhD and finally start my academic career. A degree from of at is the first step towards the golden door!Dhaka, the city I was grown up, where the curse of traffic congestions and the resulting air pollution plague a population of 10.5 million, where the inefficient mass transit system aggravates the distress of people, where the pedestrians are highly vulnerable in terms of safety and thus suffering from the lacking of a

n adequate system required for sustainable development - compels me to feel that fostering a meaningful synthesis between planning and implementation is a requisite. I remain optimistic, even in the emergence of such urban transport crisis for my country, that technology will be able to solve many of todays immitigable problems. For a natural resource-deficient country faced by rapid growth of population, extreme poverty and inequality of income, increasing urbanization anddegradationI was faced with the dilemma of selecting a field of study that prop

erly harmonizes the necessity and academic goals. I believe that and relatedtechnologies remain the most challenging field for our country.

Analytic solutions of any problem have always attracted me and I have been interested in mathematics for a very long time. At I became fascinated by the magicof programming and started to solve the problems of ACM (Association for Comput

ing Machinery). My passionate interest for programming gave me the 5th place winner of the 26th ACM International Collegiate Programming Contest, Asia Regional,BUET, Dhaka. At that contest I was one of those few contestants who were not from a field related to computer science. This success has greatly inspired me toexplore beyond the horizon of technical . Now in my introductory lectures of computer programming lab course, I urge my students to be passionate to their interests no matter how difficult they seem to be.

In my under studies, I have always strived to maintain an approach of expendingindependent effort in all my endeavors. This approach has paid rich dividends i


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n my academic career as I achieved a CGPA of 3.91 in my under studies and ranked first in my department among 199 students. My ensuing appointment as a Lecturer in the Department of , BUET fulfilled my intense inclination for a teachingprofession. This excellent opportunity has opened for me the scope of both acquiring and delivering . I try to maintain a continuous interaction with my students not only in the academic area but also in other extracurricular activities.As the member secretary of the organizing committee I successfully organized theannual event of my department- Festival 2006.

I always like to take the challenges of walking in the path less traveled by. Myunder work on manganese occurrence and its removal from ground water of Bangladesh has given me such an opportunity to identify, establish and search the solutions of a major water quality issue, not reported earlier, of our country. Itried to find the statistics of occurrence of manganese and its implications onsafe water supply of a country which already has suffered greatly for high levels of arsenic contamination. My work has been accepted for presentation in the 32nd WEDC International Conference, Colombo, Sri Lanka, 2006.Over the past few years, I have developed an interest in the areas of urban planning. Particularly the field of travel demand analysis, which attracts me to great extents, seems a promising as well as a challenging field in the context ofa developing country. I was involved in a project of Strategic Transport Planning (STP) for Dhaka city where, as a part of a team, my role was to check the validity of a model developed in EMME/2. The limitations and weaknesses of that model motivated me to develop a comprehensive and rational modeling framework as my

thesis work. The abstract of a part of my thesis work, describing the development of a trip generation model for Dhaka city, has been accepted in the 11th World Conference on Transport (WCTR), Berkeley, USA, 2007.

To speak of my major interests, I intend to apply myself in any of the fieldsof urban planning, travel demand modeling, travel behavior analysis, land useand interaction, activity based modeling; while my parallel areas of interestare public system, non motorized transport, traffic simulation and applicationof intelligent system in developing country. I can work in the travel demandanalysis field where I can learn and apply the state-of-the-art modeling concepts. In the traffic simulation field I can deal with design of intersection, withheterogeneous non-lane based traffic, appropriate for a developing country. I can also work with numerical simulations or mathematical or statistical models. Bu

t whatever the theme may be, I am specifically looking for a work which requires analytical efforts as well as addresses the implementation aspect. I have sufficient programming skills using C++, EMME/2 and GIS which I want to put to good use during my . I am eager to work with Professor Moshe E. Ben-Akiva, Professor Yossi Sheffi or Professor Patrick Jaillet because their fields closely resemble my interests.

After graduation, I intend to move into a purely teaching and faculty. Whenever I surf through the scholarly journals in the library or internet, I truly wantto be a part of the academic society disseminating scientific works worldwide. Despite many limitations, Bangladesh has already made noteworthy success in its development efforts. But still the country lacks an efficient, safe and sustainable system. I believe that my future works can significantly contribute to

wards the development of such a system for my country. As a recipient of the Prime Ministers Gold Medal, awarded for outstanding results in the under level of all the public universities of Bangladesh, I now feel a firm determination and heartfelt responsibility to be a part of the successful development story of a nation.It is not with my outstanding academic background that I want to attract your attention but rather with my passionate endeavor towards further strengthening mytechnical and the earnest aspiration for . I hope to find me a deserving candidate for the Ph.D. program of the well reputed department of your esteemed .


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The relentless pursuit for post education is fully attributed to my ingraineddesire to become an academic and scientific er. It is the gateway to and original contribution to the global pool of . I feel that I need academic preparation beyond my under education in order to make the meaningful technical contributions in the society.is the field that reflects my secondary and high school fascination for scienc

e and mathematics. , to me was the form of applied science that would be suitable in every respect in a developing country like Bangladesh. Being raised in themost densely populated city in the world, problems associated with traffic congestion, poor drainage and sanitation system and major infrastructural tribulations always inspired me to study . And the sheer diversity in the field ofas it covers every aspect of life with its flourishing nature in developed countries and necessity in developing countries like ours led me to choose as myunder major.During my under study, I always tried to maintain good academic performance with a basic understanding in introductory subjects. I tried to comprehend thevery rudiments of the discipline and to build a solid background in the fundamentals of subjects like geology, material science, structural mechanics, fluid mechanics, soil mechanics, control, systems, computer programming and applications and economics which have placed me in front of various theoretical concepts and methods widely used in this particular sector. The thesis work and design project undertaken in the final year to fulfill the requirements of understudy were the first opportunities that I came across to apply the basics and fundamental understandings that I have learnt in the earlier years.

The topic of my under was to evaluate the possibility of using bamboo twigs as reinforcements in concrete beams. The purpose of the thesis was to find a solution for low cost housing for the rural people of Bangladesh. The objective of the thesis was three fold: (1) to study the behavior of bamboo twigs under tension to determine the ultimate tensile strength, the stress-strain relationship andthe modulus of elasticity (2) to understand the bond characteristics between bamboo twig and concrete and (3) to determine the cracking and ultimate load capacity of bamboo twig reinforced concrete beam. This thesis project helped me to understand the basic principles of materials, evaluation of various material properties and to innovatively applying it for the design purpose. My earlier experience in conducting at under level taught me that results are deliverable onlythrough patience, persistence, and consistence rather than simply through brilliance, curiosity, and creativity alone an immensely valuable lesson that I believ

e will help me succeed in of at Arlington as well.After completing my bachelor degree, I joined BASF (The Chemical Company) as anAssistant Manager where I found the opportunity to gain about concrete technology. While working there I attained training on concrete technology in Singaporewhich helped me to understand the design and application of high strength concrete with chemical admixtures.My primary objective in the field of is the design and construction of systems to enhance the quality of like and to improve the environment in which we live. I haveinterests in the fields like Geotechnical and Geo systems. I found theongoing projects under the supervision of Dr. Sahadat Hossain like Bioreactor LandfillTechnology, Numerical Modeling in Geotechnics, Deep Foundations and Reliability bas

d Designs(LRFD) very intriguing. I have also similar interests for and I will feel honored if Iget the opportunity to work as a assistant in his esteemed group. My immediatedegree objective is an MS in and I wish to follow it up with a PhD and ultimatelywould like to work as a scientist for an academic institution in the area ofanddevelopment.


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of at Arlington is reputed to be one of the best schools in USA. Theactivities and facilities have made this a perfect milieu for me to fulfill mydreams. I want toutilize my cognition to explore the basic science behind an occurrence at an area whereeverything is in micro or nano scale, which is not yet known to people. Then using the , Iwould like to design or develop something useful and efficient that will make amark in futuregeneration . I hold a strong belief that I would be able to fully utilize my talent if I get theopportunity to be a member of the wonderful academic and intellectual environment of this.It would, therefore, be a privilege to be able to secure admission to pursue studies atof at Arlington. I sincerely hope to have a mutually beneficial association

with theto contribute my best towards making a successful endeavor. I believe that I

possess the basic aptitude, discipline and perseverance to sustain the motivation and drive needed fora career. I feel that study at of Arlington will be an ideal fulfillmentof my academic and ambitions and I am eager to become a part of this as astudent.

My motivation to pursue the MS degree in is deeply rooted in my commitmentto excellence. It is the gateway to and original contribution to the global pool of. The complex amalgamation of time, experience and adherence to the body of higherlevel of makes it possible for an ordinary person to accomplish extraordinarily. Ibelieve that I am not ordinary, but it requires some technical support by some experienced peoplein a better place to study to shape my life inordinately in my field.My subjective experience always dictated me to the belief that all areas of education are unique.To me, creates what is inexorable for a thriving ization.

Beginning with ensuring efficient movement of people and goods, the engineerswill design and build that warrants efficacy in allocation of resources and meetthe needs of thepeople.Unfortunately, our country Bangladesh lacks the planners, engineers and other experiencedprofessionals required for developing a competent strategy, to design and actually build thenetwork with their minimal resources. These reflections have greatly influence

d meand consequently enabled me to choose and prepare for a career in andpursue my in this field. I have selected few areas for my studies frominterests such as Planning, Economics, Intelligent

Systems, Advance Technologies in Traffic , Sustainable Strategies,Traffic demand modeling and simulation techniques, Traffic safety as well as indeveloping countries.Purdue is reputed to be one of the best schools in USA. Theactivities and the facilities have made this a perfect milieu for me to fulfill my dreams.I hold a strong belief that I would be able to fully utilize my talent if I getthe opportunity to be amember of the wonderful academic and intellectual environment of this . As I ca


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me toknow that about the facilities, resourceful laboratories and a strong facultydoingpanoptic es in different fields, I strongly desire to be a part of this so that I canput my ability to its maximum use.I look forward to enroll in a program that has an immense potential for a dedicated career in

and that is why my immediate objective is to pursue a MS degree and Iwish to follow it up with a PhD and ultimately would like to work as a scientist for anacademic institution in the area of and development. What lend me confidence tosucceed in this area is more reinforced by my academic accomplishments so far, the Iattended and my teaching experience at a reputed . While I am aware of the enormousamount of self-motivation and continuous hard work required to pursue the MS, Ihave strongbelief that I have adequate preparation and strong motivation toward this work.My motivation to pursue the Masters of Science in degree is deeply rooted inmy commitment to excellence. It is the gateway to and original contribution tothe global

pool of . The complex amalgamation of time, experience and adherence to the body ofhigher level of makes it possible for an ordinary person to accomplish extraordinarily.I believe that I am not ordinary, but it requires some technical support by someexperiencedpeople in a better place to study to shape my life inordinately in my field.It would be a blatant fabrication if I were to say that I wanted to be a engineer from the verybeginning of my life. After I had finished my college successfully, I was planning to enroll in

career triggered by interest, curiosity and charm of its perplexing spectacle. An

admission in Bangladesh of and Technology (BUET), the leader ineducation in Bangladesh, was the most difficult and students had to excel in arigorous entry exam to qualify for enrollment. In addition, the holds good reputationthroughout the world for advancing promising s who participated andsuccessfully completed various significant and major projects. Admission intothatmarked something that will come into existence later in my life.

Though I enjoyed some particular subjects, after I have enrolled in , I was not yetwell focused in any major areas of . My earlier fondness of physics andmathematics helped me a great deal in understanding the elemental concepts and grounds, on

which the superstructure would eventually embark. It was not until later years when I got theopportunity to undertake various courses, to participate in projectworks and prepare presentations that are integral to course works, I started torealize the breadthand depth of this field, which immediately captured my substantial enthusiasm. Ibegan to go tothe library often to read various references and journals on my own for a betterunderstanding ofsystems, planning, management and urban problems in developing


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countries. These later experiences facilitated me to build up a compelling and persisting interestin this area and rationalize my goal.My subjective experience always dictated me to the belief that all areas of education are unique;in their ability to create, to demonstrate the mystifying inherent beauty, to approach an idea or aproblem and fashion out a solution with creativity and imagination - for the purpose ofcontributing another step into the ladder of available and accomplishments ofmankind. To me, creates what is important and inexorable for athriving ization. Beginning with ensuring efficient movement of people and goods, theengineers will design and build that warrants efficacy in allocation of resour

ces andmeet the needs of the people.Why I have chosen to pursue my in , in particular, stemsfrom both how I visualize and perceive the goals embodied in this field in relation to my countryand how well equipped I am to contribute in this field. As I have perceived,systems are not merely aimed at efficient movement of goods and people, which have, of course,throughout the history, played a crucial role in any countrys economy and been closely tied with

managing resources and wealth. This gigantic industry is also meant to increasethe choicesavailable to people, since it would determine how people would access to their necessary servicesand provisions, such as work place, educational facilities etc. For instance, ina developingcountry like Bangladesh, all useful, valuable and well-resourced establishmentsare concentratedat the city, and an absence of efficient system necessarily determines the fate ofpeople in significant ways. For example, sometimes, it alone will decide whethera patient from aremote area will have the chance to survive under emergency situations. It is li

kely that, aninefficient and time consuming system will prevent his access to a hospital atcity.I have chosen as my continuing field of as it directly deals with society,economy, environment, planning, and the overall development of the nation. I believe that will provide an excellent opportunity to study how science, technology, and social sciences interact.During my study period at Bangladesh of and Technology (BUET), I took all the advanced courses in offered by the department. Though the courses were rigorous and covered a wide number of topics such as transport and traffic design,transport projects and operations, traffic planning and management, highway design and railways, I preferred not to limit my to certain text books and selected articles. I began to explore papers. Many of the papers were fascinating and

I was overwhelmed to see the authors unique way of approaching and handling problems. Exposure to these papers boosted my interest in . I want to gather more and learn the modern tools used in cutting-edge . This is precisely the reason I wish to pursue a PhD in .My under work on evaluation of accessibility in planning and its relevanceto Dhaka city gave me such an opportunity to analyze and identify the present level of accessibility of the existing road network. I tried to study the road network of Dhaka city and the planning weaknesses of mapping the roads. These weaknesses cause chronic traffic congestion. To accomplish this task, I analyzed thetravel-time data of all the motorized travel modes throughout Dhaka, consisting


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of 90 administrative zones. I found out the accessibility and mobility indices for these zones. The drastic index values indicate that traffic congestion is very common to the commuter because of the ill-planned and inefficient system. Italso reveals that the system should be evaluated based on accessibility in addition to mobility to make an underserved zone more accessible.I successfully completed many projects with Dr. Charisma Choudhury (Assistant Professor, BUET; Postdoctoral Associate (Off-campus), MIT). I performed as an independent er in a project to review the traffic prediction model for a proposed elevated expressway in Dhaka. BUET has been commissioned to review the traffic study to cross-validate the findings of the foreign consultant. I worked in another project titled 'Willingness-to-Pay for Mass Rapid Transit in Dhaka' to find out peoples responses about the inclusion of BRT and METRO along with other existing modes. The project has been conducted for travel demand modeling. During my under study, I also participated in a Bus Route Franchise study which has been implemented for the first time in Dhaka city recently. The purpose of the study wasto evaluate the benefit of merging different bus companies in a same route in context of reducing travel time and traffic congestion. My role was to design andconduct questionnaire survey, compile SP data and assist in choice modeling in all these projects. From the that I gained through my academic and experiences, I have written three conference papers which have been submitted for International Conference-2011, SUST, Bangladesh, March 10-12, 2011.My earlier appointment as a assistant of IWFM, BUET for a four-month project has made me confident to take this kind of responsibilities in future. My presentappointment as a lecturer in the Department of , UITS ( of Information Tech

nology and Sciences) fulfilled my intense inclination for a teaching profession.This excellent opportunity has opened the scope of both acquiring and delivering for me. I try to maintain a continuous interaction with my students not onlyin the academic area but also in other extracurricular activities.My interests include network modeling, operations , econometrics, and highway safety. In an overpopulated city like Dhaka, traffic congestion is a major problem with negligible scope of expansion of roadways and other infrastructures within the city. But I remain optimistic because efficient implementation of modern methods that comprise of comprehensive network modeling, planned roadway operations, cost effective arrangement can effectively ensure safe and efficient movement of the people and goods here. I want to be a part of this innovation.

I am enthralled to see the diverse nature of the and scholarship of the experts associated with the and infrastructure systems group. It would be an excellent opportunity for me to learn from and interact with such outstanding scholars. Other motivations behind my application to the PhD program of and infrastructure systems of the Purdue are its leadership role in NEXTRANS and close association with the Joint Program (JTRP), Center for Road Safety (CRS), IndianaDepartment of (INDOT).After graduation, I intend to move to a purely teaching and faculty. I want toplay a leading role among the academics of systems in Bangladesh. Though Bangladesh has already made some noteworthy successes in its development efforts, itstill lacks an efficient, safe, and sustainable system. I believe that my future works can significantly contribute towards the development of such a system for my country.

Summing up all, the unique and comprehensive package of facilities, extremelyreputable faculty members with extensive experiences have highly motivated meto be a part of the PhD program of and infrastructure systems of the Purdueand to build my career as a potential er in .I would like to introduce myself as M.S.PRAMOD. I have completed my bachelor ofin Electronics & Communication from SIR M.VISVESVARAYA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

an esteemed institution under BANGALORE .I always had the ambition of pursuingthe MS program right from my childhood days.

I firmly believe that inquisitive and explorative attitude leads to constant lea


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rning process. As an Electronics Engineer, I look for study to refine my andskills in my areas of interest. I believe it will also serve to give directionto my goal of a career as oriented organization.

During my under study subjects like Communication systems, Signal processing, VLSI, Control systems, Microprocessors have been my favorite subjects. Inparticular I like Signal processing & VLSI, and would like to specialize in that. The electronic chip has always fascinated me. As years roll by the size of the chip is decreasing and the cost is decreasing effectively. Though the size isdecreasing, the sophistication of the function performed by the chip is increasing all the time. This advancement in the technology of the chip industry has inspired me to work in that industry, but as for my MS degree, I would remain opento other topics as well.

My project work during my final year of under course was on Flash Microcontrollers (ATMEL AT89C55).The title of the project was SERIAL COMMUNICATION BETWEEN CONTROL CARDS IN (10+1) MUX.10 is the number of Voice/data channels.1 is order wire which is not included in the voice/data channels and must be written separately. This may appear a deviation from the area in which I wish to specialize, I am aware of the role that Microcontroller plays in field of Electronics. Hence, with an aspiration to specialize in area of VLSI or Signal processing, I present my application in front of you hoping for positive consideration.

I am aware universities in USA offer great scope and encouragement for I

ntellectual & academic development. The process of technical advancement is veryfast in USA. Hence, USA has emerged as world leader in Science & Technology. Inorder to keep myself updated with latest technical advances I am keen to obtainMS degree in USA.

After consulting my Professors, Friends, seniors studying in USA yourhas been recommended very highly for its excellent faculty & learning experience. I always believe that essence of education lies in synergetic relationship between student and his department. I feel that study at your will be the most logical extensions of my objectives. I am confident that wholesome education that I receive at your will stand me in good stead through out my career.

I sincerely request you to consider my application for admission into yo

ur reputed . I would be grateful to you if I am accorded the opportunity to pursue my higher studies and given the opportunity, I am sure that I will be able to able to achieve my goals keeping in touch with the expectations of the .

Looking forward to be a part of your program.There is a very famous adage, Ifyou think education is expensive, then try ignorance. I could not agree more. I believe is necessary to acquire data and formulate theories, but it is just asimportant to know how to apply those theories and use that data in the real world. To be competent and competitive I will require a masters degree. A masters degree will give me the up-to-date tools and that are the need of the hour.

While in my third year of under study, I learnt the concepts of signal processi

ng and microprocessors. These topics have fascinated me ever since. When I studied the fundamentals of analog and digital signals, I almost decided that DigitalSignal Processing was the career for me. What got me more enthused in this areawas when I learnt about microprocessors. I had the opportunity to study some ofthe processors during my third and fourth (final) year. Thats when I realized how the two fields could be merged together by having dedicated processors. I am certain that my interest in this will increase by taking Digital Signal Processing and Microcomputer System Design as electives in my final semester of under study.


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In DSP we shall learn in depth about FIR, IIR and Quantization errors. Here we shall also cover Z-transform analysis, filter design (IIR filter design and FIR filter design), DTF, FFT and its applications. As an introduction we shall learnInstruments and Analog Devices special DSP Processors. In Microcomputer System

Design, the Pentium Processor and PCI bus will be covered. Conceptual view of Microsoft Windows NT, Windows NT models- client server is also a part of the curriculum.

Digital signal processing is one of the brightest spots in the semiconductor business today, and one of the few deserving the title breakthrough. Like earlier advances in microprocessors and computer memories, digital signal processing is a foundation technology with the power to transform broad areas of the electronicsindustry. Its impact is being felt in applications as diverse as stereo systems,cars, personal computers and cellular phones. In the next few years, digital signal processing should give rise to hundreds of new products and change what people expect from technology.

The fact that the world market in programmable Digital Signal Processor chips hit more than $3 million in 1997, having tripled in just three years shows that Digital Signal Processor have come a long way and are here to stay. It is projected to increase to around $14 million by the end of 2002. The future in this fieldis ever increasing and provides opportunity for the to-be engineers in this field.

Also being a member of the internationally acclaimed Institute Of Electrical andElectronic Engineers (IEEE - currently Communication Society, next year I willbe enrolled for Signal Processing Society) has given me the opportunity to keepabreast with the latest in todays advancing technology. This has also increased my interest in the field of Communication. Hardly surprising, much of the growthof DSP is being driven by communication. Thus this gives DSPs a wide area to exploit.

In my final year, I joined hands with three other students to undertake a project. Our project consisted of designing an Automated Teller Machine (ATM). The heart of our system consisted of the 8086 microprocessor. We shall use assembly lan

guage for programming the microprocessor. This is one of the most interesting large projects that I had a chance to be a part of. It is an extremely practical experience, which I really enjoy.

During my under course in the Department of Electronics I have consistently scored above 65 %, which is a matter of great pride for me, as very few student have achieved this feat. This makes me several cuts above the commonplace. Our courses were purely theoretical in nature. I would like to change that. As I have mentioned below, I am a practical person and like to see things work.

I enjoy teaching and although I have no formal experience, my naturally strong communication skills will help me considerably. I envisage myself as a teacher and er either in industry or in the . I definitely see myself in the role of a t

eacher to under s. In fact, thats something I would enjoy immensely.

I am a very practical person and my understanding is prodded by actually seeingthings work. I am a quick thinker and learner. Your could be the nucleus to accomplish my goals, as ample opportunities exist for students like me to initiateindependent study and to become involved in active programs, both experimental and theoretical. I would be more than happy to be given the opportunity to pursue my study in your . I am confident that in return for this I can make a perennial contribution to your institution.Time and effort if put together, definitely leads to success. I still remember, that Friday night, I was debugging a ho


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spital management project. I didnt realize how the night drifted off so quickly,but finally I arrived at the solution. These comprehensive efforts were aptly rewarded when my project was implemented for a cardiac clinic. This experience indeveloping a client server based system infused into my mind the love for computers over electronics, and aspired me to dwelve into the field of software .

81.57% in my secondary school admitted me into Electronics & Telecommunicationat one of the ranked colleges in Mumbai, Vivekanand Education Society Polytechnic (VESP). Here I realised the importance of Microprocessors, Satellite Networks, Mobile Communication etc. in todays environment. The final year project CordlessFM transmitter and Receiver was concentrated on wireless communication.

Knowing the importance of computers in todays world, I enrolled into NIIT, a pioneer in providing software education in India. Here I learned operating systems like UNIX, Win NT, Linux, Programming languages like c, c++, Java, developer tools like Visual Basic, Microsoft Foundation Classes, DBMS like SQL server, Sybaseand 32 bit windows architecture. The final semester project was to develop & tosimulate day to day operations in a hospital. This project took me to the top ofthe class where the project was much appreciated by the centre head and the dean himself, because it facilitates all the functionalities that can be found in amedium sized hospital. My teachers encouraged me to present this project to thehospital manager of Varun Cardiac Clinic (VCC). Finally after 2 months of interaction with doctors and managers of the hospital, I developped a real life timesystem by employing 3 assistant programmers. I got plenty of experience not only

in dealing with clients, but also in work management and time management, as Iwas simultaneously studying in the diploma college too.

The natural progression after diploma was pursuing a Bachelors of degree in Electronics at Shah & Anchor Kutchi College. Electrical Networks, Electronics, Instrumentation and Control Systems, Robotics, Data and Digital Communications all gave me a sound idea of the technological advances in the modern world. My final year project Inventory and Stores Control, developed in a GUI environment focussed on the inventory system. My joy knew no bounds when I heard that the projectwas successfully tested by experts and is replacing the older version in the college.

I believe that experience plays a key role in ones career. I was lucky enough to

meet Mr. Anand Sarvaiya, a Senior ERP consultant at Oracle Apps, Japan, over Internet who gave me an I, Ashwin Shrinivas, am applying to the of Wisconsin,Madison for admission to the Ph.D. program in Computer Science. My goalis to pursue a career in , either in industry or in academia.Ten years from now, I envisage myself as a full-fledgedprofessional in an organization, or a faculty member at one of theleading universities. A Ph.D. is an important first step in achievingthis objective.opportunity to work on a live project for DSP Meryll Lynch GlobalIntegrated Solutions Ltd as an offshore development from Feb 99 to Jul 99. HereI learned, how the sub division system software of a huge company is integratedunder a common head, so that the system works smoothly and leads to an efficient outcome. Working with international members of the team was simply fantastic.

Although I programmed on a small part of a huge system, I played an important part as a team member who was always ready for more work. This has always been mymotto "Work is Worship". This experience had tuned me to the workings of a largecorporate and have also polished my computer know-how. I am extremely proud tostate that I am the only one from the entire college who has worked on an international level.

Masters from your will not only impart a sound education in latest technologies, but will also push me ahead in the computing world. My intentions, my dreams,my goals are clear, I look forward to become an ERP Consultant with software gia


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nts like Arthur & Anderson Consulting, Oracle Apps. etc. and I am sure a good education, infrastructure and opportunities that come my way, will help me in achieving my goals. I have always tried my best to achieve optimised and unconventional solutions in order to build a rising success. Though I was exposed to some aspects of Computer Science in mylast two years of school, a comprehensive foundation in all the fieldsof Computer Science began after I entered IIT Bombay. The ComputerScience department at IIT Bombay is indisputably among the best in thecountry. Its excellent courses, faculty and learning environment havegiven me a firm grounding in all the fields of Computer Science.

My academic and co-curricular record has been consistently good.Throughout school as well as now, I have been at or near the top of myclass. My class at IIT Bombay consists of 36 students, chosen from anAll India exam involving 100,000 students. I myself was $9^{th}$ in thatexam. I have listed some of my achievements on the attached resum\'{e}.

I am of the opinion that requires a firm grounding in theorybacked up by an in-depth of systems and implementation. Theimportant courses of {\em Discrete Structures}, {\em Data Structures \&Algorithms}, and {\em Theory of Computation} have given me a goodof theory. In addition, I am doing the course {\em Design \&

Analysis of Algorithms} this semester and {\em Parallel Algorithms} nextsemester, in order to further firm up my foundations. My performance in

lab courses attests to my of systems and programming.

My strengths are my consistency, capacity for hard work, and my abilityto work in a team. I have been involved in many course projects whichinvolved a group of students, and I have been the team leader in quitea few of these. I believe that involves new ideas, as well asconsistent effort to back them up, both of which I am capable of.

\ \\{\Large {\bf My primary interests}}\\

I prefer problems to be an ideal mix of theory and practice.The field of {\bf Databases} interests me because of the scope for

breaking new ground, as well as the vast applications possible. Ibelieve that {\bf Distributed Databases}, in particular, is an areawith a lot of potential. My grounding in this field is solid, which isreflected in my obtaining the best possible grade in both the coursesinvolving Databases, namely, {\em Business Information Systems} and{\em Database Management Systems}, and in their respective labs too.Currently, I am working on my Senior Thesis under Dr. S. Seshadri,in which we are looking at the problem of {\em Garbage Collection inPersistent Object Stores}. We plan to submit it for publication afterrunning some performance tests, which we are designing.Since all fields in Computer Science are highly interlinked, I want topursue studies at a that is strong in all fields ofComputer Science. I am aware that the department of Computer Science at

the of Wisconsin, Madison is one of the best in the world,being particularly strong in Databases (my primary interest).Dr. Seshadri, an alumnus of the , also recommends it highly.These facts have led me to apply to the of Wisconsin, Madison.

There is one more ({\em and the most compelling}) reason. My SeniorThesis draws heavily upon related work by Dr. J. Naughton. We arecurrently implementing our algorithm on the EXODUS Storage Manager,which itself was developed at the of Wisconsin, Madison. Icorresponded with Dr. Naughton, and his encouraging reply and


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description of the work at the department reinforced my decision toapply.

\ \\{\Large {\bf Financial Aid}}\\

I would be fully dependent on aid to finance my studies. If Iam granted an assistantship, then given my long term goals, aassistantship would be an ideal experience for me. I have alreadymentioned my interest in . I also have someexperience in teaching. I have been a lecturer \& demonstrator instudent workshops held in various colleges in the region. I was alsoinvolved in a nationwide program which involved teaching schoolchildren. The good response to my efforts, coupled with my prowess indramatics, elocution \& debating gives me the confidence to handle anyteaching assignment.

\ \\{\Large {\bf My plans if admitted}}\\

I plan to carry on advanced study of Databases, as well as relatedfields (e.g. Algorithms), not only through coursework but also by{\em participating in one of the several ongoing projects}.This will also give me the opportunity to contribute my bit to the

understanding of the fields which interest me so much.

I am aware that the of Wisconsin, Madison expects very highstandards from its students. My track record gives me the confidencethat I will be able to meet those expectations. I believe that myassociation with the Computer Science department will be a mutuallyprofitable one. I, Anjan Vishakantaiah Mahesh, am applying to of Saskatchewan for the admission to Masters Program in Electrical with specialization in thefield of Communications. Here is my brief statement of purpose.Why Higher Education?

Right from my High school days I had a strong inclination to be an Electronics & Communication Engineer . My Interest in the subject has grown with each passing year and it has reached where even Ph.D. will not quench my thir

st for .I have come to terms with the fact that there is an enormous proportion of subject to be assimilated, therefore I want to take up a oriented coursefor my career. These coupled with a background of my educated father-an Superintendent , mother a lecturer and my brother, an Electronics & Communication Engineer has made my choice of higher studies all the more obvious.Academic Background

I got admitted to Sir.M.Visvesvaraya Institute of Technology, one of the reputed institutions in the state through an entrance exam & by merit.I took Electronics & Communication engg as my major for it offered me innumerable choices of specialization. During these 4 years I learnt Subjects like-Electronics Devices & Circuits,Pulse & Digital Circuits,Programming in C, Digital Integrated Circuits,Digital Communication Theory,VLSI Design,Computer CommunicationNetworks and Digital Signal Processing.These subjects aroused my instincts w

hen I realized I am really excited about the prospects of me being a part of such es.Background

I always had a liking for the books from a very young age, perhaps this made meinquisitive about everything I came across yearning to know its intricacies. Thislater helped me immensely when I started representing my school team regularlyat inter-school science festivals.My first brush with serious was in final year of my under course when I successfully completed a project titled Design and implementation of ARQ Protocols inData Communication at Communication division,Electronics & Radar Development Esta


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blishment (L.R.D.E),Defence & Development Organisation,Government of India-Ministry of Defence,Bangalore as part of a 4 member team. The project implements ARQ Protocols in data Communication networks using the widely popular 80c31 microcontroller.The 80c31 systems used for Transmission and reception have been designed and implemented.We did parallel along with our guide providing valuable inputs apart from helping him with calculations.GoalsIn a decade from now I envisage myself as a Scientist in premier Laboratoryor as a Professor in a top . I understand that M.Sc culminating in a Ph.D. is very essential, henceforth my short-term goal is to do M.Sc in a good .Why of Saskatchewan ?

A education that would enable me to pursue advanced degree is what I have aspired for .I also believe that good program is an essential step for realizing my long-term goals. I hope to fulfill my ambition at of Saskatchewan , which I consider one of the best to pursue studies .I have gone through the brochure and website very carefully and I have concluded that with excellent facilities and highly able faculty, of Saskatchewan will provide a perfect environment to focus all my resources towards .I am confident that III be able to meet the standards of the . I am eagerly waiting for an opportunity to make significant contribution in and Development programs of the .ConclusionI fully understand the kind of dedication, perseverance and resolve a programcalls for; I believe that I have the ability and determination to tread on this

exciting path.In conclusion, I do hope that III be given a fair chance to realize my objectivesby being granted an admission. I look forward for a long and mutually beneficial relationship with the .

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