Chemical Engineering, Personal Statement Example

I am currently pursuing my PhD in Material Engineering at Colorado School of Mines (CSM), having graduated from the Masters program in Metallurgical Engineering at CSM as well. Even though I did my undergraduate in Chemical Engineering, my future plans and expectations as well as suggestions from family and friends persuaded me to switch to Metallurgical Engineering. Moreover, I am from Saudi Arabia which is the largest oil producer in the world, thus, Metallurgical Engineering seemed a logical choice.

In addition to my formal education obligations, I also read on a wide range of subject matters to stay in touch with the emerging and future trends. I believe one should pursue career that allows one to realize his/her true potential. Midway into my PhD Program at CSM, I realized that pursuing PhD studies in Chemical Engineering as opposed to Metallurgical Engineering will enable me to make greater difference in the world. I also have the unique advantage of having degrees in both Engineering fields and it was apparent that Chemical Engineering is more suited to my skills and potential. After studying literature on science and technology and listening to several academicians and businessmen, I discovered that Chemical Engineering will significantly transform the way we live and mostly in positive ways while Metallurgical Engineering may decline due to environmental concerns as well as the progress in clean energy sources.

The Saudi Cultural Mission sponsored my PhD studies at CSM and they have also agreed to sponsor my PhD studies in Chemical Engineering at the University of Toledo which has one of the finest Chemical Engineering programs in the nation. Even though Metallurgical Engineering has great prospects, the applications of the field are quite limited as compared to Chemical Engineering, especially given the scientific and technological breakthroughs over the last few decades. I am particularly excited by the fact that my background and work experiences in Metallurgical Engineering including corrosion mechanisms and analysis will provide me an edge as I seek career opportunities in bioreactor designing. Moreover, I also aim to pursue research interests in biomedical field.

I have been closely following the research and technological breakthroughs in Chemical Engineering, particularly in Medical Science, Energy, Industrials, and Food and am convinced that Chemical Engineering will play in important role in improving the overall welfare of the society through contributions to healthcare, sustainable business practices, and environmentally friendly products. I also believe that these trends will force even major oil exporters such as Saudi Arabia to significantly diversify their economies and I hope to use my education and experiences in the U.S. to help Saudi Arabia modernize its economy.

I have no doubt I will do really well in the PhD Program of Chemical Engineering at the University of Toledo. My academic and work experiences demonstrate my commitment to excellence as well as strong work ethics. One of the reasons I am interested in the University of Toledo is also its celebration of diversity which will enable me to meet people from all over the world and expand my thinking horizon. My experiences in Saudi Arabia and the U.S. have provided me with unique perspectives and I hope to enhance the university community’s cross cultural knowledge and experiences.