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"Food Process Engineering" - Personal Statement
Critique (PhD)

answers: 2
rk2ray
Dec 27, 2010, 12:52pm #
"Men often become what they believe themselves to be. If I believe I can not do some thing,
it makes me incapable of doing it. But when I believe I can, then I acquire the ability to do it
even if I did not have it in the beginning" - Mahatma Gandhi. I now strongly believe these
words of Mahatma Gandhi because during my undergraduate study I had personally
experienced that if we do our work with determination and sincerity we can achieve what we
desire. I, therefore, wish to continue with the same motto in all my future endeavors.
It is my pleasure to mention that I was born in Guntur, which is located in Andhra Pradesh, a
south Indian state and raised in Vallabh Vidyanagar, an educational township, located in
Gujarat, a western state oI India. The enormous numbers oI challenges thrown out by rapid
development in science and technology have made me choose Food Technology as a Iield oI
study. My formal advanced education started with my undergraduate program in Bachelor of
Engineering (B. E.) majoring in Food Processing Technology at A. D. Patel Institute of
Technology (A. D. I. T.) affiliated to Sardar Patel University, India. This marked the
beginning of one of the most important phase of learning in my life. This course took me a
step closer towards fulfillment of my goal of delving deeper into the world of Food Science
My interest in Food Science gained fresh impetus during my high school studies (Kendriya
Vidyalaya, affiliated to Central Board of Secondary Education, New Delhi). As a part of
science project presentations in my 12th grade I worked on a project based on chemistry of
food preservatives which was well appreciated by my school fraternity.
In my undergraduate studies, I have benefited from the breadth of the syllabus for the
undergraduate program in Food Processing Technology that has given me a comprehensive
exposure to the core areas of Food Science and a strong conceptual understanding of the
same. In my undergraduate program, I have studied core courses like Food, Nutrition &
Biochemistry, Food & Industrial Microbiology, Food Engineering unit operation I and II,
Technology of Food Grains, Food Rheology, Sensory Evaluation, Bio-waste Management
and Renewable energy, Technology of Milk and Milk products, Bakery and Confectionary
technology, Food Standards & Quality Assurance.
Away from class room, I have also gained adequate practical experience through laboratory
work, workshops and stimulating lectures by the regular as well as visiting faculty members.
I proposed a research project which involved in developing flavored and fortified white bread
with beet root juice as water based ingredient. With help of small team, we successfully came
up with white bread featuring wheat bread characteristics. During the course of my
undergraduate, I joined one of the well reputed food Industries in India, Godrej Hershey
Limited as Engineering Intern. All through this period I was getting practical exposure to the
processing of soybean for the manufacturing of soymilk, aseptic packaging of food products
(Tetrapak), processing of fruits and vegetables into jams, squashes, ketchups, and quality
control of processed products etc. I was also included in Quality Assurance auditing team of
the plant, responsible for HACCP implementation. Besides, I had also obtained computer
(software/hardware) training which included C programming and MS Office, from one of the
well reputed computer training institutes in India.
In these Iour years oI study, I have strived to maintain an approach oI expending independent
eIIort in all my endeavors. As is oIten said, the journey oI exploring the realm oI knowledge
and probing into the unknown is inIinite and strenuous. However, to me, the desire to IulIill
ambitions and the joy Irom discoveries prevailed over any sense oI hardship. My
undergraduate program was as rewarding as it was joyIul.
Subsequent to my undergraduate program, I undertook a Master's program (Food Process
Engineering) at National Center Ior Food SaIety & Techonlogy, Illinois Institute oI
Technology (IIT) and with it I delved deeper into the fascinating world of food science and
technology and performed research on one oI the emerging trends. Considering the Iact that
traditional thermal processing techniques have negative eIIect on some oI the vital nutrients
present in Iood, I chose to concentrate on the impact of emerging non thermal processing
(High Pressure Processing) on antioxidant activity oI Iruit based beverages. My M.S. thesis
title was "EIIect oI High Pressure Processing and Dairy on the Antioxidant Activity oI
Strawberry Bases Beverage" under supervision of Dr. Britt Burton Freeman and Dr. Indika
Edirisinghe which was collaborated with California Strawberry Commission and U. S. Food
and Drug Administration. The main purpose of this dissertation was to investigate the effect
of high pressure processing and dairy on the antioxidant activity exhibited by polyphenolic
compounds in strawberry. I am most proud of the fact that after numerous trails, I had
established some of the sensitive antioxidant activity assays in the lab and validated them
with reference standards. I was also fortunate to get myselI associated with various other
research projects giving me broader experience to my research background. The paper
elicited from the results of this research is under review to be published in research journal.
Furthermore, two posters from this research were presented in annual meeting oI Federation
oI American Societies Ior Experimental Biology (FASEB) 2010, CA.
One person's life influences the lives of an unbelievable number of people, one of the most
important lessons I learned, being a Teaching Assistant for three semesters and thereafter as a
Student Representative for Food Safety and Technology at Student Council at IIT. For me
becoming a Student Representative turned out to be a confidence booster. It taught me that
the basis for good work is self-reliance and very importantly, time management. My work
involved organizing student meetings, addressing issues of student career management and
networking with recruiters of industries. This was a distinctively gratifying experience for
me, which I feel would stand in good stead in the future.
Further, I would like to mention that I come from a highly cultured and educated family with
strong morals and values of highest order. My father is a Professor (Plant Sciences) in the
School of Biosciences of Sardar Patel University, India. My mother is a homemaker and also
she is one of the active members of Vallabh Vidyanagar branch of Andhra Samithi, a cultural
organization of Telugu speaking people living in Vallabh Vidyanagar and Anand. Both my
parents have provided me with continuous encouragement and guidance to study and to work
hard to acquire my goal in liIe. They have not only been my guidance in the academic career
but also have shaped me to be a better human being. During my childhood my parents always
counseled me to study hard and keep my mind disengaged Irom the existing diIIiculties. In
my opinion, having a solid knowledge oI Iundamentals was critical to elaborate proIound
ideas. As a result, I tried hard to build a strong foundation in biology, mathematics and
physics during my high school years.
Thus as a graduate, in Food Process Engineering, I am looking forward to progress further to
refine my knowledge and skills in my areas of interest. I believe it will also serve to give
direction to my goal of a career as a research professional at an academic or industrial,
research-oriented organization. Keeping up an inquisitive and explorative attitude, I believe,
leads to a constant learning process. So I intend to pursue doctoral (PhD) study in order to
reach that goal.
I have exhaustively searched and studied the profiles of many universities in the United
States, and I have been captivated by the completeness in education offered by XXX
University. My decision to apply to XXX University has been based on the curriculum
offered and research work by Dr. XXX's group which I feel is very appealing. I am confident
that the guidance of expert faculty members, the library as well as the research facilities will
not only bring out the best in me but also help me to explore the ultimate scope of Food
Science in the society.
In conclusion, I would like to add that the essence of university education lies in the
synergetic relationship between the student and his department. I feel that doctoral study at
XXX University will be the most logical extension of my academic pursuits and a major step
towards achieving my objectives. I would reiterate my zeal to study at XXX University. I
have the enthusiasm, diligence, intelligence and commitment to be a useful person in any
given task, I am confident that given an opportunity, I will work to my full capacity in
studies. I do believe that study at XXX University will help me to achieve my career
objective. I would love to be a part of XXX University. It is my desire to have a mutually
beneficial association with XXX University so as to meet a common platform of excellence
where I can contribute my best. I am sure that you will find my application and qualification
fit for admitting me at your esteemed Institute for the study of PhD program.
I would be grateful to you if I'm accorded an opportunity to pursue my graduate studies with
financial assistance at your esteemed institute. I hereby assure you that I will justify your
faith in me.

rajeshaaidu
Dec 27, 2010, 10:11pm #
Dear Ravi,

I think, it's better you condense it. I will give you one example- You have mentioned all
subjects which you have studied, but all those subjects will be mentioned on your transcript.
Don't concentrate on length. You have written one para for the things which can be told in
one line.

Thanks!!!
EF_Kevin [Contributor] 30
Jan 7, 2011, 01:57pm #
Cannot is usually one word, not 2 words.

...because during my undergraduate study I had personally experienced...

I, therefore, wish to continue with the same motto in all my future endeavors.---When I get to
this part, I feel that you need another sentence added to the end of the intro paragraph,
because you need to show how this theme relates to the main idea of the essay. Show, at the
end of that first para, what your message to the reader is going to be.


It is my pleasure to mention that I was born in Guntur, which is located in Andhra Pradesh, a
south Indian state and raised in Vallabh Vidyanagar, an educational township, located in
Gujarat, a western state of India. ---You should revise this sentence so that your birthplace is
mentioned as part of a statement that helps to explain that main idea of the essay (the main
idea expressed at the end of the intro paragraph.)

...which was well appreciated by my school fraternity.---When I get to this sentence, I think
you should refer back to the Gandhi quote in some way... it is your responsibility to show, in
each paragraph, some evidence or explanation to support your main message to the reader.
And that message is linked to the quote, because you chose to link it to the quote in your
intro.


One person's life influences the lives of an unbelievable number of people, ----I don't know if
this is really related to your main idea. Be careful not to let your essay be full of all kinds of
different ideas.

One Essay = One big idea.
One paragraph = one smaller idea to show that the big idea is true.


In conclusion, I would like to add that the essence of university education lies in the
synergetic relationship between the student and his department. ----Another great idea, but
like I was saying... you really need to go back to the intro paragraph and revise it so that it
introduces a MAIN THEME that unites all these good ideas. What do all these concepts have
in common? Try to establish a theme at the end of that intro paragraph that will be a common
thread running through all these concepts from the body paragraphs.

Your experiences are obviously very impressive!! Just try to solidify that theme!!

:-)



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