Statement of Purpose Graduate Program Physics

[Sunandan Malviya]

Can anyone please evaluate my SOP and give feedbacks on how to improve?

 

          I am highly interested in Theoretical Physics and want to pursue the Physics PhD program in your esteemed institution. My primary interest is in the Atomic, Molecular and Optical area of research, particularly in the field of Quantum Optics. I have recently started working under two professors on a project in Quantum Optics. The bases of this project is the paper “Effects of linear and quadratic dispersive couplings on optical squeezing in an optomechanical system” published in Physical Review in 2015.  The aim of this paper was to study the quadrature squeezing in the presence of both the linear and the quadratic coupling simultaneously. This facilitates strong squeezing without the requirement of introducing extra degrees of freedom which is usually necessary. Since the project was started recently I am only vaguely familiar with many of its technicalities. As such the initial aim assigned to me is to get familiar with the formalism and application of optomechanical systems and  to try to reproduce this paper only with the linear coupling .I have been made familiar with the interpretation of the  Hamiltonian used in the paper  and have derived the rate equations for position ,momentum and annihilation and creation operators  using the Quantum Langevin equation .Further separating each operator in its steady state  and fluctuation components , led to a set of non-linear algebraic equations where I had to ignore the non-linear terms and proceed to form the third order polynomial equation of intensity in terms of power corresponding to the Bi Stability of the system.  This is what has been done so far by me and the project is in progress.  After the initial aim is achieved, the objective is to extend this study using Optical Vortex beams. Even though I am new to this field and have much to learn, I am highly motivated in pursuing this field since it is still growing and is very interesting. One of the areas in which The Taylor Research Group is doing research is at the quantum limits of measurement with the help of quantum optomechanical sensors . Since the project I am doing deals with strong squeezing in optomechanical systems  leading to ultra-sensitive measurements I believe I can learn a lot in  the Taylor Research Group and also contribute in this area. A very particular interest of mine in the Taylor Research Group is the application of optomechanical sensors and improving their sensitivity  for detecting Dark Matter and the resulting theoretical analysis that could be inferred from the results. 

           In terms of diversity, I have a lot to bring to the table. My dad is a Hindu while my mom a Muslim. I have spent my youth years in Goa, a state prevalent in Christian community with a mix of Portuguese culture. Growing up among such diverse religious communities has imbued my personality with diverse values making it flexible, tolerant and accepting. Having been born in the capital of the most populous state in North India and later moving to a Southern State, I have experienced the diverse regional cultures of my country as well. I was never an excellent student in my hometown. When I moved to Goa in the eighth grade the drastically different culture , community  and   the   flurry of new interactions with students and teachers propelled me to make an identity of my own. This new experience pushed me to become an excellent student.

          After completing my tenth grade I went back to my hometown to complete the rest of my studies . There ,being a top student of my batch ,I was selected to be a part of the Sakura Science Exchange Program (SSP) 2016 , where a group of students were taken to Japan to provide   exposure to Japanese technological agencies,  laboratories and Universities. This was a very enriching experience. Not only did it boost my passion for Physics but also made me realize the importance of being part of a global scientific community which is essential in order to contribute in this field. Two particular experiences had a major impact on me. First was when we visited a lab in Hokkaido University where the research scientist told us about the wide-range of applications of Photonics such as particle spectroscopy, optical sensing and bio-imaging using fluorescent probes among other things. The information was brief and not very technical but it clearly made me interested in areas concerning light-matter interactions. The second one was in JAXA, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency. There the lead researcher explained to us that a major problem for JAXA was the need for young members as the space exploration projects are very long term and scientists who start a project usually get very old till it gets completed. Due to this they designed international programs such as SSP that made international students familiar with Japan and encouraged them to be a part of its educational and cultural body.  This was a problem particular to Japan since the median age is high there. But this experience reiterated the  importance of being part of an international community where individual shortcomings can be replaced by collective contributions. Physics is a science aimed at unifying different aspects of nature and with the same spirit of unity and interconnectedness should we pursue it. These were the motivations for trying to be part of a diverse and global community of Science, an aspect in which University of Maryland is considered ideal.

           I aced my twelfth Board Examination and was All India Rank 4 with a 100 in Physics due to which I received the INSPIRE Scholarship. In college, I participated in an NGO named National Service Society (NSS) and was part of their Environment and Disaster Wing. We organized marches for public awareness and Plogging drives. We also visited orphanages ,old age homes and provided left-over food to stray animals. Working for NSS made it clear that no matter the field or the walk of life to which a person belongs, service to society remains the highest of ideals. Maryland tries to serve its community in the best possible manner as is clear  by the various events organized by University of Maryland such as the Outreach program and Maryland Day. I hope to participate in these for my holistic development and for giving back to the community. I also hope to get involved in Graduate Student Organizations like the Mental Health Task Force and the Women in Physics Group  which aim at serving the student community.  While in college I also was a member of LUMEN, The Physics and Electronics Society and took part in discussions and presentations. In the First year I took part in ‘Unearth’ where I gave a qualitative presentation on ‘Quantum Entanglement’ among students of different colleges. I have been a meticulous ,engaging and passionate student and hope to maintain this boundless energy for future endeavors as well.                          

            After completing my PhD, I aim to research further in this field of Quantum Optics. I   also plan to take the ideas of this field to places where it's relatively new and just growing as in my own country. In terms of its community and research UMD stands out particularly distinguished and thus I believe it would be instrumental in helping me achieve my future goals. My father often tells me that the divinity of one’s soul can be realized by the sanctity of one’s work. Such efforts and work is what I hope to bring to your institution.

[tittoo_m]

Since you are applying for PhD in the US, your Grade 10 and 12 rankings or other activities from high school doesn't matter. Instead focus on your accomplishments, experience and activities in university (Bachelor's and Masters degrees).

Use active language, avoid vague words like "I hope to...."

I would suggest to move diversity paragraph towards the end of the SOP (second last or last paragraph). Don't say list/tell the school about your background but focus on how it has shaped you and how will bring those perspectives to their school and what value add it will be for the school.

 

[Sunandan Malviya]

Sure Thankyou. I will remove the rankings.. Though the experience I gained from SSP while in my 11th.  I still want to include that. I will change the order of  the diversity paragraph. Will you maybe give it a read again once I make the required changes? 

Edited September 26, 2020 by Sunandan Malviya