PHD Environmental Studies Personal Statement of Purpose
- Robert Edinger
- Sep 28
- 3 min read
The PHD Program in Environmental Studies at the University of ____ is my first choice for earning my doctoral degree for a variety of reasons; most of all, I see your program as the finest in Canada if not the world. Originally from Iran and earning my first degree in my country of origin, I have been living, working, and doing research in Germany for the past 5 years. My heart, however, is with my family in Canada, where I am a citizen and where I earned my master's degree in Atmospheric Chemistry from ____ University, serving as both a Research Assistant and a Teaching Assistant for several years (1999 – 2003). For the following two years, I had the privilege of continuing at ____ as a Data Analyst in addition to serving as a Consultant at Environment Canada. I also gained five years' experience as a Researcher and Teaching Assistant at the University of ____ (2004 – 2009).
I now have more than 20 years of experience as a researcher, consultant, and lecturer working in universities, private, and governmental organizations around the world. My specialization includes a range of issues from atmospheric studies to marine science, air quality being my most central concern. I feel strongly that my extensive background in atmospheric chemistry will enable me to excel and distinguish myself in your program at U of X and make valuable contributions to collegial discussions. I look forward to giving my all to help advance some of the extremely impressive research taking place at the University of ____, particularly since I am highly proficient in the use of advanced laboratory analysis and computer modeling.
These past five years at the ____ Institute and ____ University in Germany have helped me to make great advancement as a scientist, thinking in increasingly complex and creative ways about the ‘burning’ issues of our day with respect to air quality and marine chemistry. I have rapidly arrived at an elevated level of expertise in the analysis of many complex chemical and physical interactions of atmospheric and marine compounds with special attention to the sea surface microlayer. Through the carefully coordinated use of both laboratory studies and computer modeling techniques - including microlayer software and CMAQ air quality models – my work has also helped me to make rapid advancement in my communication skills as a scientist, learning how to convey complex chemical and physical concepts as they relate to other academic disciplines; my writing skills have been honed as a result of assiduous attention to constantly improving my own written results, and peer reviews. In addition to acquiring additional research experience here at ____ University, I now also have vast experience processing large volumes of gridded data, including spatial and temporal subsetting and field extraction. I became especially skilled at ____ not only in using statistical methods and using programming tools like Matlab and Python for the interpretation and analysis of large temporal and spatial scientific datasets, as well as the preparation of scientific documents for publication.
My years spent at the University of ____ (2004 – 2009) and ____ University (1999 – 2003) were also among the most productive years of my life as a research scientist and I seek to build on this experience as well at the University of ____. In these positions, I had the invaluable experience not only of engaging in intensive research for several years but also supervising and assessing students in laboratory, data analysis techniques, and the write up of scientific strategies, reports, and materials. I was able to demonstrate expertise in the modification, synthesis, purification, and characterization of environmental compounds using techniques such as High-Performance Liquid Chromatography, Gas Chromatography, and Mass Spectrometry. I became most adept at producing simulations and diagnosis of particulate matter predictions and a wide verity of pollution sources, their fate and transport through professional use of CMAQ-MADRID air quality modeling software, SMOKE, MM5, MCIP, Flexpart, E-AIM, Pave, SigmaPlot, and MOCCA. I look forward to the opportunity to demonstrate my abilities in this regard at the University of ____.
I am a good fit for your program since much of my research in Atmospheric Chemistry and air quality at ____ University followed by the University of ____ was focused specifically on Southern Ontario and, therefore, is especially relevant across North America.
I thank you for considering my application to your distinguished and competitive program in Environmental Sciences.
PHD Environmental Studies Personal Statement of Purpose
