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\newcommand{UNIV}{Full name of university}

\newcommand{univ}{short form of univ name}

I, Thuruthimattam Biju James, am applying to {UNIV} for admission to the

M.S. program in {dept} with a specialization in {\em Structural
Mechanics},
with a particular interest in Composite Materials, Structural
Optimization
and Finite Element Modeling.

{\sc Background}\\

Since childhood, I have wanted to be a scientist. In school, I was always

at
the top of my class, especially in science and mathematics. I appeared
for
the Joint Entrance Examination for entrance to the Indian Institutes of
Technology (IITs), the premier engineering colleges in India. I obtained
99.5
percentile among 1,20,000 examinees. Having been always interested in
aircraft
and spacecraft, and being an avid reader of Science Fiction, I chose to
take
up Aerospace Engineering at IIT Bombay. It was here that as the extent
of the
disparity between my dreams and reality was driven into me, my resolve
towards
research hardened further.

At IIT Bombay, I was introduced to the wide expanse of Aerospace

Engineering.
The core courses gave me a deep as well as broad exposure to the various
fields. During my sophomore and junior years, I found myself becoming
more and
more interested in {\bf Structural Mechanics and Composite Materials}. I
did
my Seminar {Junior thesis} on {\bf System Identification Techniques in
Structural Problems}, in which I compared various techniques of
structural
identification for their merits and demerits. I am currently doing my
B.Tech. Project {Senior thesis} on the {\bf Thermo-Mechanical Analysis of
3D
Woven Composites}. In this project, I have developed a computational
model
based on the Volume Averaging method for the prediction of the properties
of
orthogonally woven 3D composites, and am currently extending the model to
angle-weave composites. The significance of this project lies in the fact
that
though 3D composites are definitely of interest to the Aerospace
industry, the
common modeling techniques used are either quite complex (FEM Methods) or
not
always applicable (Modified Classical Lamination Theory).
%change the last sentence
Keeping in mind that as broad a knowledge base as possible is required
for a
successful career in research, I have striven to go beyond my curricula.
I
have, of my own interest, done project work at the National Aerospace
Laboratories (NAL), Bangalore, on Boundary Layer Flows and Free Jets.
For my
practical training at the Center for Mathematical Modeling and Computer
Simulation (C-MMACS), Bangalore, I developed a Neural Network software
for Time
Series modeling of sea-level variation.

{\sc Areas of Interest} \\

Through my undergraduate course work, I was exposed to the various fields
in
Aerospace Engineering and I have found that the field that I enjoy
working in
most is that of {\bf Structural Mechanics and Composite Materials}. In
my
courses, I have been exposed to static and dynamic analysis of Linear
Structures and introduced to Composite Materials. Beyond these, Non-
linear
Structures, FEM, Structural Optimization, Smart Structures and
Aeroelasticity
are the other fields that interest me.
%change last sentence

{\sc Career Objectives}\\

I have always excelled in an environment where innovation and creativity
are
encouraged. I find it really exciting to work in unexplored areas and to
produce original work, which has practical significance. This can be seen
in
my B. Tech. Project, which is in a field where there exists a lack of
open
knowledge, but which is of significance to the Aerospace industry.

My long term goals as stated above are to take up research as a career.

I
would like to develop myself as a researcher in multidisciplinary areas.
Based
on my current interests and background, I feel that I would be better at
theoretical and computational work. Hence, However, I also believe that
teaching is the best way to learn, and this will definitely make me an
enthusiastic teacher. Hence, a decade or so from now, I visualize myself
as a
full fledged research professional in a premier research laboratory or as
a
faculty member in a leading university.

The initiation of the process of original contribution is best done by

working
towards a Ph.D. I view the M.S. degree as an intermediate step in
achieving
this goal. Hence, I would like to take up an M.S. culminating in a Ph.D.
as my
immediate goal.

{\sc Choice of University} \\

The graduate program in Aerospace Engineering at {univ} is widely held to
be
among the best in the world, especially in the field of Structural
Mechanics. I know that comprehensive knowledge and a clear understanding
of
fundamentals are essential to me. From your departmental brochure, I have
found your breadth of graduate level courses to be quite vast. Also, your
faculty has distinguished researchers in my field of interest. Hence, my
aspiration to work at the frontiers of research leads me to apply to your
university.

Having decided my long term goals, I am well aware of the implications. I

am
aware of the kind of dedication, resilience and resolve that it calls
for, and
I feel that I am adequately prepared. I know that {univ} has a lot to
offer
me, and too, I am confident that I would be able to make a positive
contribution to the on-going work at {univ}. I look forward to a long and
mutually beneficial relationship with {UNIV}.

Thuruthimattam Biju James.