Applicant: Ashish Suresh Bambal

Program: PhD in Chemical Engineering

Statement of Purpose

“Every great advance in science has issued from a new audacity of imagination.”

~John Dewey

These inspirational words reflect the attitude that I have adopted since my childhood. I
have experienced the truth in these words at every stage of my life. My fascination towards the
things happening in the nature and my curiosity to know reasons behind them developed me as a
good learner. The desire to continue my quest for acquiring knowledge and more importantly, to
apply it, has inspired me to opt for the field of engineering. I am amazed by the sheer versatility
of chemical engineering – a combination of the elegance of the physical sciences, the rigidity of
mathematics and the brute force of experimentation. These qualities of the subject, coupled with
my professional ambition of pursuing a career in research, have motivated me to apply for
graduate studies in chemical engineering.
I have always maintained an admirable academic record. During the Secondary School
Certificate (S.S.C.) examinations I secured 87.20% and stood 32nd in Amravati Divisional Board
among some 200,000 students. I repeated the act with another superlative performance in the
Higher Secondary School Certificate (H.S.S.C.) examinations where I secured 96.66% in
Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics group and stood 20th in the common engineering list among
90,000 students in the Amravati Divisional Board. My strong inclination towards Mathematics
and Chemistry forced me to pursue the field of Chemical Engineering at the University
Department of Chemical Technology (U.D.C.T.), recently renamed as University Institute
Chemical Technology (U.I.C.T.), the premier institution for Chemical Engineering in Asia.
At U.I.C.T. I have been introduced to the vast and diverse world of Chemical
Engineering. The academic atmosphere seemed to be a perfect dwelling for my questioning and
explorative mind. Especially so the Chemical Engineering Laboratory, a beautifully orchestrated,
yet elegantly simple showcase of the fundamental principles; and the Design aspects, which
tested the assimilation of four years of instruction in various subjects. This, along with my
Industrial Training at Galaxy Surfactant Ltd. has given me an exploration to outside world.
In particular, Transport Phenomena and Fluid Dynamics held my interest and the
practical implications of the field that could be applied to anything from rheology to
aerodynamics always fascinate me. My interest in this field stimulated when I worked on
seminar topic “Non-Intrusive Methods for Flow Regime Determination in Fluidized Bed” under
guidance of Mr. V. K. Rathod.
I am particularly concerned with the safety, health, and environmental aspects of process
manufacturing; pollution prevention; energy savings and wastewater minimization. I find that
research in the fields of Biochemical and Environmental Engineering interesting, with lots of
opportunities. The potential applications of biological treatment of waste in the field of Waste
Management have been great concerned today.
I think my interest in field of Material Science and Technology has enticed me for deep
study in this area. The usefulness of fields like Nanotechnology made an impact on my mind
and I find my thrust for more knowledge after my detailed study on Carbon Nanotubes. I got
my reward for work when my technical paper named “Nanotechnology: Carbon Nanotubes” was
published in Bombay Technologist
Applicant: Ashish Suresh Bambal
Program: PhD in Chemical Engineering

Computer Aided Design is an area that has captivated me with its myriad of advantages.
My interest in this area primarily stems from the course work at UICT, which has equipped me
with the essentials of Mathematical Modeling and its use in making predictive software
programs. I am particularly interested in the development of Polymer process simulation and
optimization.
I am interested in Polymer Morphology and the Transport Phenomena and the
coupling of these fields with Polymer Processing. The dynamics of polymeric liquids, where the
laws of continuum fluid mechanics do not apply, and the strong coupling between the
macromolecular structure and flow properties impressed me. I am particularly interested in the
numerical simulations of these highly complex flows.
An extremely distinguished faculty, excellent academic activity, and a graduate program,
with focus on all my main research interests; which blends high quality course work and research
facilities at the cutting edge of every sub-field are the factors which have motivated me to choose
West Virginia University for graduate studies. It is my keen desire to participate in pioneering
research efforts being carried out at West Virginia University.
After my graduate studies, I see myself as a professional engaged in cutting-edge
research, either as a teaching faculty member, or in an R&D division in the industry. I am aware
that graduate study calls for a high degree of commitment, diligence, innovation and sound
fundamentals in chemical engineering and I am confident that with my unwavering dedication
and persistence, I shall be able to face all posed challenges. I sincerely hope to fulfill my
ambition of carrying out original research work and in the process contribute to the research
endeavors at your university, making it a mutually rewarding experience.
In conclusion, I would like to say that personal achievement of any kind must arise out of
positive contribution to one’s community. It is with this intention, and none other, that I wish to
pursue graduate study at the West Virginia University to perform research of the highest
quality, contributing to the field of Chemical engineering and to a better tomorrow.

Yours sincerely,

Ashish Suresh Bambal

B.Chem.Engg.
MUICT, Mumbai