STATEMENT OF PURPOSE
My passion for engineering and mathematics education was spurred upon completion of my secondary school. I was given an early opportunity to assist a science teacher to teach Physics and Mathematics in a Tutorial Education Center. It was during that period I had personal conviction to study an engineering course in the university.
My undergraduate study in petroleum engineering was a successful one. However, after graduation, I participated in an e-learning short course with World Bank Group on “Energy Sector Strategies to Support Green Growth”. After the short course, I lost interest to focus my career solely in petroleum engineering field, because I believe if petroleum loses its value in the future, it might be tough for me to find ways to progress in my career. This brought me to realization that program with a variety of future options offers greater career flexibility and creates multidisciplinary capabilities, required to shift career focus when necessary or the ability to integrate with another program. I also believe, if I can adeptly, acquire a broader learning in Fluid-Solid Mechanics, Thermal Science and Energy System, I can apply it beyond petroleum studies.
Petroleum engineering covers significantly fluid-solid mechanics and interactions, mass and momentum transfer and thermodynamics. I have always been enthusiastic about taking classes in fluid mechanics, engineering mathematics, thermodynamics and related courses during my undergraduate studies and I performed well in their exams. Together with the internships I did in three engineering firms before graduation, I developed an interest in fluid flow in solid system. In those industries, I basically learned fluid process flow (reaction and non-reaction flow) in different systems, flow diagram interpretation, instrumentation and control through the supervisors assigned to me; both in the office and in the field.
I developed interest in scientific computing when I was writing my undergraduate project titled “Application of Material Balance Equation to Reserve Estimation with MBAL software”. The limitation in my project research work compelled my interest further, to learn advanced methods use to design fluid-solid system. In my work, I used MBAL Software to model a reservoir system, quantified hydrocarbon fluid in a reservoir and forecast future production under natural energy production (primary production) and economic constraint. After graduation, I did training in “Petroleum Production System Optimization with PROSPER Software.” After my training, I assisted a junior student in my institution to complete his project work (titled “Continuous Gas Lift Optimization”) with this software.
This modern era is transforming engineering into computing; integrating different fields of engineering and science: Aerodynamic, Hydrodynamic, Turbomachinery, Computational Hemodynamics, Computational Heat Transfer, etc. The versatility in the application of this branch of study and research area is also among the factors that fascinated me in desiring to further my career in this academic field.
My research interest is in numerical solutions to PDE, Computational Fluid Dynamics, Computational Heat Transfer (Energy System) and interface problem. Strong analytical and numerical skill is necessary to be adept in computational science and engineering; in developing methods, codes and solver and/or applying them. At graduate I have concentrated my my learning and research in improving my numerical, computing and analytical skill. Currently, I am working on various analytical and numerical method for solving heat conduction problem involving phase-change and interface (Stefan problem, Enthalpy Formulation, Lagrange Interpolation Method, Method of Line, etc.). I focus on one-dimensional problem using Finite Volume vertex formulation method and Finite Difference. I write my code with MATLAB and am currently learning C Program. I also wrote several codes as class project in Finite Element and Finite Difference/Volume courses which include Compact/Crank-Nicolson scheme and Thomas Algorithm for parabolic equation, Upwind/Lax-Wendroff Scheme for hyperbolic equation and Jacobi, GS and SOR for elliptic equation. Moreover, during my undergraduate studies, Engineering Mathematics and Analysis (MATH 105, MATH 106, FCE 201, FCE 202, FCE 301 and FCE 302) courses are mathematics courses designed for engineering students. Complex Analysis, Calculus, Advanced Calculus, Probability and Statistic, ODE, topics were covered extensively.
Ph.D. program in Mathematics impelled my motivation to study in this prestigious university. This program offers me an opportunity to develop adeptly in Numerical Analysis and Simulation, Computational PDE, Simulation and Modeling and apply it in my focus area. I also contacted Prof… (if the Prof. has agreed to supervise you, remember to mention it) before I started application. His research expertise in numerical methods, computing, flow modeling and fluid/structure interaction aligned with my research interest and I would love to work under his supervision.
My long-term career plan is to be a Computational Fluid Mechanics Specialist; designing fluid-solid system, interpreting fluid mechanics and interactions in solid system, working on energy industry-related problems, developing energy efficient models, solving problems arising from flow assurance, and such other problems that may demand my expertise in the field of fluid science and energy system. I also want to be a professional who understand option value, time value, capability evolution and resource management in the engineering and computing field.
