Academic Statement of Purpose: MS in Biomedical Engineering at Texas A&M

Introduction

I have always been interested in the pursuit of a career in academic research. The main reason for my application for an MS in Biomedical Engineering at Texas A&M is that I enjoy working with the military and would like to expand to the problems faced by most of them when they go out for war. This interest can be confirmed by some of my academic performance where I have been awarded a 4.2 major GPA on a 4.3 scale and won the honor of graduating top of the Department of Weapon System Engineering at KMA, during four years of intensive course including academic study, military, and physical training. I have also had some research that has led me to discover my love for military activities including lost body parts for the military and how they can be brought back to life even after an accident while at the field.

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My past experiences have provided me with a solid foundation for excellence in my field of interest. Presently, I am a first lieutenant currently serving in the Republic of Korea Army. While at the Army, I got interested in Weapon System Engineering hence, took a step to start my research on weapon systems. After my graduation from the KMA, I served as a platoon leader in the 8th Mechanized Infantry Division. The Division led me to acquire additional skills of research, and it was at that time that I realized of how people lost some of their body parts while in their line of duty. For instance, I realized of a soldier who lost his finger while inspecting an armored vehicle in the adjacent platoon. Being an army officer, it was my duty to make sure that I took sufficient care of him hence, the beginning of my thoughts about research. Since then, I have always thought about soldiers who lost their body parts through various accidents while performing their assigned roles. However, my little information regarding biology has led me to be interested in taking biology GRE test before the start of the fall semester as my off-classes personally have acquainted me with skills in the subject.

The beginning of my research career was in September 2018, when the Korea Army had an announcement of accepting candidates for graduate programs in the US with financial support from them. My interest and urge to research more led me to apply for the position, and I successfully won a position. It was always my belief that my assiduousness and hard-working character will be paid and the army realized my interest to the extent of promising funds of up to $18,000 annually for two years. This was exclusive of various other amounts of subsidy for the living cost during my time at the US. I am not only driven by the fact that I am receiving funds from the army but my interest in how the various body parts of soldiers can be brought back to life. My motivation and self-made interest will let me use my time at the US effectively.

The main reason for my interest in joining a program with the US is to expound on my research interests, which are the soldiers who lost their body parts while conducting dangerous military missions. Additionally, I also want to come up with a way of letting them live as they used to by finding ways of manufacturing their lost parts using regeneration technologies of tissue and cell engineering. I believe that this will be of advantage to the Army as most of the soldiers can effectively deal with their critical wounds, even before they can reach their acute stages. This will be important in preventing them from losing them as there is no access to medical services while at the field. I would also want to take a program to find information regarding unique features and movement, which is imperative even with wearable exoskeleton suit. With these in place, there would be less severe injuries to the army members. In my additional research, I have also noted that stress level and panic level could be derived by measuring heart rates, blood pressure, and VO2 with using bio-sensors, and they will play a significant role to prevent unfortunate accidents and provide different perspectives to interpret battlefield. As a whole, the research topics described above would reduce unnecessary casualties and disability in Korea Army.

I believe that furthering my studies will let me take advantage of the resources offered to meet some of the primary ambitions I have. My interest in pursuit of tissue engineering has been coupled with some factors. I have realized the program for the tissue engineering, regeneration, hydrogel, wearable device, and low power architectures by the Department of Biomedical Engineering at Texas A&M, which seems to be parallel with my area of interest. I have been interested in the works of Dr. Akhilesh Gaharwar, especially his researches on Nanoengineered Biomaterials, Engineering Stem Cell Niche and Tissue regeneration because these technologies could be developed to injectable hemostats as well as therapy for cartilage regeneration. He has always been my inspiration that I can also work on personal projects successfully. In addition, Dr. Roozbeh Jafari has also inspired my research, especially in his research regarding the Ultra-low power architectures for wearable computing and Blood pressure monitoring sensor which results in being assistive in caring people in danger by monitoring their vital signs including blood pressure. Furthering my studies will also let me take advantage of the equipment offered to realize my research just as my inspirations.

Additionally, I have realized that my research interests and interests of some faculty members of the Biomedical Engineering department at UC San Diego are parallel. One of the faculty members of the department is Dr. Shyni Varghese, who has done various researches especially in tissue engineering, regeneration, and self-healing hydrogel. Some of the successful researches made have been a motivation that I can also restore injuries of people who got accidents. Another member of the department is Dr. David Gough who is working on similar research, which includes implantable sensors measuring overall metabolic state and sensor signal processing to figure out danger and stress factors. It is through these discoveries that seniors such as commanders can be timely informed of any incidence before it can occur.

I have always found the world of new discoveries to be interdisciplinary. With an undergraduate major in Systems Engineering, there will be an improvement of the efficiency and effectiveness of various models in the laboratory. This can be done through optimizing various processes carried out at the lab as well as their diversification. Coupled with experiences such as perseverance and diligence during my years at the army, I will successfully complete my desired course and reach out to my life's goals.

Conclusion

Once conferred with the MS degree, I will work at Agency for Defense Development (ADD) which plays the same role as DARPA in the US to apply my skills. I also plan to take a Ph.D. as soon as I am through with my MS degree. I would also like to contribute to further solidifying the alliance between the ROK and the United States through the experience I will gain from Texas A&M. I am always fascinated by military studies and enjoy research at the same time. My motivation, which is my interest for studying with the military, will provide me with the compelling urge to succeed in the programs whereas my extensive works will provide me with the essential skills required to succeed in my program and realize my future.