[0:00]Hi. Welcome back to my channel. So, if you're new here, my name is Edith. Today, I'm going to be sharing with you the motivation letter and statement of purpose that got me admission into the Erasmus Mundus Master program. So, just a bit of context, it's a handwritten letter, I have it here. I've been just trying to pack my stuff over the weekend. and I found this letter in the stuff, which brought a lot of memories. I did my masters in the membrane engineering program about 10 years ago. So, in 2013, I started the masters and I finished in 2015. And as part of the application documents, we had to write a motivation letter and a statement of purpose. And they wanted a copy handwritten. That was quite interesting. I was wondering why they wanted a handwritten document. But, yeah. So what I want to do today is just to read through the motivation letter and see if I was writing the same letter today, what would I have done differently? And so, let's get started. I titled the motivation letter, "Letter of Motivation for Membrane Engineering, Kutoglu Edith." I am writing to express my interest in the Erasmus Mundus Master in Membrane Engineering program. So that was my opening statement and I wouldn't change that today. And the reason is, I always tell my students that whenever you are writing application documents or even if it's an email to someone, try to communicate what you are looking for in the first few sentences. So even if the person doesn't read your letter all the way to the end, they know what you're asking of them. And so, I wouldn't change the opening statement. I will keep it the same in 2023. I studied biochemistry from 2008 to 2012 at the University of Cape Coast, Ghana, where I obtained a bachelor's degree with first class honors. I would say this information is a bit redundant, considering the fact that it's in my CV, so I'll get rid of that statement. During my studies, my favorite courses were biochemical engineering, analytical biochemistry, and biomembranes. I also showed a keen interest in research because of my desire to pursue a research-based career. Okay, so the content of that paragraph is important. I was just trying to make a link between the courses that I took during my bachelor's and the master program, which is in membrane engineering. But then I would phrase it a bit differently. I wouldn't say my favorite courses were this and that. I would rather say, because of my interest in a research-based career in this field of membrane engineering, I followed these courses to gain more insight into the field. I would rather say something on that line, instead of just saying my favorite courses were this and that. That sounds a bit superficial. I have also had training in techniques such as bioseparations, bioreactor design, material and energy balances, dialysis for protein purification, and gel electrophoresis. This is also okay to just make a link between some of the concepts that you already know, which are going to show up again during the master program. So, trying to make a little link between what you already know and what you are going to learn, and so I think I would keep it. My interest in research led me to the renowned research institution in Ghana, called Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, for an internship where I received further training in these techniques. Practical experience is always valuable, and so I wouldn't change that statement. The fact that I, my interest in this field sent me to an internship in New Guchi is very important to show that you were proactive and you've done some internship. So, I'll keep that. I was much interested in the experiments that involve the application of membranes. The training I received in these techniques has helped me in my final year project, titled "Biochemical Characterization of the Binding of Methylin Blue to Bovine Serum Albumin Using Equilibrium Dialysis." So, I liked how I made a connection between the membrane courses that I took, followed up by the internship, and also how it helped me in my final year thesis. Then I continued, the objective of this research was to ascertain the use of an improvised microscale append of tube equilibrium dialysis set up in studying the kinetics of protein ligand interactions.
[5:05]My experiments involved developing the setup to mimic the commercially made equilibrium dialysis setups, and to examine the effect of factors such as temperature, pH, ligand concentration on the binding. Yeah, I made a bit of typo in the ligand concentration on the binding. I think it's good to give a bit of insight into what your project actually involved, especially considering the fact that this project that I did for my bachelor thesis was something very new and challenging. This project that my supervisor gave me was what actually brought me into science because it was very challenging and I didn't understand what I had to do. It took me several weeks to get into it, and once I got into it, I developed my interest for research, and so it's quite nice to communicate that you have some research experience already. As the method has not been reported in Ghana, I had to formulate my research plan, consult technical literature to set up the apparatus and fix the associated technical problems. By being intimately involved in every aspect of this work, from proposal writing to data collection and analysis, I have learned how to fulfill my interest in research, and I am prepared for the demanding routines of any postgraduate laboratory. I would say, I like that I was able to communicate the fact that I started the project all the way from writing a proposal, setting up the apparatus and carrying out the study. So this is one of the core things that we learn at the University of Cape Coast, Ghana, which is really good. That bachelor students present their proposals before they carry out their project, and so that was valuable skill that I learned earlier on. And so, I wouldn't change that. I think maybe if I'm writing that today, I would make it a bit more concise because it's quite long. But, it's good to give information about what the project entailed and all that, so I will keep the content, but I will just make it a bit more concise and, yeah, shorter. And now I make a little bit of detour, why did I want to apply for this program? My primary goal in applying for graduate program is to adequately prepare myself for a career in membrane science. I was happy to find the membrane engineering program because it matches my career interests and is compatible with my skills and experience, since I have been familiar with the use of membranes in bioseparations by dialysis. So, this is quite a good coincidence because my bachelor thesis was using some membranes to do equilibrium dialysis, to study protein ligand interactions. And so, I was able to make this nice connection why I wanted to further study this field of membrane. So, that was quite easy because, yeah, I had a project already done, so it made a very nice link there. And then I just gave a bit more context. The same method can be applied in water purification, dialysis for protein purification, as well as for studying interactions of biomolecules. Unfortunately, Ghanaian universities don't have a master's program specifically in membrane engineering yet. Thus, the need to train more membrane engineers. This constitutes my very motivation behind my present application for the Erasmus Mundus Master in Membrane Engineering program. So, yeah, I just wanted to make a link between the fact that I found this field of membranes quite intriguing. And I'm interested to study it into more detail, but then there are no master programs in Ghana focused on membranes. And so, that's why I wanted to come and do this program. So, I think that's quite a nice justification why I want to be enrolled in the program. I continued by saying, "Among 33 students who graduated from my department in May 2012, I was among the first five graduates retained as teaching assistants at the Department of Biochemistry." As a teaching assistant in the university, I handled tutorial classes, as well as acting as a demonstrator during practical sessions. I also participate in ongoing research in the department. When it comes to master programs, PhD programs, teaching experience is also very valuable, and also mentoring younger students. So, if you demonstrate that you've already worked as a teaching assistant, this is a valuable skill to highlight. So, I think I like that I was able to make this relation. What I would do differently is probably mention a bit more of the specific things that I did. I said I handled tutorial classes and also participated in some research. Maybe I would state specifically what type of research I was participating in, or which courses I was handling in tutorial, so something more specific to make it more credible. And now I'm moving into another paragraph, which is about why their program is interesting for me. Your membrane engineering program is versatile and research-oriented, and it's one of the few programs that offers me the opportunity to obtain adequate knowledge and expertise in membrane science due to a collaboration of a consortium of universities. So, this also shows that you've read about the program, and you know what's the layout of the program, that they consist of different universities, which are collaborating. So, you've done your research about the institution. Also, all universities of the consortium have an extensive network of contacts in hospitals and industries. This will give me an opportunity to obtain adequate practical training. The MSC membrane engineering studies, coupled with my biochemistry background, will offer me the opportunity to contribute in my country's effort of transforming domestic medicine and food industries into viable commercial ventures. With my academic capabilities and interests, I believe that I possess the requisite aptitude for pursuing the program, and I will be grateful for your consideration of my candidacy for this MSC program. I think, that was quite courageous to say, I believe I possess the requisite aptitude for pursuing this program. I mean, you have to show that you are confident in yourself, that you are capable of excelling in the program, and so that was a good ending, I would say, I wouldn't have changed it. So, that was the motivation letter. I like how I followed through like a storyline, from my studies, I did an internship, and then I ended up doing my thesis, and all the skills that I gained. And I made a connection between how they are related to the membrane engineering program. So, it's quite nice to make this connections. I would probably just make the letter a little bit more concise and take out all the extra stuff which are not necessary. And now, let's look at the statement of purpose. The statement of purpose is quite short. I just wrote like a very short paragraph. The statement of purpose is just a justification why you want to be enrolled in that program. So, I just wrote a statement of purpose. It is my greatest pleasure to apply for the Erasmus Mundus scholarship since it is an opportunity for me to gain admission into European institutions of scientific research. Membrane engineering is an area that holds great prospect in my government's drive towards industrialization of the agricultural sector and the containment of global environmental challenges. Membrane engineering has a lot of applications in wastewater treatment, and also food, different sectors, and so this is a justification why I want to pursue this program. Colleagues from our university who have gained admission into European universities talk about their well-equipped laboratories with state-of-the-art technologies. It has therefore been my fervent desire to pursue my postgraduate training in such institutions and be trained by experienced scientists. This will offer me the enabling environment to develop the skills and knowledge required for me to play an active role in my country's drive towards industrialization, food security and wellness. You are attracted to study in these institutions because they have state-of-the-art equipment for carrying out cutting-edge research. This is a good reason for aspiring to enter this program. I like that the statement of purpose is concise and straight to the point. Maybe what I would do differently is highlight a bit more how it will boost my career development, or what will be the benefits for me after. Yeah, but overall, it wasn't so bad if I consider that, yeah, I wrote this 10 years ago and I've grown a lot over these last years. These are the motivation letter and statement of purpose that got me admission into the membrane engineering program. So, what are your thoughts on this letter that I wrote 10 years ago? Let me know in the comments and, yeah, thanks for watching.
