제 경우는 정말 준비기간도 짧고 경험도 없고 학점도 크게 화려하지 않습니다. 군생활 하면서 토플을 준비하여 부대에 있는 동안 토플을 응시했습니다. 짧은 기간이었지만 차근차근 준비하다보니 어느 순간 apply도 하고 admission offer도 받았습니다. 경험이 없고, 시간이 없다고 해서 그냥 포기하지 마시고 한번 해보시기를 추천드립니다. 아..!!그리고 지원하시고자 하는 학교들을 선정하셨으면 먼저 학교별 지원 주의사항 및 요구사항을 엑셀로 작성해서 갖고 계시는 것을 추천드립니다. 학교별로 특이사항이 있는 학교들이 있습니다... 또 이미 이 과정을 겪으신 분들은 모두 공감하시겠지만 모든 과정이 시련이고 지원하기 전까지 계속에서 task가 있습니다. 그리고 우리나라와는 다르게 행정체제가 돌아가기 때문에 거절당하고 무응답을 받는 것에 익숙해 지셔야 하며 메일 보내는 것에 익숙해지시는 것이 중요한 것 같습니다. 지원 학교의 office email뿐 아니라 해당 학과 학과장님 email 등 여러 사람의 email주소에 본인이 정말 물어보고 싶은 내용이 있다면 다 한꺼번에 여쭤보시는게 정확하고 빠른 응답을 받는 방법입니다. 미국은 정말 직접 적극적으로 문을 두드려야 결과가 돌아온다는 말을 이 과정을 통해 느꼈습니다 하핳... 저는 이미 졸업을 해버린 상태에서 지원을 했고 제 주변에 유학을 같이 준비한 사람없이 코로나 때문에 스터디도 못하고 혼자 다 한 경우인데 앞으로 준비하실 많은 분들이 이 글을 보고 조금이라도 도움을 받으신다면 너무 좋을 것 같습니다. 혹시 도움이 되실까 하여 제 sop아래에 첨부합니다.
Statement Of Purpose-Providing smart, efficient, inexpensive, universally-available drug delivery system. That’s my
interest and my passion. That’s my ambition. That’s why I’m applying to Northwestern.
During my genetic engineering and advanced bioengineering studies the desire to overcome
current obstacles in membrane engineering and protein design fostered, nurtured and consumed.
My lofty end-goal is to overcome issues surrounding delivery entering nuclei and to prevent
decomposition by lysosomes while going through intracellular matrix and developing effective
target drug delivery system. Simple but, accurate diagnosis, and effective therapy can be done
grounded in drug delivery system based on smart carrier. There are three reasons why I focus
on drug delivery. First, by utilizing tumor angiogenesis, ultrasound reacting carriers can specify
precise site of the tumor and may lead to key technology for safer and cheaper real-time 3-D
imaging which makes accurate diagnosis possible. Second, more accuracy of targeting makes
less side-effects which is crucial for treating delicate affected area such as brain. Lastly,
developing simpler delivery system other than injection such as oral delivery can alleviate
resistance of patients and can be done without 1 on 1 professional manpower which can lead
to broader coverage of medical care. I’m not only deeply interested in this field academically,
but I’m also committed to this objective so that I can contribute to the deliverance of advanced
medical therapy specifically to the under-privileged which includes not only under-represented
groups but also people who are suffering from incurable diseases in current state. An event in
my past profoundly influenced this objective, and I’m proud that even though it happened many
years ago, my desire hasn’t waned one iota.
I strongly believe that Northwestern is the most appropriate place to achieve my goal. A
collaborative, interactive atmosphere across domains is of paramount importance for my
research interests. I would seek to draw upon the expertise of Professor Nathan Gianneschi’s
work on photo responsive carrier. Professor’s work on co-polymerizing light sensitive
paclitaxel with tumor associated enzyme responsive monomers can be utilized as smart carrier
which can perform controlled targeted drug delivery. For encapsulation of the drug, I hope to
build upon the knowledge of Professor Igal Szleifer’s work on finding optimal condition of
spherical liposome consists of lipids and PEG. To develop efficient targeting carrier, Professor
Evan A. Scott’s work on surface engineered nano carrier for FLT4 targeting delivery is
invaluable. Professor’s work on displaying targeting ligands on carrier surface can increase
accessibility of the target while decreasing uptake of off-target which can contribute to
improvement of efficiency. While utilizing others, I also remain fully cognizant that I must
contribute as much as I glean to Northwestern’s research, its reputation and its academic
environment. My blueprint studies aim to provide societal benefit by allowing affordable
access to advanced medical therapy to the under-privileged, and my research methodology and
requirements necessitate fostering team-focused, mutually beneficial working methodologies.
I will strive to ensure that my research contributes significantly both to Northwestern’s
eminence and fellow researchers, and wholeheartedly believe my accomplishments and
experiences to date will allow me to not only facilitate this, but to thrive.
My journey to date has been fortunate and led me on the path I now tread. I grew up
surrounded by doctors, which fueled my curiosity not only in biochemistry but in the core
concept of spending my time productively for societal benefit. But, frankly speaking, I don’t
have research or work experience that is directly related to biomedical engineering. However,
I can confidently say that my prior research experience developed foundations for graduate
studies in biomedical engineering. I have learned how to face new kinds of research thesis and
how to deal with it as a team. There was 4 months of final research project course work during
my last semester. I was assigned to Professor Moon’s lab which treats Li-S battery. Research
topic was to figure out whether applying TiO4 to the cathode of Li-S battery would be effective
for preventing “Shuttling Effect” which is a great limitation for the new generation battery. It
was hard to understand basic ideas of this topic to my group members including me. However,
I began reviewing the journals related to the thesis from Li battery to cathode application. Then
I finally understood the concept of this research that the main problem is the flow of unstable
intermediates of sulfur that leads to erosion of cathode which decreases lifetime of the battery.
Thus, my job was to figure out appropriate model arrangement of TiO4 that makes chemical
interactions with sulfur intermediates which prevents this shuttling effect. Our group decided
to use the modeling program called BURAI. Since it takes long time to run one modeling
process, we divided models and ran it simultaneously. Our effort ended up with figuring out
the appropriate cathode model and got A+ for the course. Although I couldn’t actually fabricate
the cathode, this research let me experience computational chemistry and electrochemistry
which was not familiar to me at all. I also learned how to gather information effectively from
the ocean of journals.
I mentioned in the intro about an event that catalyzed my interest in personalized medical
treatments for the under-privileged. During 8th grade I volunteered to help a medical service
team in Micronesia. My role was to assist in the general surgery section. I’ll never forget the
little girl who arrived one day among the long line of people desperate for medical assistance
not usually available to them. We couldn’t do anything for her – the fist-sized cyst behind her
right ear was too large, too dangerous to operate on. Watching her walk away in tears,
feeling helplessness, I hoped to myself that one day I could help people like her. With the
abilities I developed and the future I’ll achieve, I’ll never stop hoping.
Upon completion of my Ph.D., I want to progress application of the delivery system. In my
perspective, significant future technology that will be spotlighted is accurate smart delivery
system targeting brain. Brain is supermajor since it is related with most of the diseases which
has complex cause such as dizziness, and tinnitus. However, unlike other parts, deliverance
toward brain need to overcome BBB(blood brain barrier). Also, it is surrounded by cranium
which makes harder for imaging and treatment. As I mentioned above, utilizing delivery system
can contribute not only to drug delivery but also to development of advanced real-time 3-D
imaging instrument. After that, I would like to work in biomedical industry. If possible, I would
like to either continue working on drug delivery technologies toward advancing their use or
join a R&D department in a pharmaceutical company to directly take part in application. And
for the further future, it is my desire upon retiring years later to participate in international
medical volunteer organization using the technologies I’ve developed contributing to public
welfare. I confidently believe that my graduate studies can contribute to achieving my future
goals and this will lead to broader impacts of biomedical engineering.
Facing the challenges that are waiting for me will be tough while moving forward. Soldier’s
creed. ‘We are physically mentally tough. I’m professional. Never give up against the challenge’
still resides in me which makes me more than ready to meet the demands and requirements of
your esteemed program. I went through lots of obstacles but proudly can say that I have never
gave up even once. Though I’m not an inherent genius, I’m a person gets better and better and
try to learn something from the experiences. I can confidently claim that I’m diligent and active
person. With the opportunity given to me at your esteemed institution, I will prove my
worthiness of being part of the program and I give my word that you won’t regret choosing me
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