Shreya Shah

3, Amarnath Plots

India

Rajkot – 360007

E-mail: shreyatusharshah@gmail.com

PRISMA Cluster of Excellence

Graduate Marketing and Recruiting

Staudingerweg 9

55128 Mainz 23 November, 2018

Dear Sir/Ma’am,

RE: Motivation letter for Research Area B “Origin of mass and Physics beyond the standard model"

Having completed my graduation with the degree of Bachelor of Science in Physics from
Christ College, Saurashtra University in March 2018, I have since been looking forward to be a part of an
extensive research based academic programme to pursue and propel my interest in Cosmology and
Astrophysics. I hereby extend my application to show my firm interest for the PRISMA internship
programme at JGU, Mainz. Throughout my span of undergraduate education, I have exhibited a
substantial level of co-curricular and academic performance through engaging myself in pursuits that
involved both learning and teaching. It involved independent research, and to develop a coherence of
ideas and thoughts that lead to a scientific insight.

One of the reasons I am looking forward to be part of this programme is due to the variety
of modules/projects that deeply interest me and whose equivalents are not currently available at my
home university. Also, performing research in foreign waters is such an excellent research environment
will enhance my potential and expand my skills. Having finished a certificate course in Astronomy and
Astrophysics, I have worked on the topic of “Cosmological histories of the universe and performed brief
numerical investigation on the Freidmann equations and equation of state (w) parameters through
plottings in PYTHON whilst my internship at SEAS, Ahmedabad University.
 I developed a strong interest for theoretical physics when I took time to educate myself
with QFT, fundamental particle interactions and cosmographic models in order to excel beyond the
courses provided at my university, independently. Also earned an aptitude for basic lab technicalities
during my internship at the Dept. of Nanotechnology where in I studied propertiesof nano Titanim
Dioxide and its applications for Perovskite solar cells. Consequently, my preferred area of interest is
“Origin of mass and Physics beyond the standard model”. During my undergraduate studies I worked on
a poster presentation and a brief talk on the “Breaking of Electroweak symmetry” and since then I
always wanted to work on the gauge symmetry breaking and The Minimal SM in a research oriented
manner. I believe the nature of my workhere and throughout my degree course has prepared me for
this internship a fit for this position based on my research interests and relevant work, my potential to
thrive under testing circumstances and the ability to think critically

Having engaged myself in activities of observational astronomy by the age of 16 and

volunteering for countless public programmes I have developed soft skills like teamwork, patience and
perseverance which are obligatory in this field. I am bravely confident about my paper and content
writing skills, which are reflected in my posts, articles and paper. (links enclosed in my CV). My future
research plans are inclined towards study of analogy between sterile neutrinos and dark matter,
considering that the non-thermal production of dark matter and production of sterile neutrinos are
strikingly similar. The PRISMA internship programme is clearly ideal for me, based on the department’s
integration of cosmology, theoretical and observational astrophysics, and the opportunity to develop
and pursue short-term projects in a brilliant multi-cultural environment. I am sending out this letter with
enthusiasm and hope for anapproval to this transcending opportunity

Yours Sincerely,

Shreya Shah