Statement of Purpose

My primary research interests lie in the areas of process engineering, material science, and catalysis. Likewise,
having developed a strong research background during my MSc studies in process systems, materials science,
and relevant areas of optimization and machine learning, I am applying to Virginia Tech’s chemical engineering
PhD program.

My research interest in chemical engineering commenced while I was doing a month-long industrial training at
the Training Institute for Chemical Industries (TICI) Bangladesh in 2014, which developed my practical
understanding of process units, their operation, and control. Additionally, while working as an intern at the
operation and production unit of Sylhet gas fields limited under the Ministry of Power Energy and Mineral
Resources (MOPEMR), I gained an eye-opening experience on distributed control systems and the overall
operation of a molecular sieve turbo-expander plant.

These experiences led me to a variety of research topics, for example, process modeling, control, and
optimization. I received a graduate assistant (GA) fellowship from Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS (UTP) in
2019, and I have been enthusiastically working on UTP’s process engineering Lab from the beginning. This
Lab’s research projects focus on machine learning (ML) and artificial intelligence (AI) techniques, and their
applications in different areas of process engineering. During my first year, I developed expertise in chemical
plant simulations and modeling using Aspen Hysys. As well, I also excelled in my programming skills in
MATLAB and Python. During my research proposal defense, I did a thorough literature review of the AI
techniques applied to various refrigeration systems, which further led to a first-author manuscript publication
in a Q1 journal in 2021. In collaboration with Dr. Adrián Mota-Babiloni from Universitat Jaume I, I did 4E
analysis and modeling of a two-stage refrigeration system using the response surface method and developed a
hybrid algorithm (combining Differential Evolution (DE) and the Grey Wolf Optimizer (GWO)) for optimizing
the build models. This work is expected to be submitted to a Q1 journal soon.

During my second year of graduate school, I started working on the development of more efficient nature-
inspired metaheuristic algorithms. Firstly, I incorporated the niching technique with the GWO algorithm and
tested my algorithm for 23 numerical benchmark functions, 3 engineering case studies. Secondly, I compared
it with 8 other state-of-the-art algorithms, did statistical analysis and ranking, resulting in the publication of an
article in a Q2 journal. Following that, I developed a memory, mutation, and local search-based novel GWO
technique with the help of emeritus professor Gade Pandu Rangaiah (my external co-supervisor) from the
National University of Singapore. This technique is more robust and benchmarked against 24 numerical
functions, 5 engineering cases from the CEC World Congress 2021, and 5 medical data classification problems
that included artificial neural network training. After months of meticulous modifications for scientific rigor,
clarity, and brevity of writing, I finally submitted our findings to a prestigious Q1 journal.

Afterward, I developed detailed economic and operational models of my previously designed C3MR LNG plant,
built an interface between MATLAB and Hysys for optimizing the models using my hybrid algorithm. The
critical issues that I found during LNG plant optimization are, a) the algorithms get stuck in local solutions, b)
the optimization is computationally expensive, and c) they need an efficient constraint handling technique to
keep the process converged. I took care of the first problem before. To overcome the second challenge, I further
built a machine learning (radial basis function network (RBFN)) assisted hybrid particle swarm optimization
algorithm that significantly minimizes the computational expense. Moreover, currently, I am developing an
efficient constraint handling technique for LNG plant optimization that solves the third issue.
On the other hand, I am also engaged in several other research projects, where I have significantly contributed
to developing mathematical models, optimization algorithms, data clustering, and uncertainty handling
techniques. For a project titled "Synthesis of a novel biomaterial for bio-medical implant", I performed Taguchi-
based modeling and applied heuristic multi-objective optimization techniques for EDM machining process
optimization of biomaterials. Later, I used the k-means clustering technique to do the post Pareto analysis. This
collaborative work results in the publication of 3 manuscripts in Q1, Q2 journals. Furthermore, to solve a real-
world wellbore drilling trajectory optimization case study, my contribution includes the design of a hybrid
cellular automata-based spotted hyena optimizer algorithm, where we used the probability density function for
handling uncertainty.

I also endeavor to be a reliable source of knowledge in various fields. I served as a GA for Process Plant Design,
Process Heat Transfer, Process Safety and Loss Prevention, Process Modelling and Optimization, Chemical
Engineering Lab 3. and Final Year Projects, which are major courses for over a hundred undergraduate students
from diverse backgrounds. As well, based on my skills, the Lab coordinator assigned me to redesign the Lab
manual and viva questions for Chemical Engineering Lab 3, which consists of pilot-scale process operation,
control, and simulation. Finally, I received the GA merit award in December 2021, given by the center for
graduate studies, UTP, for publishing more research articles in Q1, Q2 journals.

Aside from my academic endeavors, I also try to participate in community service. During my undergraduate
studies at Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST), which is the best science and technology
university in Bangladesh, I actively worked for KIN, a voluntary organization of SUST, for four consecutive
years. I used to be an active member of the American Centre in Dhaka, Junior Chambers International, and the
Society of Petroleum Engineers. In addition to this, I always like to participate in different kinds of competitions
at the national and international levels. I along with my team, won the national science fair award at the district
level in high school. In 2017, the MOPEMR Bangladesh arranged a hackathon program for the first time, where
we developed a solar-assisted hybrid cooking system that was more efficient and won the second prize at the
national level under my leadership.

I believe that the diverse strength of Virginia Tech’s world-renowned expert faculty members and students
would cater well to my aspirations. To be more specific, I would love to work with associate professor
Hongliang Xin, professor Luke E. K. Achenie, and assistant professor Sanket A. Deshmukh. Since I have
developed a deep understanding of optimization, and machine learning techniques and their application in
process systems, and material science, I would try my best to continue this line of work during my PhD. studies.
I expect to develop more efficient optimization, and machine learning algorithms, and integrate them in the area
of material discovery, and processing; catalysis synthesis and design; and process modeling, control, and
optimization. Professor Achenie and Xin’s recent astounding work regarding the application of machine
learning and deep learning techniques on “Discovery of Perovskite Electrocatalysts” and “Interpretable
Reactivity Prediction” seemed very intriguing to me. Additionally, professor Deshmukh’s recent review article
on “coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulations” caught my eyes. If given this extraordinary opportunity to
continue my research under their supervision will offer me a perfect environment to accomplish my goal and
advance my skills. I have the required confidence and motivation that I would be able to contribute significantly
to this area and help people gain a better understanding of science. After completing my PhD., I want to see
myself as a faculty member at a prestigious university in my country, having my lab and doing cutting-edge
research that will advance the science, and benefit my country’s industries. Finally, I would like to express my
gratitude to the respected committee and the faculty members for your precious time and kind consideration.