Example 1 - Discussing fit for a PhD in Physics (Quantum Materials)

A possible way to discuss fit for a BS graduate in Mechanical Engineering with experience in Energy Systems,
thermodynamics and Material science who is interested in a PhD in physics (Quantum Materials and
Thermodynamics) is:

I am applying to the PhD program in Physics at the University of California, Berkeley because I want to pursue my
passion for exploring the fundamental properties and applications of quantum materials and thermodynamics. I have
a strong background and interest in this field, as I graduated with a BS in Mechanical Engineering from the University
of Nigeria, Nsukka, where I specialized in Energy Systems, Thermodynamics, and Material Science. During my
undergraduate studies, I gained valuable knowledge and skills in topics such as quantum mechanics, statistical
physics, solid state physics, nanotechnology, and computational methods. I also participated in several research
projects that involved the synthesis, characterization, and modeling of novel materials for energy conversion and
storage.

At Berkeley, I would like to work with Professor Xiang Zhang and his Nano-scale Science and Engineering Center
(NSEC), as I admire their cutting-edge research on the discovery and manipulation of quantum phenomena in
nanostructures and metamaterials. I am particularly interested in their recent work on the quantum thermal Hall
effect, which reveals the interplay between topology, magnetism, and heat transport in two-dimensional materials. I
believe that this work has important implications for understanding the fundamental limits of thermodynamics and
developing new technologies for thermal management and energy harvesting. I would like to contribute to this
research area by investigating the effects of disorder, interactions, and external fields on the quantum thermal Hall
effect in various materials systems.

I think that I have the necessary aptitude, enthusiasm, and creativity to excel in this program and become a valuable
member of the Berkeley community. I have a solid foundation in mechanical engineering, physics, and mathematics,
as well as extensive experience in energy systems, thermodynamics, and material science. I have also demonstrated
my ability to conduct original and interdisciplinary research, collaborate with diverse researchers, and communicate
my findings effectively. I am eager to learn from the world-renowned faculty and students at Berkeley, and to take
advantage of the abundant resources and opportunities that the program offers. I am confident that Berkeley is the
ideal place for me to pursue my academic dreams and make a significant contribution to science and society.

Example 2 – Discussing Fit for PhD in Computer Science

I am applying to the PhD program in Computer Science at Stanford University because I believe it is the best place
for me to pursue my research interests in natural language processing and machine learning. I have been fascinated
by the challenges and possibilities of developing intelligent systems that can understand and generate natural
language since my undergraduate studies at the University of Lagos, where I majored in Computer Science and
minored in Linguistics. During my master's degree at the University of Edinburgh, I focused on developing neural
network models for text summarization and sentiment analysis, and published two papers in top-tier conferences. I
also gained valuable experience as a research intern at Microsoft Research, where I worked on improving the
robustness and efficiency of neural machine translation systems.

At Stanford, I would like to work with Professor Christopher Manning and his Natural Language Processing Group, as
I admire their cutting-edge research on deep learning methods for natural language understanding and generation. I
am particularly interested in their recent work on pre-trained language models, such as BERT and GPT-3, and their
applications to various natural language tasks, such as question answering, dialogue systems, and text simplification.
I believe that these models have the potential to revolutionize natural language processing and enable new forms of
human-computer interaction. I would like to contribute to this exciting research area by exploring novel ways of
enhancing the semantic and pragmatic capabilities of these models, as well as addressing their ethical and social
implications.
©Scholarship Notice Board with Moses Udoisoh 2023
I think that I have the necessary background, skills, and motivation to succeed in this program and become a
productive member of the Stanford community. I have a strong foundation in computer science, mathematics, and
linguistics, as well as extensive experience in natural language processing and machine learning. I have also
demonstrated my ability to conduct original research, collaborate with other researchers, and communicate my
findings effectively. I am eager to learn from the world-class faculty and students at Stanford, and to take advantage
of the abundant resources and opportunities that the program offers. I am confident that Stanford is the ideal place
for me to achieve my academic goals and make a positive impact on society.

Example 3 – Discussing fit for a PhD Programme in Sociology at Harvard

I am applying to the PhD program in Sociology at Harvard University because I want to pursue my passion for studying
social movements and collective action in the context of globalization and digital media. I have been interested in this
topic since my undergraduate studies at the University of Cape Town, where I majored in Sociology and minored in
Media Studies. There, I wrote my honors thesis on the role of social media in mobilizing youth participation in the
#FeesMustFall movement in South Africa. This project sparked my curiosity about how digital technologies shape the
dynamics and outcomes of social movements across different regions and cultures.

During my master's degree at the London School of Economics, I expanded my knowledge and skills in this field by
taking courses on social network analysis, comparative politics, and media sociology. I also conducted an empirical
study on the online networks and discourses of pro-democracy activists in Hong Kong during the 2019 protests. This
study was awarded the best dissertation prize by the Department of Media and Communications, and was accepted
for publication in a peer-reviewed journal. I also gained practical experience as a research assistant at the Oxford
Internet Institute, where I worked on a project that analyzed the online behavior and attitudes of climate change
activists around the world.

At Harvard, I would like to join Professor Theda Skocpol and her Scholars Strategy Network, as I admire their
innovative research on how civic associations and social movements influence public policy and democratic
governance in the United States. I am especially interested in their recent work on how grassroots organizations and
digital platforms shape the mobilization and representation of marginalized groups, such as women, minorities,
immigrants, and low-income citizens. I believe that this work is highly relevant and timely for understanding the
current challenges and opportunities for social change in a polarized and unequal society. I would like to contribute
to this research agenda by examining how different forms of online participation and communication affect the
strategies and outcomes of social movements that advocate for social justice and human rights.

I think that I have the necessary passion, curiosity, and creativity to excel in this program and become a valuable
member of the Harvard community. I have a solid background in sociology, media studies, and political science, as
well as extensive experience in social movement research. I have also demonstrated my ability to conduct rigorous
and original research, collaborate with diverse researchers, and communicate my insights effectively. I am eager to
learn from the outstanding faculty and students at Harvard, and to benefit from the rich resources and opportunities
that the program provides. I am confident that Harvard is the perfect place for me to fulfill my academic aspirations
and make a meaningful contribution to society.

I am applying for the PhD program in Biology (Cell and Molecular Biology) at Case Western Reserve University because
I am passionate about pursuing a career in biomedical research that combines my background in anatomy, my
experience in medical diagnostics, and my ability in data science and machine learning. I believe that this program
will provide me with the best opportunity to achieve my academic and professional goals.

©Scholarship Notice Board with Moses Udoisoh 2023

 Example 4 – Discussing fit for a PhD Programme in Cell and Molecular Biology at
Case Western Reserve University

My interest in cell and molecular biology stems from my undergraduate studies in anatomy at the University of
Nigeria, where I learned about the structure and function of the human body at various levels of organization. I was
fascinated by how cells interact with each other and their environment to maintain homeostasis, respond to stimuli,
and perform specialized functions. I also developed a strong foundation in biochemistry, genetics, physiology, and
histology, which prepared me for further studies in this field.

During my final year project, I had the opportunity to work as a research assistant in the Department of Medical
Laboratory Science, where I was involved in a project that aimed to develop a rapid diagnostic test for malaria using
loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP). I was responsible for collecting blood samples from patients,
performing LAMP assays, and analyzing the results using gel electrophoresis and fluorescence detection. I learned
how to apply molecular techniques to diagnose infectious diseases, as well as how to work in a clinical setting with
ethical standards and quality control. This experience sparked my interest in medical diagnostics and motivated me
to pursue a career that can improve human health through innovation and technology.

After graduating with a BS in Anatomy with honors, I joined the Data Science Nigeria (DSN) AI+ program, which is a
12-month intensive training program that equips young Nigerians with skills in data science and machine learning.
Through this program, I gained hands-on experience in using Python, R, SQL, TensorFlow, PyTorch, and other tools to
solve real-world problems using data. I also participated in several online courses and competitions on platforms such
as Coursera, Kaggle, Zindi, and DataCamp. Some of the projects that I worked on include:

- Predicting the risk of cardiovascular disease using machine learning models based on clinical and demographic data.

- Developing a natural language processing system that can extract information from medical records and generate
summaries.

- Building a convolutional neural network that can classify chest X-ray images into normal or abnormal categories.

Through these projects, I learned how to apply machine learning techniques to analyze complex and large-scale data
sets, as well as how to communicate my findings effectively using visualizations and reports. I also developed a keen
interest in exploring the applications of machine learning to biomedical problems, especially those related to cell and
molecular biology.

I am particularly interested in joining the PhD program at Case Western Reserve University because of its
interdisciplinary nature and its emphasis on cutting-edge research. I have read the profiles of several faculty members
whose research aligns with my interests and goals, such as Dr. X who studies the molecular genetics of cancer using
bioinformatics and computational genomics, Dr. Y who investigates the molecular biology of RNA using single-
molecule techniques, and Dr. Z who explores the cell and molecular neurobiology using optogenetics and calcium
imaging. I would be honored to work with any of these professors as their research student and contribute to their
ongoing projects. I believe that I have the necessary skills, knowledge, and motivation to succeed in this program and
make significant contributions to the field of cell and molecular biology.

©Scholarship Notice Board with Moses Udoisoh 2023