STATEMENT OF PURPOSE

The pressing issue of abating precarious effects of toxic effluents and industrial waste necessitates one to be at
the forefront of technology with pellucidity, conceptual insight and the ability to extrapolate ideas.

The malodorous ambience and the black, opaque waters of the Adi Ganga river at Kalighat temple, a popular
shrine in Kolkata, appal me every day. Domestic waste alone could morph a pristine river into a dirty black
river, let alone the peril industries have put metropolis into: this is the state of India today. Despite
government initiatives like Swachh Bharat (Clean India), only a technological revolution can effect real
change a change that is of utmost importance and needs to happen today. I wish to be a part of that
revolution, a contribution through technology that will assure a cleaner environment and healthier life for the
next generation. With this cause and a zeal to develop products and design systems that could treat polluted
water, I wish to apply for the graduate course in Mechanical and Industrial Engineering at the University of
Toronto.

My academic pursuit earned me the second rank in high school with a perfect score in Mathematics. Then, an
enthusiast to build airplanes and race cars, I enrolled in the Mechanical Engineering programme for my
undergraduate study at Coimbatore Institute of Technology with a scholarship of 25000 INR in the first
semester. My scholastic excellence in the first two semesters earned me repute quite early in college. I was the
first student to obtain an internship in my sophomore year an experience which kick started the scientist in
me. At Larsen and Toubro, Coimbatore, I came across Magmasoft, a software to analyse castings. Awestruck
by the concept of analysing products by applying engineering concepts to colourful models, I joined the
Internal Combustion Engine Research Cell at Coimbatore Institute of Technology in the summer of 2015 to
explore on analysis software. I muddled myself in learning fluid mechanics, thermodynamics and
mathematical modelling. Being able to solve equations with my own codes bolstered my interest in numerical
methods, leading to many exciting sleepless nights solving problems from any text book I could lay my hands
on. I worked on estimating the droplet lifetime of an ethanol fuelled engine through simulation and analytical
methods. I also investigated the performance and emission in a high injection and high compression ignition
Combustion Ignition engine using Ansys Fluent, Diesel RK and experimental methods. This research
experience opened up the fact that many seemingly daunting equations were merely an extension of first
principles. Curious to gain a deeper insight into the behind the stage aspect of simulation software in
computational fluid dynamics, I attended a 10-day course on Turbulence Modelling for Engineering
Applications, taught by Dr. Paul Durbin from the Iowa State University held at the Indian Institute of
Technology (IIT), Madras.

It was during the winter of 2016 when I visited the Adi Ganga river, a day which changed the track of my
thinking. An epiphany indeed, but I knew I what I wanted to do: save the environment through technology. As
my simulation skills grew from strength to strength, I needed experience on working with industrial
equipment with a research perspective. Earning a research fellowship at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc),
Bangalore by the Indian Academy of Sciences (IASc) in my junior year proved to be the perfect opportunity
to explore this subject. Under the guidance of Dr. Govind S. Gupta, I worked on the optimisation of Acheson
Process which is used to manufacture silicon carbide. My work included manufacturing silicon carbide with
different process parameters and analysing samples through, chemical methods, characterisation using X-Ray
diffraction and Scanning Electron Microscope. My project was a part of a doctoral research to obtain optimum
process parameters which reduced production costs and material waste immensely. The spirit of scientific
research at IISc galvanised me to contribute to another project dealing with designing a test rig to study a
Blast Furnace: I modelled components using Creo 3.0 and used Lab View 16 to design a control system.

Bolstered by the knowledge I gained from these experiences, my mind went back to the tea estate I visited
with my father. To achieve my goal from the past, I had to move forward. Based on my scholastic
performance, I was allowed to expedite my course, an opportunity bagged by only two students, for the first
time, in the institution. After a rigorous selection process, I was offered a six-month internship programme at
the Clean Energy Processes Laboratory, Imperial College London under the guidance of Dr. Christos
Markides. I contributed to designing and fabricating a rig to study a direct evaporation concentrated solar
power system and received hands on experience in building experimental rigs to generate annular flow. I
worked on laser diagnostics using a novel concurrent Planar Laser Induced Fluorescence (PLIF) technique to
study downward gas-liquid annular flow. Liquid water with a small amount of Rhodamine dye was used as
the working liquid. I used MATLAB R2016a to process the images and obtain statistical data on wave
characteristics. This project assessed the the novel concurrent PLIF method. I also used laser imaging to study
the thermal characteristics of various dyes. My project at Imperial College was submitted as my
Undergraduate Thesis.

My diverse research experience broadened my horizons and I realised that fundamental aspects are largely the
same but applications vary. I was more driven than ever to bring my ideas to life. To get a first-hand
experience in entrepreneurship and manufacturing, I started my own project to manufacture lathe machines at
my family-run company, a product of high demand by tea industries in South India. While my undergraduate
programme provided me a concrete foundation in mechanical engineering concepts, I know I need deeper
knowledge and a broader perspective in order to develop products to save the environment a desperate need
in my country of a billion.
There are two cardinal reasons which piqued my interest in applying to the University of Toronto. Firstly, the
plethora of courses provides a comprehensive program which complements my interest. Secondly, I had the
privilege of meeting Ms. Pavani Cherukupally, a UofT doctoral candidate who told me about the research
being carried out on foam based industrial waste water treatment at the Microcellular Plastic Manufacturing
Laboratory (MPML), University of Toronto under the guidance of Professor Chul B. Park. The
interdisciplinary and innovative spirit of her research group motivated to join MPML. I believe that with the
skills I developed in my undergraduate research experience and by taking necessary courses at the University
of Toronto, I will be able to contribute to the research being carried out on the industrial waste water
treatment, specifically on developing industrial foams.
Scientific vigour is necessary to perpetuate innovation and tantamount drive for leadership is necessary to
effect change in the world. Apart from being a rank holder in academia, I was equally involved in extra-
curricular activities during my undergraduate study - an exciting journey of four years - which won me the
Best Outgoing Student Award by the Mechanical Engineering Department. Gleaning information on the web
about U of T alumni, I realised that U of T graduates also are a dynamic mix of academic excellence and
leadership a fact which makes me a perfect fit at the University of Toronto. I eagerly await an opportunity to
share a lecture hall with academic giants to transact information and enhance my knowledge. In addition to
the academic and research opportunities at the University of Toronto, the diverse culture and extracurricular
facilities promise exciting times and a great learning experience. I also look forward to working on altruistic
projects at Engineers Without Borders, U of T.
After my graduate study, I intend to pursue research to develop products and design systems for industrial
waste treatment and eventually starting a manufacturing company with an in-house R&D Lab that would
provide consultancy services in the pollution and waste sector. Scientist & entrepreneur is not what I want
to be, rather, who I want to be. With the guidance of the finest faculties in the world at the University of
Toronto, I am affirmative that I will be able to unleash my potential and carry forth the legacy of leadership
and remarkable scientific contributions of such a prestigious institution. Given an opportunity, I will strive to
be an asset to your institution and contribute to the world at large.
JYOTIRMOY MUKHERJEE