Organization
Dear Sir/ Madam,
Personal Statement
In the following words, I shall share what I have done in my life and what I hope to achieve in the future. I would also like to take some time and try to explain the driving force behind my aspirations and desires. It is my belief that my story, or for that matter anybody’s story, is incomplete without answering the question: why?
At a very young age I had this wish to be able to build a “life improver”; a tool or device that could help people enjoy a healthier, smarter and happier life. I always desired and hoped for a bright future where humanity can have a better and more fruitful life. Whenever the thoughts of my future, my studies or the life I wanted to lead, the field of medicine filled my view. A career in medicine, after all, would enable me to develop and apply my knowledge in the improvement of the lives of people.
With this in mind, I attained a Bachelor’s degree in Medicine but unfortunately could not work as a doctor. My degree was issued by a university which is on the list of universities whose graduates are allowed to give the USMLE exam. The United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) evaluates a physician’s capability to utilize concepts, knowledge, and principles, and to exhibit critical patient-based skills, that are crucial in disease treatment and healthy living and that form the basis of effective care given to patients. I topped my classes in all the theory subjects. Due to the difficult economic conditions in Russia, I had to get a job as a sales consultant in medical equipment. After that, I worked as a business coach; training employees of various companies in sales techniques, presentations, and negotiations, as well as in managing sales and helping companies develop their business.
An interest for Mathematics and Bioscience remained, however, and it was two years ago, when this curiosity turned into utter enchantment. This occurred after I had joined Humanity+ and the Singularity Hub. Humanity+ [http://humanityplus.org/] is the world’s leading non-profit organization which is dedicated to the ethical use of technology to extend human capabilities. The Singularity Hub [http://singularityhub.com/] is a blog and news network which deals with the scientific advancements made in fields like Robotics, Genetics, Artificial Intelligence, Stem Cells, Aging amongst others.
It was the economic conditions which had prevented me from utilizing my interest in Mathematics and Bioscience into a career. However, I have now resolved to follow my passions and the field of Biomedical Engineering was the most apt for a person of my interests and desires. After extensive research, I decided to pursue Biomedical Engineering at The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology.
HKUST has been ranked 3rd in “World's Top 100 Universities Under 50” by “Times Higher Education Top 100 Under 50” in 2012. Moreover, HKUST has one of the strongest Biomedical Engineering programs in the country and it is my desire to explore and study the field so that I can help in developing technology that can not only cure diseases but also improve the quality of life and well-being of the people in the world.
The online course from Yale University- “Frontiers of Biomedical Engineering” with Professor W. Mark Saltzman-was what triggered my decision and I started preparing for the university. I have taken several online courses and have read literature regarding the following subjects:
- Biomedical Signal Processing
- Medical Devices and Systems
- Engineering Mathematics
- Human Physiology
- Molecular Biology
- Biomaterials
- Biomechanics
- Life Extension
- Mind Expansion
- Next Generation Mind
- Transformative Technologies
I consider computational neuroscience and brain computer interfaces (BCI) to be one of the most important areas of study and technology for the future and there are some most remarkable and promising researches going on in this field. It is my belief that by improving direct computer brain interfaces and expanding the type of connections they can make will bring about a time where BCI technology is as common place as the internet is today.
My curiosity and love for systematic thinking have helped me to increase my knowledge considerably. I have no doubt that they will help again in the future and I am confident that I can make a significant contribution to the development of the industry while fulfilling my duties and responsibilities as a scientist. I try my utmost to keep abreast of the latest occurrences in the professional community through informal communication with scores of lecturers and participants of conferences and TED talks (scientists such as Aubrey de Grey, Ben Goertzel & Hugo de Garis are among them).
Attaining a degree in Biomedical Engineering through HKUST will be a major step towards becoming a leading scientist in the realm of bioscience. After successfully completing this program, I would like to take my education in BME even further, with a focus on BCI. I possess a good academic background and my interest in this field is sincere and passionate. Being confident in my abilities, I know I have the capacity to become an excellent professional and this can help me to contribute to the list of successful graduates from your highly esteemed university.
