Statement of Purpose | Md Rifat Kaisar Rachi

ECE Ph.D Applicant for Fall 2016

This writing delineates my academic career, research interests, achievements as well as my
future goals. Also, it explains my motivation for applying to the Ph.D program at the department
of Electrical and Computer Engineering in North Carolina State University (NCSU) to prepare
myself for my long term goal of pursuing a career of research and teaching.
Academic study and research were two of the major focuses during my time in Bangladesh
University of Engineering and Technology (BUET). I engaged myself acquiring knowledge both
within and beyond classroom. I have completed my graduation with a GPA of 3.91/4.00 and rank
of 13/189.
Throughout my university life, I had participated in multiple project works involving power
electronics. I have taken part in the prestigious IEEE International Future Energy Challenge
(IFEC) twice, in 2013 and 2015. In 2013, we developed a low power off-line LED driver
eliminating electrolytic capacitor to ensure longevity. In 2015, I led the BUET IFEC team to
design and implement a battery energy storage with an inverter to mimic synchronous generator.
Both time, team BUET won The Best Educational Impact Award. I also worked on IEEE PES
sponsored project to develop an efficient low-cost solar charge controller. All these experiences
were instrumental to enhance my skill in the field of power electronics.
For undergraduate thesis, I worked on plasmonic photovoltaics under the supervision of Prof. M
A Talukder. A novel silicon based thin film tandem structure was developed as a result of our
endeavor that showed marked improvement in absorption over the broad solar spectrum as well
as in ideal short circuit current density. The findings from this work were submitted and accepted
at the IEEE Photonic Conference (IPC) 2015.
Apart from my academic and research pursuit, I have also been involved in various
extracurricular activities and served as the Vice-chair of IEEE BUET Student Branch. Arranging
and participating in multiple technical talks and workshops have helped forge a strong sense of
responsibility and leadership in me.
Numerous limitations that I have faced during different project works, made me realize that
determination and persistence alone can never take my research to the height that I opt for. I plan
to do in depth research in power electronics during my graduate study and NCSU is the best
suited place with its astute faculties and advance research facilities like FREEDM Systems
Center and ATEC. I am fascinated by Prof. Husain’s work on electric machines, electric vehicles
and power electronics as well as Prof. Huang’s work on renewable energy integration and smart
grid. Prof. Baliga’s work on power semiconductor devices, Prof. Chakrabortty’s work on control
schemes for power system and Prof. Baran’s work on power system also interest me.
Having decided that I will engage in the pursuit of a career in research, I am fully aware of the
implications. Any scientific endeavor poses uncertainty but I have discovered that a sincere
perseverance is always rewarded in the end. I believe that I have the potential and right mindset
for doctoral level research work. With the esteemed authorities of electrical engineering as
faculties, state-of-the-art research facilities and an acclaimed history of innovation, North
Carolina State University is undoubtedly the best place to fulfill my dream.