MOTIVATION LETTER

I was born in a country which was and is still to some extent, deemed unfavorable for women’s
education. I believe that one’s passion overcomes all hurdles. But I, since my childhood, not for once
had to face any such hurdle. My fascination and interest for science and technology developed from
the period of my primary education. Owing to my liking of subjects which majorly include physics
and mathematics, I was encouraged by my teachers to plunge into the field of Engineering (Electrical
Engineering to be more precise)

Having secured admissions in almost all of the top ranked Engineering universities of Pakistan, I
chose UET Lahore as my alma mater. This decision was primarily driven by two things. I wanted to
major in Electrical Engineering and UET was the oldest and the most renowned for it. I wanted to
learn more about the problems being faced in the backward areas of the country, including the
software problems i.e. social and cultural, as well as the hardware problems i.e. infrastructure and
energy. Becoming a part of this university gave me the opportunity to befriend many people from the
rural parts of the country across all the four provinces and helped me gain a better insight into the
multidimensional issues of the nation. These also included the issues faced by the visually impaired
community, which in my final year project, motivated me to develop a device which enables them to
move independently, to avoid any obstacles that may come in their path and guided by a GPS
navigator reach their destined location without any help. The completion of this project has given me
the greatest satisfaction as it has provided a cheaper alternative to the more expensive devices such as
smart glasses etc. that most of my countrymen cannot afford. Also because, it manifests how electrical
engineering can be a pathway to bringing about a change in the lives of individuals.

To take my education and research to the next level, I chose to opt for graduate studies and for that
purpose I got into Information Technology University, Lahore for my Masters in Electrical
Engineering. I am majoring in Control Systems. In the field of Engineering, the recent hike in
innovations is due to inter-linking of various other fields. I recently completed a project by applying
the rules of graph theory for the controllability and robustness of network systems. Moreover, I, as a
research assistant, am also working on a project related to Machine Learning in which by working on
Electroencephalography (EEG), I am also getting the exposure of Signal Processing. This project
assists in the prediction of epilepsy using pre-processed EEG signals. Currently, I am comparing the
results of deep learning based approach (Convolutional Neural Networks and Recurrent Neural
Networks) and state-space model based approach (parameter estimation using Bayesian Methods and
Markov’s Chain) for the prediction of epilepsy.

It was during my graduate studies that I came to know of the Technical Student Program offered by
CERN. It is with great pleasure to know that Pakistan became an Associate Member of CERN in
2015, which has broadened prospects of research for Pakistani scientist community. I now have the
urge to move to the next step of research and development and I believe that there’s no better way to
learn than the on-job training which I can receive from the prestigious CERN’s Technical Student
Program. Another feature of this program which attracts me, is that I will be working alongside some
of the best brains from across the globe which will help me achieve much more in my field. It will be,
without a doubt, a multi-cultural experience. I believe it is a once in a life-time opportunity which will
open new research horizons before me.

I have firm belief that I have the sufficient qualifications required to qualify for your Technical
Student Program. With high aims set before me, I would be filled with gratitude if I am granted the
opportunity to work in this esteemed organization.