Personal Statement

I am a senior undergraduate Civil Engineering student at the American University of Beirut [AUB] expecting to graduate in June 2018 and willing to undertake graduate studies [MSc] in Management, Technology, and Entrepreneurship at École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne [EPFL].

The thriving pace of developments in technology has influenced the way we do business. New technologies have posed increased levels of automation. Information systems have made it easier to communicate, collaborate, and coordinate to accomplish common goals. To survive, flourish and overcome the competition in today’s competitive world, business organizations and entrepreneurs have to make technology an ally and harness its full potential.

My scope for innovation coupled with enthusiasm has encouraged me to apply to graduate studies and contribute to the research in this field. Many undergraduate courses [Micro and Macro Economics and Engineering Economy] have given me a glimpse about this interesting field motivating me to further explore the extent of it through a Master’s Degree. These courses have burgeoned my interest in research which encouraged me to apply for Research Assistant position at the University of Nottingham as my internship. I worked there for four months on the topic of “BIM and Constructability of Buildings” which was under research from a management perspective. The main objectives were to reduce delays, over-budgets and to boost the quality, safety, and constructability of buildings from the management outlook. The ultimate goal was profit maximization for the clients with the least expenditures possible. It also enabled us to understand the customer’s buying trends in this industry. The main work was to develop frameworks and programming codes to facilitate the process of quantifying constructability. My involvement in research particularly about management including hypothesis formulation, analysis, and team collaboration is similar to what can be done in a business life cycle. This opportunity helped widen my knowledge about the methodologies in research and analysis especially when attending the European Group for Intelligent Computing in Engineering [EG-ICE] 2017 conference during my internship time. The kind of exposure I obtained through the internship got me further interested in the research aspect of management. In addition, the work-study program at AUB has provided the basic research skills and refined my communication skills, group work management, thriving under pressure, and submitting deliverables on tight times. As a lab assistant, the work was to help civil engineering students in conducting their experiments and aid them in the analysis of the results.

Furthermore, my leadership and extra-curricular experience have allowed me to develop the core competencies to succeed in a rigorous and team-oriented environment. As a member of the AUB Consulting Club, we were exposed to all types of consulting firms and case crack workshops which gave us knowledge about this field. I also gained a critical insight into relationship-building measures in a formal and structured environment. My positive attitude, resourcefulness, and uncompromising commitment are derived from a variety of life experiences and will be beneficial in the business-minded environment. Being part of AUB Entrepreneurship Club was vital in orienting my attention towards business-related fields. The aim is to inspire and encourage the success of potential entrepreneurs and startups. We serve as an effective platform for startup advice and networking opportunities, by bringing together the various members of the highly engaging entrepreneurial community. This is achieved through various workshops and events where successful entrepreneurs and CEOs were invited to give a talk in order to guide business-minded engineers in their career. This gave the opportunity to drive our ideas out of the lab context into the real world.

Moreover, the undergraduate curriculum has equipped me with a solid and comprehensive academic background of the theoretical aspects and helped in refining my attained knowledge through the need for a Master’s program at your prestigious university. This graduate program from EPFL would help me in expanding my technical understanding of the subject and in widening my perspective of life. I wish to attain practical information and knowledge about the most modern techniques in the business field and apply them for the betterment. Applying to this program is my first step into the ability to commence Doctor of Philosophy and successfully establish my own start-up. The well-designed course along with highly competent and experienced faculty will be an ideal environment and platform for achieving my goals. I look at the graduate program and its curriculum in your department as an avenue to hone my skills and enhance my intellectual ability. It is a research-intensive and comprehensive university that endows an education that will serve me well in my career and prepare me for a lifetime of knowledge.

To sum up, the main reason behind my interest in research was to discover more technical and practical skills in the management, technology and entrepreneurship field. Having powerful communication skills, passion, research skills, and problem-solving skills can be a great boost in my career. I know for sure that good facilities will make a difference in a student’s life. I hope you will grant me the privilege to pursue my Master’s Degree. I look forward to a long and successful association with EPFL.