Sample Statement of Purpose for Theoretical Chemistry
Statements by Americans
The Theoretical Chemistry Student
As the science of theoretical chemistry has matured, its focus has
shifted from analytically solvable problems, such as the atomic
structure of hydrogen, to more complex problems for which analytical
solutions are difficult or impossible to specify. Important
questions about the behavior of condensed phases of matter, the
electronic structure of heavy atoms and the _in vivo_ conformation
of biological macromolecules fall into this class. The powerful,
highly-parallel supercomputers that have evolved from recent
advances in computing technology are ideally suited to the
mathematical modeling of these complex chemical phenomena.
Simulations in which the trajectories of a large number of
interacting bodies must be computed simultaneously, such as
statistical-mechanical Monte Carlo studies or molecular dynamics
simulations, are particularly appropriate for implementation on
parallel machines. I plan to devote my graduate and postgraduate
work to the theoretical study and computational modeling of these
many-body systems.
In preparation for this work, I have developed a strong background
in mathematics and computer science in addition to my coursework in
chemistry. Given the current demand for increased computing
capacity, this background should prove beneficial. For example,
while recent advances in computer hardware alone promise potential
tenfold increases in speed, truly significant jumps in computing
power (speedups of, say, a thousand fold) will require changes in
currently available programming environments and the reformulation
of popular simulation algorithms. Furthermore, until highly-parallel
machines become widely available, even modest increases in capacity
will depend in part upon the innovative use of existing hardware
through the continued modification of available software and the
development of new algorithms. My elective work in computer science
and mathematics should prove useful for both the revision of
existing programs and the eventual development of new programs and
languages specifically designed for the parallel architecture of
tomorrow's supercomputers.
After completing my doctoral work, I plan to seek employment as a
university professor. I believe the rewards of such a position far
outweigh the greater monetary compensation available in industry.
For example, academic scientists are generally allowed a greater
degree of freedom in their choice of research areas. They also
benefit from exposure to co-workers who have a broad range of
experiences. Finally, the satisfaction I have derived from my
undergraduate tutoring and consulting experience has convinced me
that I would enjoy a career in teaching.
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