MIT’s graduate school requires applicants to write a statement of objectives, mostly for Ph.D. program. The objectives statement tells MIT why you want to do graduate work in your chosen area of research. The statement should contain technical jargon that reflects your subjective matter expertise.

In short, the statement is a research proposal for graduate studies. Therefore, it should contain the problems you want to solve in your research area and explain your professional goals.

You should format your statement of objectives as follows:

1. Start with a quick opening story to show your commitment to your chosen field.
2. Then, quickly dive into the technical aspects of the projects that you have done and the skills that you have developed.
3. Exemplify and elaborate why your research area is so important.
4. Show that you know the strengths of MIT’s graduate school and the research work currently done by MIT professors in your chosen area.
5. Discuss your short- and long-term goals and how MIT can help you achieve those.

You might also be interested in reading this Sample Statement of Objectives for Ph.D. at Cambridge University.

Sample Statement of Objectives MIT

My father is a professor of Civil Engineering. So, I had an upbringing where I used to accompany him to research laboratories and engineering projects. His passion for making difference to communities through research had a notable influence on my undergraduate major choice.

During my academic and professional endeavors over the past five years, I have always been fascinated by the underlying mechanics and material science that govern structural performance. This has convinced me to pursue further studies through MIT’s Structural Engineering doctoral program. My research interests include the following:

• Durability mechanics of materials and structures.
• Multi-scale modeling of novel construction materials
• Fracture behavior.
• Nano/micro-scale experimentation.

My undergraduate experience has introduced me to state-of-the-art research in concrete fracture mechanics, finite element modeling, and multi-scale experimentation of novel cementitious and composite materials. My notable accomplishments include graduating with five Dean’s Honor Rolls and presenting my research paper at the 9th International Conference on Fracture Mechanics of Concrete & Concrete Structures (IA-FraMCos-9) at UC Berkeley.

Moreover, my professional experience has given me a practical exposure to concrete durability mechanics, condition assessment, and structural design of RC. My career goal is to remain in academia, where I can pursue my research interests and train younger minds. I firmly believe that my previous experience as a research assistant and my position as a teaching assistant make me a suitable candidate for the graduate program at MIT.

My scholastic voyage began in my sophomore year when I took up the position of undergraduate research assistant to Dr. Razi Goyara. I worked on the development of local GFRP rebars for concrete structures as per Aslan-100 specifications. My role was to conduct direct pullout and beam-bond tests to study the effect of bond length, rebar diameter, surface texture, and concrete strength on the average bond strength of GFRP rebars. I also assisted in calibrating and validating the FE model for predicting the average bond stress in direct pullout tests.

The experience has been rewarding as it honed my problem-solving skills and developed a keen interest in going in-depth about problems. Engaging in intense research early on also caused a slight dip in my fall semester grades. It taught me the importance of balancing coursework and research work, which I aptly demonstrated in subsequent semesters.

During the summers, I joined Dr. Bunar Srifha’s research group to work on the development of local bagasse ash as a pozzolanic material for use as a partial cement replacement in concrete. The project was significant in improving the durability of concrete and reducing its environmental footprint due to Ordinary Portland Cement.

I ran a chemical analysis of the calcined bagasse ash sample, classifying it into Class-N pozzolan as per ASTM C 618. Moreover, I was also involved in X-ray diffraction analysis, autoclave expansion test, and determination of different physical properties of the sample. It required a solid understanding of cement-based materials’ experimental techniques and mechanics. Furthermore, the experience introduced me to the exciting area of innovative cementitious materials and their practical application. A research paper relating to the work was also published later.

For my senior year project, I worked with Dr. Hamock Deemah on shear damage modeling of RC beams. The project aimed at accurate damage prediction of RC elements by introducing a massive bond element with elasto-plastic isotropic behavior in steel rebar-concrete interface modeling. The approach was validated through a comprehensive experimental program involving a three-point bending test. Additional tests, such as pullout, were also performed on concrete samples to obtain parameter values of the Mazars plain concrete damage model.

I was involved in designing and conducting the experiments and writing the FE code for simulations in STEM. I particularly valued the simplicity of our modeling approach, which can be used by practicing engineers in predicting the remaining service life of structures, thus eliminating the need for expensive and time-consuming experimentation. Furthermore, the project significantly improved my independent research skills and ability to apply fundamental knowledge in solving complex modeling problems. I won the best senior year project poster award among 57 other projects in my department, and I presented my work (as the first author) in FraMCos-9.

The valuable conference experience at UC Berkeley allowed me to interact and exchange ideas with the leading global research community. It strengthened my persistence in pursuing a career in academia. Listening to enlightening multi-scale fracture and deterioration modeling sessions expanded my horizon and introduced me to numerous exciting areas.

My coursework comprised wide-ranging subjects, including core and advanced-level courses in Structural Engineering. These courses spurred my interest and developed fundamental concepts in respective areas. In addition, I took several mathematics and numerical analysis courses, in which I consistently ranked first in the class. My responsibilities as Teaching Assistant for Construction Materials and Structural Analysis included the design of assignments, quizzes, and grading. It allowed me to identify common conceptual errors among students and provide relevant feedback to instructors. Moreover, conducting regular tutorial sessions enhanced my ability to mentor younger students.

Recent years have seen a shift in efforts towards extending the service life of new structures and improving the effectiveness of repair measures in existing ones. Therefore, I opted for professional experience before continuing to graduate studies to gain practical insights into industry challenges. My induction into the Fertilizer industry allowed me to work on maintaining the RC structures in a chemically aggressive environment. The challenging yet rewarding experience required knowledge of deterioration and transportation mechanisms in RC and various NDTs.

I also designed, implemented, and performance-monitored retrofitting and protective measures on deteriorating structures. One unique solution I employed was using indigenous clay bricks as a protective measure on the concrete floor of the Calcium-Ammonium-Nitrate plant, which generated promising results. Currently, I am working at National Transmission & Dispatch Company as a design engineer for concrete and steel structures of grid stations and transmission lines. During the process, I consistently felt a lack of reliable real-time damage monitoring techniques, as most damage detection is done through visual inspections. Moreover, the industry design practices do not take direct advantage of academic advancements in the durability mechanics of materials due to inadequate knowledge of material-structure-property relationships. Therefore, I think computer modeling can play a vital role, especially at the mesoscale.

My motivation for graduate school lies in the prospect of exciting learning opportunities and investigating the problems that have the potential to improve the quality of life for communities. With its state-of-the-art impact-oriented research projects and world-class faculty, graduate school at MIT gives me an excellent platform to explore my research interest. Moreover, during my visit to MIT last summer, I was drawn to the research facilities and collaborative spirit it offers through the interconnection of departments along the Infinity Corridor.

I am particularly impressed by the research team’s work at Laboratory for Infrastructure Science and Sustainability (LISS). Furthermore, my research interests resonate with that of Dr. Oral Buyukozturk. His MD model for performance prediction of the interface in FRP-concrete systems, which I came across in a literature review, was fascinating because it can be applied at the macro level through multi-scale linkages. Moreover, the work of Dr. Franz-Josef Ulm on the durability and mechanics of materials is intriguing. In addition to research opportunities, MIT has broad coursework options in my field of interest, which will enable me to strengthen my background in the relevant areas.

As a person challenged with speech stammering, I know how much perseverance and determination it takes to achieve one’s goals. I believe that through my thorough academic preparation, high-quality research exposure in mechanics of materials and fracture mechanics, relevant industry exposure, and drive for personal excellence, I will make a valuable contribution to the research community at MIT. Finally, I would like to thank the admissions committee for their time in considering my application.

I look forward to being part of the incoming fall class.