Yash J Shah Masters in Industrial Engineering (MSIE-Application)Statement of Purpose Specialization- Human Factors and Ergonomics

My main area of interest is the design and development of consumer products. At Purdue University, I wish to join as a Masters (MSIE) student in the Department of Industrial Engineering. I wish to learn more about Human Factors and Ergonomics, as it would help me master skills needed for determining the best solutions to user problems.

During the first year of my undergraduate studies at Dwarkadas J Sanghvi College of Engineering, I had Engineering Drawing as a course. It was my first experience in design. Coupled with courses like Biomechanics, Statistics, and Electronics, I started to develop the skills needed for designing innovative solutions for the consumer. I am always trying to identify limitations we face as humans and thinking of ways to minimize them. My projects, Digital Thermometer, Floor Cleaning Robot and Finite Element Analysis of the Knee Joint under Arthritic Conditions all involved decreasing patient discomfort, easing everyday activities and increasing human performance.

My desire to learn about design and products made me signup for the online course ‘Design Thinking’ and attend various workshops and trainings. JAVA and C/C++ helped me develop computing skills. Participating in the various departmental activities helped me develop my skills as a team member and team leader.

I was really fortunate to have interned as a Product Developer at R&D, Consumer Products Division, Piramal Enterprises Ltd., one of India’s best healthcare companies. Here, I got an opportunity to communicate with the researchers as well as Innovations’ and Marketing executives and learn various product development strategies. I was happy to know that the company is considering working on a couple of the products I suggested. This experience helped me realize the importance of human-centric approach, becoming one of my main reasons in applying for graduate studies.

Given an opportunity, I would like to work at the HIVE lab and their projects like the ‘Food for the Heart’ and ‘ReadingMate’, have been of great interest to me. I wish to work on such human-centric projects under the guidance of Dr. Ji Soo Yi.

I understand that better products and technologies will always be designed for the user, and I wish not to just stand and witness it, I want to be among those who make it happen. Such an inspiring environment is on offer at Purdue and I hope you consider me worthy of being offered it, courtesy my skills in biomedical engineering, interest in unobtrusive user-centered design and passion in ensuring user satisfaction by becoming an efficient ergonomist.

Ever since my schooldays I have been an avid reader. Having read many biographies and autobiographies, I believe that life is indeed a story. I wish to make mine a great one by enhancing the lives of others around me and I hope Purdue gives me a chance to prove my worth. I assure you that I will do my best to make the experience extremely beneficial and memorable for myself as well as Purdue.