Вы находитесь на странице: 1из 2

STATEMENT OF PURPOSE CAMERON D.

ALEXANDER
As a first-generation college from a hometown having a per capita income of $14,619, I
understand the importance of seeking, seizing, and when possible, creating opportunities for
success and achievement. Classes at Alabama A&M University are smaller, less funding is
available, and opportunities are more limited. Nevertheless, with my drive and dedication to
excellence, I actively took advantage of resources and opportunities as I identified them. With
the exception of mechatronics, the academic curriculum that I will complete in my major is
identical to those at many research intensive institutions. As a result of my experiences
pursuing my undergraduate degree, I have decided that I want to obtain a Ph.D. degree in
Mechanical Engineering so that I will have the skills and training necessary to one day have
my own firm that specializes in the invention and improvement of advanced prosthetic limb
technology.
As a student in mechanical engineering I view the body as a machine with a system of
mechanics to be admired and studied. I became interested in the field of robotics and
prosthetics after reading an article in Smithsonian about how the same technologies driving
the revolution in personal electronics are ushering a new era in bionics. The article also
touched on how new technologies are being implemented to help improve the quality and
usefulness of prosthetics. An additional catalyst sparking my research interest was literature
published by the United States' Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency regarding soldiers
from the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq who received amputations.
Vanderbilt University's mechanical engineering program easily stands out to me, largely
because of its outstanding faculty and interdisciplinary approach to electromechanical devices.
Dr. Micheal Goldfarb, director of the Center of Intelligent Mechatronics, has research interests
in the design, modeling, and control of electromechanical devices and systems. His center
focuses on the design and control of electromechanical devices. Current projects include a
prosthetic arm, a powered exoskeleton, and a powered transfemoral prosthesis. My interests
make me a perfect fit for this lab, which will help me gain skills needed to reach my career
goals.
Design and the creation of new things have been my passions since the day I was born. Being
an artist, I have been equipped with the skills necessary to conceptualize new ideas and bring
them to life. With engineering's central focus being design, I naturally possess the ingenuity,
imagination, knowledge, skill, discipline and judgment necessary to enhance the research of
the Center of Intelligent Mechatronics.
During my undergraduate years at Alabama A&M University, I have completed several co-op
assignments with Alabama Power Company, Rolls-Royce Corporation, and Concurrent
Technologies Corporation. At Alabama Power Company, I worked in the Power Delivery
department, where I utilized proprietary physical files, databases, and construction standards
to independently address and questions that I had. Using proprietary tools, I analyze stresses
and strains on power poles, calculated voltage drop and flicker, and maintained budgets set
aside for each job. I also lead the installation of more than fifteen Capacitor Bank Neutral
Monitors, which saved labor hours and capital by providing advanced warnings about
capacitors that might be offline due to fuse operations.
At the Rolls-Royce Corporation, I assisted with solving engine in-service technical and
operational difficulties. I also I led high consequence event investigations, published technical
variances, and supported safety and reliability initiatives. My work on revising a service
bulletin that addressed design issues with a AE 3007 model turbofan engine saved Rolls-Royce
thousands of dollars.
In Rolls Royce's Transmission Structure & Drives group, I assisted in solving engine production
and design concerns. Also, I independently addressed a design issue through a Product Design
Review process. This resulted in the revision of engineering drawings in order to corrected a
design flaw to improve engine performance and reliability.
With Concurrent Technologies Corporation, I aided in fulfilling government contract and
research and development initiatives. My research was mainly devoted to identifying types of
paints to use for a military paint application and experiments with interchangeable vehicle
camouflage technologies.
Specializing in the field of robotics and prosthetic limbs is a personal and professional
ambition of mine. My long-term goals include heading a research organization that focuses on
developing technologies in the field of prosthetics. Applying mechanical engineering to
biomedical applications in a challenging environment, such as Vanderbilt University, would
help me to hone my research skills to the point where I will be able to achieve such
accomplishments. I intend to use what I learn to generate new ideas for repairing the machine
that remains the most fascinating ever: the human body.

Вам также может понравиться