The reason behind my interest in Toxicology and Analytical Chemistry Ph.D
I apply to the Ph.D. Chemistry and the University of Vienna Graduate Assistant Scholarship Program with a high level of interest. With one year of experience as a Quality Control personnel, laboratory technician, and Quality Assurance Officer, I can apply a unique combination of skills to achieve positive outcomes when managing the challenges of this postgraduate role. I am a graduate of the Dedan Kimathi University of Technology.
I am applying for this program because childhood had many challenges because of the place I grew up. However, the challenges did not stop me from being curious. I was always fascinated by the world, especially its molecular structure and levels. The appearance of different materials fascinated me, ranging from food, water, plastics, and paints. I often wondered how these materials came into existence and how these materials affected the environment.
I was intrigued by these materials, and their effects on the environment were that, while growing up, the discussion focused on global warming, climate change, and the environment as a whole. The major focus of these discussions was the manufacturing industries, which were considered a big contributor to environmental pollution. Since my father worked in a sugar processing industry and the odor that surrounded our town, at the back of my mind, I was convinced that industries were a large contributor to environmental pollution. However, I did not have enough evidence to back this up.
My hypothesis got approved when I joined high school ten years later by being fascinated by chemistry as a subject. This subject fascinated me because it ranged from organic, inorganic, and the physical aspect. The wide range of this subject allowed me to interact with the world at a molecular level. Moreover, the way this subject interacted smoothly with other science subjects fuelled my ardent toward it.
At the undergraduate level, I decided to pursue a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Chemistry. The concentration of different chapters in this course helped me understand why chemical reactions occur and how these reactions could be used to deeply understand organic and inorganic chemistry. A good example of one of the chapters is chemical kinetics; I was fascinated by how different reaction mechanisms could be determined by their rates hence giving us a chance to distinguish SN2 and SN1 reaction mechanisms.
My undergraduate study enabled me to understand how different industries function and operate at a molecular level. The deep understanding of industries and different sectors made me start to do deep research on analytical and toxicology chemistry and its relation to environmental chemistry. These research areas concentrating on analytical and toxicology chemistry led me into deep research on free radicals and how global warming is impacting the current experienced climatic changes.
Furthermore, a lot of knowledge gained in high school and undergraduate subjects has done a great job in helping me understanding analytical chemistry deeper. Participation in extensive math classes ( Calculus, Geometry, and Algebra) has greatly improved my problem-solving skills. The study of analytical and coordination chemistry taught me how to differentiate bonds present in different chemical compounds and how to use them to infer to their structures.
During my undergraduate internship as a quality assurance and control trainee, I managed to change many things in the tannery I was stationed. One of the changes was the introduction of new ways to treat wastewater containing chromium complexes. I solved this issue by introducing a green chemistry treatment alternative to using dried coffee husks. Moreover, in the dying process of processed leather, I realized that the dyes they were using were toxic to the environment. My aim to pursue postgraduate studies focusing mainly on Organometallic chemistry is to pursue the possibility of developing safer organometallic dyes for the leather industry.
Furthermore, my wish is that my graduate Ph.D. studies in chemistry focus on the analytical and Toxicology chemistry to solve the problem of harmful algal blooms formed by microalgae, which kills fish worldwide will have a wide range of application from medicine, agriculture, and manufacturing industries. My part-time research has shown that these microalgae forms can have a wide range of applications in the industries, like in plastic production, industrial catalysts, antifouling paints, wood preservatives, and agriculture biocide products (insecticides, fungicides, and bactericides).
I believe I deserve this opportunity because I am an innovative problem solver. Over the last three years as a student council president and chairperson, I helped re-organize my entire school electoral system to accommodate better today’s students’ needs with concerns about democracy. Moreover, during my undergraduate studies, I was trained in outdoor activities, climbing, and leading a team to climb Mount Kenya three times. This opportunity provided me with the required leadership skills to tackle many problems. I will use the same leadership mindset to obtain my Ph. D. degree in Chemistry, which has always been my dream. My comprehensive hands-on experience and formal training will make me an excellent candidate for this program; the attached CV provides further detail about how my experience as a laboratory technician, Quality analyst, and an outdoor instructor is a match for this position which will further help my goal of as an assistant graduate teacher at University of Vienna
Apart from my studies, I have volunteered in missionary work in one of the missionary communities ( Missionary Community of Saint Paul the Apostle). Moreover, I train people in outdoor activities like mountain climbing, team building, first aid, and hiking techniques.