Statement of Purpose

Hi folks, this is the Statement of Purpose which brought me to the Lund University, MAX-lab. I wrote this in around 3 hours, I'm publishing it here, so you don't bother writing a new one ;). Also I want to thank Alper Çelik, because I have taken couple of sentences from his S.o.P.

When I learned how to read and write at the age of 4, I met the joy of learning things. After that, my life has been all about asking questions and learning. When I started to study at the age of 5, two years earlier than normal school age in Turkey, my passion of learning got even bigger. When grow-ups asked me about what I am going to be in future, the one and only answer I gave them was "scientist". I was caught by excellence of the science.

After the University Entrance Exam, all of my choices were chemistry or other natural sciences. Then, in the first year of university, I had a chance to get in the modern physics world. I must admit, I was impressed. In next 3 years, while I am studying chemistry, I was trying to keep up with the developments in modern physics. Here I have to say something really bothered me. In my 3rd year, I wanted to improve my skills in modern physics by following lectures in our Physics Department. However, a lecturer, who gives the Introduction to Particle Physics course, did not even let me listen his lessons, and gave me no reason. What would one do in that case? I went home and prepared a presentation. The title was "Particle Physics and Standard Model". The only person I invited from our Physics Department, the one and only member of CERN in our university, said he is totally impressed.

In summer 2008, I had to work as an intern in any field related to chemistry. I choosed the best possible place to work closely with Nuclear Sciences, Cekmece Nuclear Research and Training Center. After my obligated one month work, A. Fadıl Akgun, a general advisor there requested me to stay another month to work with him. Of course, I eagerly accepted this request. Besides, in that summer I attended to 4th National Summer School on Particle Accelerators and Detectors in Turkey, organised by Turkish Physical Society and that's where I met the Synchrotron Radiaton, its applications, FEL's and many more concepts about accelerators. I guess there is no need to mention I was the only chemist there. It was the event which introduced me to MAX-Lab.

MAX-Lab, the only laboratory of its kind in Sweden, looked as a very amazing place to study - or work - for me, because I have been to Sweden twice before and I was already impressed by the people living here. Their respect to each other, their respect to nature was showing that the people here are living in a great harmony. Also I must say I have a belief that studying at MAX-Lab as a Master's Degree student would be a unique opportunity to enrich my knowledge in the fields of my interests and to continue the career path I have started in an academic environment and I intend to follow this up with a Ph.D.

In Fall Semester 2008, I was an instructor in the laboratory of Nuclear Chemistry I course. My thesis advisor Prof. Turan Unak had troubles with finding Ph. D. students with enough experience in Nuclear Chemistry, then I came up with an idea, I said I could do it because including this Nuclear Chemistry I course, I took three courses from Prof. Unak before. He accepted this proposal and then as 7 diploma work students of his, we assigned to work every week as an instructor for 3rd grades in the course. As the course ended last week, students kept telling me they really like my experiments. It was a delightful job to me, actually it was everything to me but a job. Nowadays, we are working intensively on our diploma works with my friends and Prof. Unak. My specialized subject is about coding a computer software which can calculate the behaviors of F-18 radioactive isotope in a cell using Monte Carlo calculations and its consequences. Other research areas of us includes new aspects in PET imaging, using F-18 isotope with novel studies and so on.

Since we dont have any research objected particle accelerator, studying in the field of Synchrotron Radiation Based Sciences is nearly impossible in Turkey. MAX-Lab gives me the opportunity for studying in a cutting-edge research field. Including Sweden's countless chances for scientists working there, I am very ambitious about working in MAX-Lab Synchrotron Radiation facility. I have to say that science is the job I can do until I die. I remember Alfred B. Nobel once wrote in a letter as an answer to a question asking where he lives; "Home is where I work, and I work everywhere". Taking all these benefits of Sweden and my addiction to science into account, I eagerly want to study in MAX-Lab und jag önskar innerligt att Sverige skall bli mitt nya hem.

Ümit Selahattin Öner

after a long time...

Last time I posted a blog was about 3 months ago right ? I'm sorry about that, but that's because I know no one reads my blog. Honestly, I don't really feel sad about it. So be it.
Today, I can tell many news but I guess I won't remember some of them again.
Where were we last time ? Yea, my TOEFL Score was announced : 104 over 120. That's awesome ha ? ^^It's only the beginning of the story...^^

I took 7 classes in fall semester and I succeeded - ALL OF THEM - yea ALL !
Actually there are some happenings but who cares, I passed ALL.

Then, the Germany thing. The training course, organized by European Commission - Joint Research Center - Institute for Transuranium Elements: 1st Advanced Training Course on Illicit Trafficking and Consequence Management with Nucleonica. I made an application for participating in this course, because if I got accepted, they would cover my travel and accomodation expenses.
I also want to mention that this course will be organised in Karlsruhe - Germany, where I would go if I were the Erasmus student of my department. So this is like an answer to the person who selected the Erasmus student ha ? isn't it ? I think absolutely it is...
After the selection made, I got an e-mail, in which they mentioned I got ACCEPTED. If you couldn't read, let me say that again, "ACCEPTED". Now only thing I have to do is prepare some documents for visa and for reimbursement of my money. The rest is joy. I will be in Karlsruhe for 10 days I hope.

Another thing, which excites me the most, is Sweden. After some e-mail traffic with Prof. Schröder, I got the news that I fulfill all the requirements and therefore -inşallah- I will be accepted to the Lund University - MAX-lab - Master Programme on Syncrotron Radiation Based Sciences. On studera.nu, now it says : PLACE GUARANTEED as my application condition. If this happens, you will absolutely see it here the minute I find out.

Now, my midterm exams are about to begin. I only have 5 classes this semester, and I am hoping to pass them all easily. Let's all hope that happens. :P
That's all for this time I think, I don't want to keep it longer and get you bored. If you want to ask me ANYTHING but ANYTHING, just write me, leave a comment here, e-mail me or something like that....

One last thing, I will soon publish the "Statement of Purpose" which I wrote to Lund University - MAX-lab for my application.

Jag älskar Sverige !!! Hejdå !!!

Am I cursed ???

On friday, I sent all necessary documents to "studera.nu" by mail. However, I forgot to do something about it. On website, it was clearly mentioned that every document should be stamped and signed by issuing institution. So, I made my transcript and letter of graduation stamped by my school, however I forgot -actually never thought of it- to stamp my copy of passport. Now, my documents are on the way to Sweden. I don't know what to do. I guess my best choice is having a stamped copy of an ID and send it on Monday for being attached to other documents afterwards. If this works out, I would be really glad. I will try this. Hope it works.

On Wednesday morning, I wrote my Statement of Purpose in 3 hours. It wasn't flawless of course but everyone who read it said it's great. I will publish it here soon. Keep watching.

Also my TOEFL score is going to arrive studera.nu after 1 February, the deadline. I mailed to MAX-lab and they said it's ok for them. I am a little bit relieved, now waiting for the TOEFL score which I think will be announced around February 1st.
Now, it is just the day before my finals' beginning. I will begin with "Instr. Analysis 2", then "Biosensors" on Tuesday, "Inorganic Chemistry III" on Thursday, between 22 - 27 I will have 5 days break and on 27th Jan., Tuesday, I'll have "Indust. Processes I", 28th "Organic Chemistry III", 29th Thursday "Analysis in Organic Chem." and "Intro. Polymer Chem.". That's all I have. If I pass all of 'em then I might be considered as graduated. ;)
Now, I did not even read one page about exams and considering about doing well on all of them. That's kinda ridiculous, I'm aware. Although I am that much lazy, I still have the spirit. I'm going to rock their sox off!

Spirit for Sweden.

Jag älskar Sverige !!!

HEJDÅ !!!