1.

academic qualifications:
I am a civil engineer, graduated from Zaman University with high honor through achieving
an overall GPA of 3.65. During my undergraduate years, I have conducted internships both
abroad and locally. In my second year, I interned at SOMA Construction and Development
Co.,Ltd, which is currently the company that I am working at as a civil and structural
engineer, the one who would do the structural design and structural detailing for the
construction workers to build accordingly. And, in my third year, I interned at a construction
company in Turkey, known as Dogukan Yapi, under one of their huge condominium
projects, Westgate, a building structures with a total of 33 floors. During that internship, my
team was assigned by the supervisor to do the Bill of Quantity as well as site control.
Besides that, I have also taken parts in many of the community service project such as
Angkor Sankran, Habitat for Humanity and serve as a board member in Civil Engineering
Club at my university which further developed my interpersonal skills and communication
skills.
2. What are you planning to study in the US?
My field of research would be cold-formed steel structures, focusing on the design for the
use as either beams or columns. I have always been amazed by the steel structures
compared to the concrete structures due to their top-notched properties such as their
lightweights, high strength-to-weight ratio, long-term performance (termite resistance &
moisture tolerable) and rapid-assembly properties. So, due to the space constraints and
architectural demands, certain design and use of the steel structures must be taken into
accounts to meet the desired standards. On the other hand, cold-formed steel structures
which is relatively a new and contemporary topic compared to other building structures
with its age only around 80 years. Mostly prone to the buckling failures such as local,
distortional, flexural and lateral-torsional buckling, an intensive research to study the
performance behavior of the steel structures would bring a step closer to the advancement
of the cold-formed structures. Furthermore, it is a fact that George Winter of the United
States is considered as the grandfather of cold-formed steel structures. So, for me, it
would be inspiring to study what you like in its birth land.
3. Y us over other countries:
US undoubtedly is a place where I can optimally conduct my research for two main
reasons: the state of art technology in the engineering field and the chance to be exposed
to the greatest technology available in the renowned land of United States. To begin with,
the majority of research regarding steel structures, specifically cold-formed steel
structures, is conducted in the institutions of United States. US sophisticated and
advanced technology in laboratories undoubtedly is able to provide an environment where
all necessary testing conditions can be fulfilled. Furthermore, it is an undeniable truth that,
just by hearing or learning the theories will not fully complement the mechanism needed to
construct the building structures with the optimal result. There has to be an evenly
matched interaction between the theoretical knowledge and the experience gained by
exposing ones self to the field. Therefore, with the on-going research and cold-formed
steel building structures being constructed, I am highly enthusiastic and positive that US
will provide me the best experience of all the countries.
4. How will it benefit the society?

First of all, it will ensure a reduction in construction wastes either from construction sites or
manufacturing sites. Unlike concrete which wastes are extremely a lot as can be seen in
the demolishment of buildings as well as on-going construction projects, the steel
structures produce a very small portion to the wastes (with less scraps and site wastes) if
one were to compare between the two construction materials. Furthermore, steel can be
almost 100% recyclable for usage into either the same products or other products such as
cars and bridges.
Secondly, cold-formed steels cost comparatively less than the conventional hot-rolled I
steels due to its light unit weight, ease of construction and ease of transportation. This
enables the probable future usage in Cambodia whereby developments are on-going, and
as economic and other developments are going, surely the construction demands will
follow. Therefore, a building structure with cheaper costs, rapid completion, and safer
structures, will allow the cold-formed steels to be the most prominent candidate for the
selection of construction materials.
Last but not least, as global initiatives towards the environment are undertaken with
profound measures, contributions from the construction industry, in which case it accounts
for a major proportion of energy consumption, has to be as influential as possible. Hence,
developing an approach, through designing energy efficient structures, towards energy
efficiency seems to be an astute solution. Therefore, by using the cold-formed steel
structures which are convenient for connections, many more complicated designs
regarding insulating materials can be further encouraged for improvements.
5. what are your strength and weaknesses?
As a student who has never been exposed to international learning environment, lacking
adaptability to different learning environment would be a common case. However, due to
the fact that I have interned abroad at Turkey in a working environment and meeting
different people as well as studying with other nationalities during my undergraduate
studies, I believe that I do possess the adaptability to learn in different environment even
though I didnt get the chance to study abroad during my undergraduate study. Moreover,
my positive attitude, assiduousness in both learning and working environment as well as
willingness to admit mistakes have played a prominent role in boosting my
communications among the teams at every environment. However, sometimes, I am afraid
that my theoretical knowledge in the school will get the best of me due to the fact that I am
quite confident to take a stance on the side which I firmly believe that it is the correct path.
And sometimes, theories and experiences do not go well together which might cause
chaos during teamwork project.
6. why me over others?
I believe that after what I have mentioned above, my experiences, my work ethics, and
theoretical knowledge that I have gained from my university and working place would be
satisfactory for me to conduct successful research in the United States. Honestly, I do not
prefer having too much pride in myself. If someone far better suit to do their research than
me, I would be glad to congratulate him since his success would mean a more sustainable
and superior development for Cambodia and perhaps, for the future of the mankind as a
whole.
7. challenges that could be faced upon learning in the states?

First of all, I think that it would take some time for me to adapt into the learning
environment of the country. No matter where you have been even locally, every new
environment would make u feel like an outsider. However, I am confident that this issue
could be solved quite easily after some time due to the fact that the universities in the
United States have diverse and friendly environment, which consist of many different
nationalities. Secondly, it would be the support network. As the old saying goes, there is
no other place like home!, going to another country even for a short period of time would
make you feel missing home due to the loss of support network from your local friends and
family. However, this could also be solved after some time since I am quite good at
communications, so i believe that i would be able to set up another support network
through having more friends. Moreover, in this technological age, I can always contact my
family in a very short time through internet.
8. goals after completion of the degree?
Upon completion of my graduate studies both masters and post-doctoral degrees, I intend
to implement the knowledge and research that I have learned and done at the states for
application in my home country. Simultaneously, I would also intend to share my
knowledge and experience that I have gained with my younger generations. I believe that
it would be a waste by not spreading the knowledge that I have just learned to the younger
generations. Therefore, while I still remember most of the theoretical and practical
knowledge I have received from the United States, I will share with those youngsters
through taking parts in talks, classes and meetings as much as I can. Then, along the way,
I will try to implement what I have found and learnt through the research into the practice
for better building structures in Cambodia.

9. back when i was just a middle school student, that was the time i first started to really begin using
my english to communicate with other people. I was a very shy boy in the english class, and due to
the teasing of my pronunciation from my friends as well as peer pressure, as much as i can, i would
avoid every circumstance that force me to speak in english in class. However, one day, with the
same friends who teased me, we went together to a nearby market for breakfast. a lost foreigner was
trying to find a way back to her hotel. and none of my friends dare to speak in english with her. so, i
confronted her with all my might and able to show her the direction back to her hotel. after that, i
gain a lot of confidence in communicating with people as well as using my english skills to some
extent for the helps in my parents business since then.