Public Policy

As I was looking for a job, I came across this non-profit organization that does research to advise the current public policy or guide a future one. This struck a chord with me as I am a firm believer of improving human welfare through a more people-centered instead of politician-centered policy. So I applied, although I was not so sure if I am the right candidate. Anyway, I tried to sell myself by tying my past experience and personal disposition with this organization’s core values. This turned out not an easy task. I struggled days in composing my cover letter. The result that I have now doesn’t look particularly satisfactory to me but that’s the best I can do. And I have submitted it.

Basically, I identified the similarities between the goal (in its broad sense) of this organization and the World Leadership Education Foundation (WLEF) in Taiwan, and how my experience with WLEF can contribute to this organization. And also why the “broad” personal interests can potentially diversify the research in this organization. This may sound cheesy, but at least I sincerely said what I want to say.

Some excerpts from the cover letter:

Part of my dissertation is the joint research effort with Mitsubishi Electric Research Labs in Cambridge, MA. This industrial experience has reaffirmed my interest and commitment to conducting research towards a practical end. In fact, the core value of research, to me, rests in its practicality — from improving cell phone users’ daily experience to making positive impacts on humanity as a whole. The self-fulfillment from solving real-world technological challenges in my Ph.D. study has both fostered my confidence and enlarged my capacity of making similar contributions to other aspects of life.

Research that is directed specifically towards public affairs is, to me, one of the most direct and substantial ways to make such a contribution. Many challenges facing humanity today can be better resolved with a carefully calibrated public policy. This ever-growing belief, along with my sense of obligation for the society and people, has motivated me to be a founding member of World Leadership Education Foundation (WLEF), a Taiwan-based non-profit organization. WLEF has dedicated to educating young leaders to approach various public issues with open-mindedness and to raise public awareness of such issues with people-centered and love-guided leadership skills. The short yet rewarding learning experience from 2000 to 2002 has intensified my interest in public issues and deepened my sense of responsibility for the society and people.

Public policy has a multi-disciplinary nature. My broad personal interests and my professional training in one of the largest research groups have collectively equipped me with a multi-disciplinary mindset. With its 40 Ph.D. students each working on vastly different subjects, my Ph.D. research group provided me with a rare opportunity of cross-disciplinary discussion and presentation. Over the past five years I have learned to appreciate various disciplines in Electrical Engineering and communicate effectively on them. On the other hand, my personal interests have also nourished my multi-disciplinary mindset. As an eight-year meditator, a casual yoga practitioner, and an earnest learner of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), I am interested in complementing my engineering perspectives on improving human life by pursuing studies such as “How the inner contentment developed through meditation can reduce the crime rate” or “A look inside the anti-aging benefits of simple preventive self-care practices based on TCM.” I believe this unique mix of professional knowledge and personal interests will allow me to excel in addressing social policy issues and enrich xxx’s existing array of research.

(I have removed the organization’s name.)

Let’s wait and see what happens… Wish me good luck…