What is a Research Statement Document?

A research statement is a document that outlines an applicant's research experience, interests, and future goals. It is typically required as part of an application for academic positions, such as postdoctoral fellowships or faculty positions.

Here is a sample research statement:

My research interests lie at the interface of materials science and engineering, with a focus on developing new materials for energy and environmental applications. During my PhD, I worked on developing highly efficient photocatalysts for water purification and organic transformations. My research involved the synthesis and characterization of novel materials, as well as studying their catalytic properties using various spectroscopic and kinetic techniques.

Moving forward, I am interested in exploring the potential of 2D materials for energy conversion and storage applications. Specifically, I aim to investigate the properties of transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) as electrocatalysts for hydrogen evolution and CO2 reduction reactions. I plan to use state-of-the-art synthesis and characterization techniques, including chemical vapor deposition (CVD) and in-situ spectroscopy, to understand the fundamental processes governing their catalytic activity.

In addition, I am interested in exploring the use of machine learning techniques to accelerate materials discovery and optimization. By integrating high-throughput computational methods with experimental techniques, I believe we can develop new materials with improved properties and performance.

Overall, my research goals are to develop new materials that address some of the pressing challenges in energy and environmental sustainability. I believe that my interdisciplinary background, technical skills, and research experience make me well-suited for this research direction. I am excited to continue this work as a postdoctoral researcher under your mentorship.