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Monique Kirkman-Bey

Personal Statement

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The past three semesters, I have worked two part-time jobs, taken an average of 12 credit
hours per semesters, raised a child as a single mom, and earned a 3.77 GPA. It was not easy, but
they were necessary steps toward my goal of earning a Ph.D. Despite the many obstacles thrown
my way, I have maintained tunnel vision toward this goal, have been able to side step all road
blocks, and I intend to continue in that fashion.
I grew up in Cabrini Green, a Chicago neighborhood that was ranked the worst and most
dangerous neighborhood of the state of Illinois. The things I encountered there led me to want
better and I decided early that I wanted to earn a Ph.D. So, I have worked every day to ensure
that I get there. My journey began when I was admitted to Howard University as a Laureate
Scholar and selected to join the Howard University Science Engineering and Mathematics
Program (HUSEM). I was proud to be the first in my family to pursue higher education.
My sophomore year was the turning point of my academic career for both better and
worse. Let us begin by discussing the good. It was during this year that I took Digital Systems
Design and found the area of Electrical and Computer Engineering I love. I was (and still am)
fascinated with digital logic and the ability to use computers to model and control other systems.
During my senior year, I was selected for my senior design project based on my expertise of
digital logic and reconfigurable computing. My team was asked by Northrop Grumman to create
a Portable Perimeter Detection System to help soldiers detect perimeter breaches and protect
themselves against both surprise attacks and death by friendly fire. The enjoyment of designing
this custom system and applying both new and old knowledge to its development are all reasons
behind my choice to pursue graduate education and the opportunity to perform in-depth research.
As I previously stated, my sophomore year also took a turn for the worse. Even so, I
wouldnt change any of my experiences because they have made me the strong and dedicated
individual that presents herself to you today. During my sophomore year, I was devastated with
the news of my now 7-year-old son, Kameron. I completed a total withdrawal from the university
with the intentions of returning the following spring to retake the courses. Unfortunately, due to
two separate incidents of misplaced paper work, my total withdrawals were not processed,
causing a domino of other issues. Yet, I refused to allow misplaced paperwork to keep me from
achieving my goals. For three full academic school years, I fought to have the mistakes
corrected, and was elated when I accomplished enough to be reinstated in the spring of 2009. I
was not able to resolve all the issues. For example, my transcript still does not properly reflect
the total withdrawal and my scholarship was not reinstated. However, I felt that focusing on my
studies and the uphill battle ahead was a more important use of my energy.
My first semester as a Former Student Returning was the most difficult for me. I
struggled with being a full-time student and a single mom, and I struggled financially. For a
period of two months, my son and I were homeless, and I often couldnt afford to get back and
forth to class. Yet, I continued to strive to stay on top of my studies and improve my GPA. It was

Monique Kirkman-Bey

Personal Statement

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also during this semester that I responded to an essay question posed by the Alltel Words of
Wisdom Scholarship committee and was awarded a $10,000 scholarship for the 2009 academic
school year. From the fall of 2009 onward, my transcripts will reflect an upward trend in both
earned grades and overall GPA. As I became more skilled in time management, I was able to
strike a balance between my responsibilities at home and my responsibilities at school.
In the summer of 2010, I began working part-time as an Apple Specialist and I continue
to work there today. It was during my time at Apple that I fell in love with teaching. As a
Specialist, my primary goal is to educate customers. The technical expertise of the customers I
encounter range from in-depth to none. So, Ive learned to educate people of all levels and
learned that it is something I enjoy doing. This led me to the decision to teach at the university
level, and further justified my decision to pursue a PhD.
I had a taste of teaching at the university level during my first semester at North Carolina
Agricultural and Technical State University when I taught Digital Systems Design lab. I loved
sharing my knowledge with the students and helping them to overcome the all-too-familiar
obstacles of programming FPGA devices and writing VHDL code. It was an experience more
rewarding and enjoyable than I could have ever imagined. Any doubts about my choice to pursue
a career in academia were immediately quelled by this experience.
In addition to teaching, I enjoy research and the rewards of learning, developing, and
applying these ideas to address societal needs. When I first joined my current research group, I
was nervous, scared, and excited about the opportunity all at once. I was asked to work in an area
of Electrical and Computer Engineering that required extensive use of skills where I had no prior
knowledge, and to complete tasks whose names alone sounded foreign. However, the challenge
of the new task excited me and presented me an opportunity to become a more well-rounded
hardware designer. An individual who knows digital system design is favorable, but an
individual who knows both analog and digital system design is invaluable. My experience as a
research assistant with the RF Micro Lab offered me the opportunity to become the latter. I
learned through hands-on work, and self-teaching to design and model high frequency CMOS
integrated circuits. The more I learn about CMOS circuits, the more I want to learn and I look
froward to the opportunity to gain a more in-depth knowledge of the field during my PhD
studies. CMOS design fascinates me, and it is amazing to see how a simple transistor can be used
to design the digital systems I love.
Today, my plans for the upcoming years are clearly outlined. I would like to continue to
perfect my Electrical Engineering and analog skills with high frequency CMOS circuits, and
combine the new skills Ive learned with my love of digital systems design to implement a
system that is currently sought after by the Department of the Navy. In my personal research, I
have confirmed that the Navy is focusing on electronic warfare and next generation technology

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for radar jamming. The research that I have completed for my Masters and the skills I perfected
during my undergraduate work can be applied directly to such a system.
More specifically, I would like to implement the Rotary Traveling Wave Oscillator
(RTWO) circuit that I modeled this past year as a research assistant and for my thesis in a Digital
Radio Frequency Memory (DRFM) design. In a DRFM, a radar frequency is detected when
enemy combatants are attempting to hone in on the precise location of our military planes. This
signal is converted to a digital signal, mixed, and retransmitted as a phase-shifted analog signal
to the radar sender. By phase shifting the signal, and returning it to the sender, our military is
able to foil the detection efforts of anyone wishing to inflict harm on our soldiers.
I would like to make two modifications to the DRFM system. First, I would like to
implement the RTWO as a custom voltage-controlled oscillator or mixer circuit. Since the
research has already been completed on this portion of the circuitry, it would take little time to
design and fabricate. The benefits of such a modification have been proven by both my research
and prior research to include a more linear and reliable signal and a more energy efficient way of
providing frequencies. Additionally, all phases of the signal are inherently available in a RTWO
with little to no distortion, which will greatly reduce the complexity of the overall DRFM system
and the speed at which the phase shifting can occur. Secondly, I would like to make
modifications to the digital component of the system. One of the challenges faced by the military
include portability of systems between old and new technology. By replacing the digital
component of the system with an FPGA or microcontroller, both simple to reprogram and
reconfigure when needs change, this challenge will be easily overcome.
One of the things I have yet to mention is my passion for giving back to those who wish
to follow in my footsteps. My proposed research not only offers benefits to the military, but to
the department and university as well. With the proposed research and the awarded Title III
funding, I will be able to establish a relationship with the Department of Navy and propel NCAT
forward as a research institution capable of delivering beneficial and high-quality work. This will
in turn allow NCAT to be considered for future research and funding. With additional funding,
we will be able to bring on and support more students. However, this research needs to be the
first step and I am ready to rise to the challenge.
It has been difficult working two jobs, attending school full-time, and focusing on my
research. Being awarded the Title III fellowship gives me the opportunity to focus on school and
research extensively without having to work two jobs; So, I can do better. I have already shown
that I am capable of completing the tasks with my additional obligations. Imagine what I could
do if I didnt have those obligations and obstacles. Im asking you for an opportunity to show
you just that. I would like to not only solidify a place for myself in the field, but for NCAT as
well.

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