Motivation Letter for PhD Application

"Junior Lecturer" That's awesome. Your letter certainly shows your passion for and knowledge of the subject. I saw very few "corrections". (Minor typos) I have a suggestion that you might consider. I think you should end the first sentence at "... 3.76.". I understand that you want to impress them with your employment right away, but I think your letter itself is impressive. Also, I don't think your current employment really "fits" with the introduction. I think it would be better to save that as a nice "surprise" and start the 5th paragraph with "I am currently working for..."
I think "natural resources conservation" and "resource management" should be in quotes.
I'll read it again and get back to you with anything I think could or should be changed.

If you like my suggestion about the 5th paragraph, you should delete "such as XXX" from what would then be the second sentence.

5th "...typically 'involves'..."

6th- "The objective of the index 'is' to raise awareness..."

8th- I think you should say "...that I will receive..." (More formal)

6th- "Currently, I am..."

1st- "... as 'a' tool..."
3rd.- "...methods, theory, and application..."
actors
"...approach 'to' sustainable..."
"...government, organizations, and citizens."
(Comma/list rule: In a list of three or more items, place a comma before "and" (A, B, and C)
"...environmental, and social goals."
"...business economics, and accounting..."
4th- "...its industry, and factors..."
"...historical data, and analyzing the financial, operational, and investment..."
In the sentence "management's decision"- I'm not sure, but I think it should be "pay out" (two words) (as a verb)
"payout" would be the noun. (The earnings paid out) You could just say "pay earnings".
In the last sentence, (paragraph 4), I would change " as to" to "and thus".

Or you could say "so as to".

Hi Ponderer! I really appreciate your help I've revised the letter based on your suggestions and selected "so as to" as the most appropriate fit for the 4th paragraph "as to" change. Please let me know if you have any further suggestions. Thank you for your help ^_^

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My name is xxx. I am a recent MBA graduate with a GPA of 3.76. I am writing to apply for the PhD Candidate/Junior Lecturer in Business Economics with the project topic of “Climate reporting as a tool for climate control.”

I became acquainted with the terms “natural resources conservation” and “resource management” from time spent at summer camp in the Pacific Northwest. As each summer camp passed, my appreciation for environmental research deepened. Time spent volunteering and participating in youth forest conservation projects instilled a commitment to be an active citizen for biodiversity conservation. Furthermore, the experience has evoked a desire to contribute and improve existing research on sustainable development.

My graduate coursework provided me theoretical knowledge including economic models: methods, theory, and application of tools used by companies in their holistic approach to sustainable development. The classes enriched my understanding of the actors of sustainable development such as the government, organizations and citizens. I gained insight on common goals to sustainable development including economic, environmental, and social goals. My coursework examined various case studies in which management’s perceptions of various types of stakeholder influences in different industries affect the type of sustainable practices each firm adopts in their respective industry. Economic tools taught in my finance, business economics, and accounting classes will help me to apply tools such as scenario analysis to improve the quality of existing climate reports.

My MBA thesis researched the life cycle of LQ45 Index listings of Indonesia Stock Exchange and the impact it has towards the dividend distribution behavior and payout level of 17 listed stocks. The research involved analysis of the firm, its industry, and factors that affect management’s decision to retain or pay earnings to shareholders. It involved quantitative research, a five year span of historical data, and analyzing the financial, operational and investment patterns of selected firms. The qualitative research involved an economic analysis of macroeconomic variables that affect the growth and the rate of the growth for each firms’ industry. A stakeholder analysis also examined the affect each actor found in the business ecosystem has towards management’s ability to control its payout level. Valuation models used in my previous research will help me to translate climate change risk into financial implications so as to increase the volume of disclosures to be included in annual reports.

I am currently working for a Big 4 accounting firm such as xxx has increased my ability to research, analyze and present key components of management’s decision making process. It includes analyzing, justifying and presenting firms decision making process in altering or reinventing a business process and strategy. Examining countless financial and annual reports, appraisals and agreements has enabled me to map a company’s transaction and link it to its financial statements. My research typically involves qualitative research of the firm’s geographical region, industry, competitors, business function and quantitative analysis of the firm’s financial performance. My findings provided an economic analysis of the firm’s transactions and presented a detailed explanation of the benefits and utilization; steps in choosing the selected method, application of the research method, creating or implementing a qualitative and quantitative benchmark and justification of the company’s financial position. The scope of work generally involved creating benchmark studies using company reports, agreements and annual reports gathered from commercial databases such as Thomson Reuters and Bloomberg. Experience with analyzing the functions, assets and risks of a firm and effect on its business operation will prepare me to improve the quality of strategic and risk management disclosures associated with climate change reporting.

Currently, I am conducting research with my undergraduate professor on the performance of Sri Kehati Index of Indonesia Stock Exchange when compared to the composite index, IHSG. The Sri Kehati index follows the standard and regulation of Sustainable and Responsible Investment. The objective of the index is to raise awareness and consciousness through biodiversity conservation programs for the public, business sector and capital market. The research aims to identify the price volatility of green index compared to the composite index, specifically during significant changes in foreign exchange rates of United States Dollar to Indonesia Rupiah. My goal is to demonstrate the stability of a green index compared to the composite index due to transparent practice, regulatory adherence, reputation and both public and investor sentiment towards green companies.

The combination of my knowledge from graduate school along with the experience gained from working at xxx exemplifies the ideal PhD candidate to bridge the gap found in climate change disclosures. I seek to contribute to the topic of climate reporting by answering key questions regarding the status quo of international climate change reporting regimes; comparing mandatory versus voluntary disclosure schemes and effect on reducing CO2 emissions; and analyzing investors’ reaction to climate-related disclosures. Research at xxx will reinforce my knowledge on environmental economics and put these concepts in practice to achieve sustainable development.

The high caliber of technical skills I will receive from your institution will hone my research skills in improving the quality of climate reporting to achieve our shared goal of a carbon neutral economy. Pooling of my abilities and an earnest passion for research will complement xxx University’s impressive network of creative professionals. I am committed to deliver a fresh perspective, industry experience, unclouded judgement and an open mind eager to absorb and apply the knowledge and experience of your talented academicians to benefit the field of business economics and future society. Selecting me translates to a PhD candidate eager to contribute to climate reporting as a contrivance to influence the decisions of policy makers, key groups and corporations.