You’re standing in a humming engineering lab on a rainy Vancouver afternoon, watching a prototype rover crawl across a bed of simulated Martian soil. Behind the monitor, Pranav Rajesh Krishnan is quietly adjusting lines of code—testing, rebuilding, imagining what’s possible next. For him, this isn’t just a project. It’s a doorway.

Growing up between Kerala, India, and Abu Dhabi, Pranav was always captivated by how the world works—how systems move, how materials behave, and how data can help us model what we cannot see. That early fascination led him to UBC, where he is now pursuing a combined honours degree in computer science and physics and discovering just how far interdisciplinary science can take him.

Pranav’s journey to UBC was made possible by the Karen McKellin International Leader of Tomorrow Award, which recognizes exceptional international students for their academic excellence and demonstrated leadership—and fully funds his four-year education. Before receiving it, UBC felt out of reach.

“Receiving the award changed everything,” he says. “It allowed me to come here, study what I love, and be part of communities that inspire me to give back.”

Now in his second year, Pranav is immersed in hands-on research and design work—exactly what first drew him to UBC. He is deeply interested in experimental and computational physics, including quantum matter, particle accelerators, and the cutting-edge research happening in UBC facilities such as TRIUMF and the Stewart Blusson Quantum Matter Institute.

Beyond the classroom, his passion for building and problem-solving has placed him on some of UBC’s most ambitious engineering and space-focused design teams. On UBC Rover, he helps develop the software systems that power competition-ready rovers capable of autonomous tasks on rough terrain.

With UBC Orbit, he works on thermal simulations and payload testing for a student-designed satellite set to launch through the European Space Agency. He also contributes to simulation work with the Pacific Rim Space Exploration Corporation, supporting applied research in the rapidly evolving space sector.

Each of these experiences broadens the interdisciplinary lens Pranav brings to physics.

“I’ve always loved building things and understanding how they work,” he says. “These projects show me how computational physics, robotics and data can come together to solve real problems.”

Most importantly, donor support allows him to participate fully—to study, research, collaborate and dream, without the weight of financial barriers.

“I wasn’t able to afford this university before,” he says. “The scholarship lets me pursue research, and learn from mentors and alumni who’ve walked this path before me.”

Looking ahead, Pranav hopes to continue expanding his work at the intersection of physics and technology—developing tools and systems that support scientific discovery and improve life for communities around the world.

“I hope science can help more people in the future than it already does today,” he says. “And I’d like to be part of that.”

Supported by donors, students like Pranav are pushing scientific innovation forward—unlocking the door to possibility for communities everywhere.