Real Resume

Pranav Krishnan

MT | 2022 | MS

I'm someone who's driven by exploration; my constant regret is that I was born a few centuries too late to explore and map the Earth. But there's always the stars! I graduated from KGP with a BTech in Metallurgical and Materials Engineering in 2022, and I was lucky enough to find a supportive and nurturing platform that allowed me to grow and explore research, to now be pursuing a PhD in Materials Science and Engineering at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. My research aims to utilise bio-inspiration for additive manufacturing techniques that enable the next century of human innovation in materials and structures. I'm from Kochi, Kerala, and spent half of my childhood in Bengaluru. I live across the world now, but the goals I developed at KGP are strongly imprinted within me, and always will be.

L’s Taken

3 "thank You for Applying But..." Jobs/programs/clubs

Got rejected from GYWS in first year, which is as random as it sounds. One of my aims in college was to volunteer more and help the community around me. I even considered switching from NSO to NSS (don't try this at home, kids). Ended up achieving that goal from my roles at IIT Tech Ambit and as Department Representative.
Rejected from every research internship program, but one. Every lab I cold-mailed to, but one. Every PhD program I applied to, but one. The opportunities that arise are what will work out, if you make them work out. Things happen for the best when you're trying to make them the best.
Wasn't selected for the Inter-IIT Culturals contingent in my 2nd year - it turned out to be the last chance I had to go for one, one of the college checkboxes unticked. You win some, you lose some.

2 Organisations That Weren't a Good Fit

AGV: joined in my first year because I was fascinated by the research group culture at KGP. I'm still a big admirer and supporter of the culture, but ultimately robotics wasn't for me.
My first research project was in a group at KGP working on Biomaterials. Told everyone who cared to listen that Biomaterials was my field of interest. It turned out not be. After some trial and error, I found the research area that was a perfect fit, but only at the start of my 4th year. Could have panicked about time lost, instead tried to make the best of it.

3 Regrets I Have

Not being able to represent KGP at an Inter-IIT.
Spend more time with your friends doing nothing in halls. I'm happy with what I did, but more meaningful moments never hurt. Go on that 2.2; Catch up on someone in their room; Go to the mess along with someone you haven't spent much time with to date.
Not being able to attend my graduation (you win some, you lose some).

3 Things I Thought I'd Finish but Never Did

Meant to write more in college; kept a list of prompts based off of my travels. Maybe I'll yet get to them some day, but never made the time when I should have.
Started a research project outside my comfort zone in computational materials; even though I wasn't the most interested, wanted to see it through because I knew I'd learn a lot. Ended up merely using it as a temporary stepping stone in my CV. A warning that we can lose sight of real growth whilst simply chasing the latest shiny decoration on the CV tree.
Had several academic and research-focused initiatives I introduced as Dept Rep, which may have seen the light of day and/or been more long-lasting had I put in more time and effort to see them through. It's not easy to enact lasting change in the immense inertia of KGP.

2 Things I Tried to Conquer Everyday but Couldn't

Tried to maintain a healthy routine and sleep cycle in KGP on multiple occasions. RIP.
Tried to sustain the motivation and discipline needed to learn material from sources outside my courses, purely to gain knowledge and not for a CV-focused skill. The incentive based Indian education system dies hard.

4 Everyday L's Of Life

You forget your laptop charger in your room and have to go back to get it
Wing washing machine isn't working (again) and you either have to trek to a different continent with your 2-ton bucket of wet clothes, or accept your soggy, damp L
You actually make it to the mess in time, but it's Kadi pakora for lunch
Another cycle tire puncture on the way to XYZ important event (it's 100% a conspiracy by the Cyclewala Mafia)

On the Bright Side

4 Things I'm Proud Of That You Won't See on a Resume

Making my parents proud of who I'm becoming, not by my achievements, but my development as a person
Being a friend who values those who matter to me, and does my best to show that care
Weathering the uncertainty of Covid, and emerging having gained some of the patience I never had earlier
Always making the tough choices, and choosing the more difficult path when it's worth striving for

4 Things I Have Learnt That Will Still Matter in 10 Years

Changing the world includes changing yours too
Your true worth is determined by how much more you give in value than take in payment
Don't fall off the edge; Keep swimming
Its the people in your life that give it the most light - and those connections must be nurtured like a lamp flickering in the wind, or a plant growing into a tree

2 The Stressful Times I Overcame Valiantly

Covid for sure: I'm someone who always had a plan, always built towards achieving those goals. And when the plan didn't work, tear it down and make a new one. Covid tested that to the limit, the great Breaker of Certainty. All my internship and research goals were ruined, all my plans for travel in college thrown into the dustbin. It weathered down all my hopes for the future, both personal and professional, to the point where barely a flicker remained. But I learnt in coming through that, that nothing is more important than keeping that flicker alive and maintaining the belief and strength needed to thrive in uncertainty.
Not many people know this, but for a good 2-3 weeks I thought I hadn't cleared JEE Advanced, let alone get the rank I needed, because I was emailed the wrong answer key (thanks IITK). The apparent 'failure' of not achieving something you staked every fibre of your being on for a prolonged period, made me realise a) the fortitude required to deal with REAL failure, and b) the need to gain purpose from more fundamental premises in life than a few material goals. I often wonder how different my life would have been if that glimpse into an alternate path had been reality, how I'd have grown. I guess we'll never know.

4 Small Joys and Memories I Cherish

Every sunset I've chased with my best friend Ananyaa (definitely the best thing I found at KGP). Also deciding to go look at Mars one random evening in first year
Five of us aimlessly sitting at Food City for over 4 hours, just enjoying the moment and the company, forgetting for a moment the weight of future worries and past doubts
Sitting at Marine Drive at night with Tanay and Shikhar, talking of our dreams for the future and our hopes for each other
Contemplative moments with incredible people, spent on the sands of Orissa, the foothills of Himachal, the rooftops of KGP halls. The ones that make you realise the depths of human connection

4 Things I Am Looking Forward to in the Future

Becoming the person I want to be, creating a lasting impact for people around the world (not ascribing a number to it - even a single person's life changed is changing the world)
Being a part of, and seeing India's growth story
Travelling to the places on the map with mystic allure, the most awe-inspiring landscapes on this planet (and hopefully, someday, beyond this planet too)
Waking up everyday fired up to work on something I believe in

4 Advices That Have Made a Significant Impact

Action is thy duty, fruit is not thy concern (imperfect translation from the Rigveda).
Create relationships with people: be willing to help if it means you doing a small thing would mean a lot to them.
Do not have the hubris of attributing too much of resulting effect to your own actions.
You are your roots: embrace your culture and strive always to learn more of it and strengthen it

1 Tv Shows, Movies, and Books I've Enjoyed

I would recommend Malcolm Gladwell's unofficial trilogy to anyone (The Tipping Point, Blink, Outliers)

Photo Wall

Made with in IIT Kharagpur
by Samarth, Soham, Samyak and Shivin