Few people would want to change their career, having found success with a clear pathway, but not Ananthan. Despite having a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Kerala Technical University and a master’s in Manufacturing Technology from the National Institute of Technology, Calicut, he was not about to rest on his laurels as he set his sights on the sky.
“The professors teaching the modules of the Master of Science in Aerospace Engineering programme in Singapore are the main chairs of the faculties at TUM in Germany. They offer the same internship opportunities in Singapore as well. After a 3-month internship with Flight System Dynamics, I was exposed to various specialisations within Aerospace Engineering. One thing led to another and I currently am pursuing a nine-month internship with Volocopter in the Flight Science department. This experience was immensely valuable and I was truly lucky to secure an internship opportunity in Prof. Holzapfel’s Chair,” Ananthan said.
“The professors teaching the modules of the Master of Science in Aerospace Engineering programme in Singapore are the main chairs of the faculties at TUM in Germany. They offer the same internship opportunities in Singapore as well. After a 3-month internship with Flight System Dynamics, I was exposed to various specialisations within Aerospace Engineering. One thing led to another and I currently am pursuing a nine-month internship with Volocopter in the Flight Science department.However, it was not so long before he led a vastly different life.
“I used to work at a technical consultancy firm before teaching at the Kerala Technical University as an Assistant Professor.” He said.
His extensive knowledge in the manufacturing realm would have allowed him to find success easily in any specialised role. However, a stint at the Indian Space Research Organisation ignited his passion for aerospace engineering and changed his career trajectory ever since.
“I had the opportunity to work as a graduate apprentice at the Indian Space Research Organisation for a year, and it opened my eyes to the world of aerospace engineering,” said Ananthan.
Few had the opportunity to peer backstage and witness the full magnitude of the technology harnessed in today’s aircraft, let alone in space. For Ananthan, his stint at the Indian Space Research Organisation sowed the seeds of becoming an aerospace engineer. firmly in his heart.
He sought PhD research roles in the Aerospace Engineering industry, hoping to leverage his experience in India to bolster his chance to enter the industry. Yet COVID-19 happened, pushing his dream further from his reach.
“I exhausted most options. Then, I chanced upon TUM Asia, which offers the Master of Science in Aerospace Engineering. It was exactly what I needed to find my launchpad in the aerospace engineering domain,” he said.
“The absolute winning factor here is that I could learn from German professors not too far from home. It was not an easy decision; I was doing well as an Assistant Professor. But the academic distinction scholarship offered by TUM Asia was very encouraging, and it gives me the courage to seize the opportunity,” said Ananthan.
He decided to take the plunge.
For students with little background knowledge of Aerospace Engineering, taking a Master of Science degree is a considerable leap. What’s more for Ananthan, who had left school for over four years. However, that did not stop him for a second from pushing through what he had set for himself.
“The curriculum offered at TUM Asia was so well planned that even a non-aerospace-engineering bachelor’s degree could bridge the knowledge gaps. The class sessions were organised so that many of the classes started with establishing the right foundational knowledge. I could keep up easily even as the lessons get increasingly intense,” he added.
Life was certainly not a bed of roses for him. His income was cut entirely as he had to give up his full-time job in India to come to Singapore for the programme.
His hard work and exemplary academic performance paid off, for he managed to clinch the DAAD-TUM Asia Scholarship award four times during his academic year, which helped defray his living expenses even as his savings were depleting.
Being an engineer in India before, he was fully cognizant of the extensive suite of technology available in India.
“They were mostly coming from Germany. We are also mostly referencing our knowledge and technological know-how from Germany. So it was a dream come true to learn from German professors about their technology,” Ananthan said.
“The growth of the aerospace industry is evolving rapidly. It is the era of EVTOL systems now, and we can see numerous applications of the technology across various industries. I am proud to be able to work in this field as an aerospace engineer. It makes me feel like I am part of a bigger dream taking form right before me,” he said.
For the foreseeable future, it looks as though his wish to make an impact in the aerospace engineering space with the skill set he acquired not only at Prof. Holzapfel’s Chair, but across the various specialised domains of Aerospace Engineering will come true.