Don't wait to be "ready", because you never will be. Just say yes, show up and you will figure it out along the way!
Ananya Swaminathan
- Degree: Bachelor of Applied Science
- Grad year: 2025
- Program:
- Campus: Vancouver
Beyond the lab and lecture halls, I’ve immersed myself in student leadership, mentorship, and community-building—from leading UBC Thunderbikes to co-founding a startup that reduces plastic degradation time using fungi. I’ve worn many hats: Teaching Assistant, Council Director, Sr. Orientation Leader, AMS representative etc, and through each role I have learned what it truly means to be an engineer and the power of being involved.
Why did you choose UBC Engineering?
I chose UBC Engineering because it gave me the flexibility to explore different engineering disciplines before locking into a major — which really helped me find my path. The strong academic reputation, especially in applied science, made it feel like a place where I’d be challenged and supported. And the gorgeous campus didn’t hurt either. Knowing there was a big international student community also made me feel like I’d find people who understood what it’s like to be far from home.
How are you applying the skills you learned through your studies?
I apply the skills I gained at UBC in almost everything I do, whether it’s in co-op, academics, or now heading into my full-time job. A lot of my technical and design review skills were developed through hands-on experience as the captain of UBC Thunderbikes, where I led a team of 56 students to design and build an electric racing motorcycle from the ground up. Managing timelines, running simulations, coordinating with sponsors, and troubleshooting complex systems gave me practical knowledge I couldn’t have picked up in the classroom alone. I also really enjoyed the New Venture Design course — it didn’t just teach me how to build a startup, it helped me realize I actually love the process, and had what it takes to build one!
Who or what has made your time at UBC memorable?
The people. Hands down. From my design team members to the Applied Science professional development department. Everyone that I have met at UBC has had some role in making me the person I am today.
My favourite, and also the most stressful, moment was last year’s AHRMA competition. We couldn’t compete because the bike got damaged during transport, hence the stress, but it was still so rewarding to see how far we’d come. When I joined in first year, we were just 6 engineers working out of our captain’s garage. Now, we’re nearly 60 strong and got to present in front of a crowd who loves motorcycles as much as I do, at a professional race. We got a ton of great feedback and important connections, which made it all worth it! Other than that, it was also a great chance to actually get to know the people I was working with and make friends for life.
Also a special shoutout to Minoli — from being my manager in second year to always helping and guiding me throughout my time at UBC, I’m really grateful for all her support!
What advice would you give a student entering your degree program?
The two points of advice I would give incoming students is that get involved, say yes to the things that scare you, say yes to the things that thrill you, you never know where those will lead you. Second don’t be scared to fail, I know it can feel daunting at first but believe me if you don’t fail, you won’t learn, and if you don’t learn you don’t improve.
How did your studies in the Faculty of Applied Science prepare you for the future of work?
Engineering today isn’t about working in isolation. It’s collaborative, interdisciplinary, and mission-driven. UBC gave me opportunities to engage with construction, quantum computing, biotech, and social impact, sometimes all in the same week! The exposure to co-ops, startups, research and public speaking prepared me for the shifting demands of tech.
What is next for you?
I will be joining Turner Construction as an Electrical and Mechanical Project Engineer, in the fall. My role will mainly involve doing multiple design and constructibility reviews for complex MEP projects for high end clients. While also helping draft tenders, contracts and schedules. I will also continue working part-time on my startup Mycolab, which aims to reduce plastic degradation time for 400 years to 2 weeks.
