Karthikeyan "Karthick" Pandi is a PhD student in the Faculty of Dental Medicine. He grew up in Madurai, a city in southern India, and is the first in his family to pursue a higher education. He studied biotechnology, earning a BSc at Thiagarajar College in his hometown, and then a Msc from Alagappa University, two hours away. He decided to dedicate himself to dental research after a dear friend and neighbor lost their life to oral cancer.
Having been exposed to HUJI research and publications, Karthick chose to study at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem because it would best prepare him for a career conducting dental research. He currently studies the way in which P. gingivalis, the bacteria that causes periodontal disease, evades the human immune system.
"My education has given me a solid foundation for a career in research, and I am so glad I made the decision to come here. … I am lucky enough to have access to everything that HUJI can offer."
Moving to a foreign country, Karthikeyan wasn’t sure what to expect. He’s surrounded by different languages and is working to learn both Hebrew and Arabic. “I have been enjoying the peace of Shabbath, which you can't find in India,” Karthikeyan says. He enjoys immersing himself in the beauty and history of the Old City.
But in the present, Karthikeyan has found that the University is an excellent way to encounter different cultures and communities, alongside a rigorous academic program. He says, “Apart from the difficulties associated with the language, HUJI seems the best in its hospitality for foreign students.”