Nilendra Krishna Nair’s aspiration to combat pollution propelled him to achieve academic excellence. The son of former Assistant Commissioner of Police, Itendra Nair, he left Fiji in 2009 with a Public Service Commission scholarship to study in Canada. Mr. Nair expressed that witnessing the pollution in Nasova during his childhood motivated him to choose this field.
He made history by becoming the first Fijian to earn a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Planetary Health, Climate Change, and Nutritional Epidemiology from Harvard University. Over his thirteen years away from home, determination led him to obtain a double qualification from Harvard, including a Master’s in Epidemiology.
At 31, he currently works as a clinical genetic scientist at Mount Sinai Health System, the largest hospital network in New York City. His upbringing exposed him to environmental injustices, driving his ambition to become a catalyst for change. He shared his experiences of living in the Nasova Police Barracks, which fueled his desire to address environmental issues.
Mr. Nair’s educational journey began at Nehru Primary School and Mahatma Gandhi Memorial High School in Suva, followed by departure to Canada in 2009 without completing Form 7. After two years in Canada, he moved to the United States to continue his studies, completing his PhD in a record four years instead of the typical six.
Reflecting on his time at Harvard, he acknowledged the competitive environment filled with top talent as both challenging and motivating, pushing him to meet high expectations.
Driven by his dream to realize his full potential, Mr. Nair faced moments of doubt but found strength in his parents’ sacrifices for his education. Born in Labasa, he now travels globally, with a focus on genetics and microbiome research to address the rising rates of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in the South Pacific.
He stated, “I’m focused on understanding the genetic basis of diseases in the diverse Fijian population,” noting this area has been largely neglected. Transitioning from biological to clinical research, he aims to fill critical gaps in understanding diabetes and related diseases. His PhD thesis involves collaboration with the Kiribati government, examining factors influencing the nutrition transition in the region.
While on vacation in Suva, Mr. Nair is keen on engaging with the Fijian community and aims to work closely with the Health Ministry and Fiji National University. He has received positive feedback regarding his NCD research and is committed to exploring the underlying causes of these diseases. He underscored the importance of environmental factors in disease development and expressed his goal of focusing on disease prevention for future generations.
Mr. Nair will continue exploring the intersections of climate change, planetary health, and human health at Harvard as the first Fijian postdoctoral research fellow and instructor.