was born and raised in Moscow. At first, I studied at a regular school, but then I learned about a physics and mathematics school and enrolled there. Despite the strong emphasis on physics and mathematics, I was interested in languages. Since the age of 16, I started looking for programs to apply to by reading about various fields. I attended university fairs, but I lacked personal stories from graduates. In the end, I decided to explore the opportunities on my own.

I had an interest in Oriental studies, but I thought it would be easier to pass physics and mathematics and find something interesting. After the test, I was recommended to become a linguist or an engineer, but engineering sciences did not attract me. I began searching for universities with programs in biotechnical systems and technologies and became interested in Bauman Moscow State Technical University and MAI, as they offered a program in "Biotechnical Systems and Technologies." From the description, it seemed interesting to work at the intersection of two fields since I also have an interest in medicine; my whole family are doctors.

The first two years of studying at MAI were challenging due to high expectations. In the first year, students study intensively, and I was worried because my Saturday classes conflicted with Korean lessons at the embassy. I suggested to my professor that I submit all my coursework at once, but she insisted that I participate in a conference organized by the department. This became my first step into the scientific community and sparked my research interest; that’s when I felt engaged in science.

At the Gagarin Readings, my professor suggested that I create a review of terminology related to my topic, which was my first experience working with literature. This ignited my interest in academic life within the department, and I began actively participating in projects, frequently visiting the department and asking about opportunities. I started exploring biotechnology and realized that it is a broad field encompassing both engineering and biological aspects.

I find it difficult to choose just one area and always consider various directions that have variations. Biology doesn’t completely interest me, but there are fields where I can combine two directions—doing hands-on work and engaging in activities that can ultimately impact the quality and longevity of human life.

I first learned about Skoltech through a news article about Professor Ekaterina Khrameeva in the year she won the L'Oreal UNESCO Award for Women in Science. I was interested to see how women develop in the academic environment.

In her interview, she mentioned that she works on DNA packaging projects and researches oncological and neurodegenerative diseases. Through that interview, I became curious about what is happening and where she works. This is how I found out about Skoltech. After that, I wanted to understand in detail how her laboratory operates.

I was so eager to find someone I could ask about Skoltech that I went on a major tutoring platform and found the only person there—a girl from the "Life Sciences" program. Later, we prepared very thoroughly for the interview together.

I also wanted to know very specifically what kind of organization it is, so I watched the online broadcast of the open house, but I wanted to gain some kind of live experience.

By the end of my studies at Moscow Aviation Institute, I realized that I did not want to continue developing specifically in engineering.

After speaking with a mentor who graduated from Skoltech, I finally decided to become a bioinformatician and join Ekaterina Khrameeva's laboratory. However, preparing for the interview turned out to be a real stress, especially for someone without a specialized education. I felt like an impostor, as other candidates usually chose articles for discussion in advance, while I couldn't find a suitable article by Ekaterina.

The selection process began with exams in several subjects: mathematics, physics, biology, and chemistry, with the option to choose additional questions in molecular biology or neurobiology. Mathematics and physics were easy for me, but the natural sciences, especially chemistry, posed difficulties. In the end, I accidentally received the highest score in the chemistry block.

After the exams, we were sent a list of articles to prepare for the interview. Usually, candidates chose articles from professors and prepared a review of them. However, I was given the opportunity to discuss an article by another professor on the spread of COVID-19.

I became acquainted with the Center for Neurobiology by studying their website and discussing projects with the professor. Initially, I wasn't interested in the project on muscle signals, but I found a master's supervisor working at the intersection of IT and neurobiology. We quickly came up with a topic for my work.

During my studies, I had the opportunity to try my hand at entrepreneurship: coming up with ideas, building a team, and pitching to investors.

In my second year, I became a teaching assistant for the professor of the "Innovation Workshop," which gave me experience in organization and mentoring. We developed a one-day course where participants had to solve a project task within eight hours. It was an interesting experience, and the professor supported the initiative.

I also aimed to launch my own startup, applying the knowledge I gained from business courses. The support of the professors was important, but I faced challenges in choosing the right idea.

I started thinking about starting my own company, and this experience became an important step towards that dream. At my graduation ceremony, I was awarded for my innovative spirit, which was a pleasant surprise.

The startup we launched is currently in a stage of stagnation, but we are continuing our work. We already have a registered patent for a software program for a medical device that addresses issues in transcranial magnetic stimulation therapy. This device helps restore motor functions in stroke patients by taking their physiological characteristics into account.

During the winter of my second year, I started thinking about the future. In the "Life Science" program, I was working on my master's thesis, which focused on data analysis and creating multimodal models. While participating in pre-defenses, I didn't feel like a typical student and wanted to understand how to develop my interest in creating algorithms for combining data, known as Data Fusion.

That same winter, a new professor from Yale University joined our center. He specializes in functional neuroimaging (fMRI). I was working at the Neurocenter and was interested in his projects. He offered me the opportunity to continue the topic of my thesis within a lab focused on neurofeedback.

After six months of consideration, I decided to apply for a PhD program, which felt like a logical continuation of my journey. During my studies, I managed not only to work on data analytics but also to collect my own data for an active project, which was an important step for me.

I noticed that many people face problems in data analysis, and I decided that we needed our own proper, high-quality data. I was interested in working with MRI, as the research is expensive — around 70,000 rubles per hour. I spent time negotiating scanning sessions and finding subjects.

The uniqueness of my research lies in the simultaneous collection of MRI and EEG data, which is not common in laboratories. Besides this, I'm working on another project in my PhD program and also work as a junior research engineer. Typically, PhD students work on a single project, but I enjoyed continuing my collaboration with my master's supervisor.

I have plans to pursue a degree in Computer Science, even though I am studying in the "Life Sciences" program. My academic supervisor said this is possible, and I am interested in it because I want to develop my career in the industry. I completed an internship at a research group at the AIRI Institute, which focuses on neurointerfaces and neuroscience.

I enjoy my work in the PhD program, especially the research on improving therapy for patients with depression. For example, neurofeedback therapy helps enhance functional brain activity through training, where a subject plays a game while focusing on a task. This is a fascinating field, and there has been a lot of news about neurofeedback this year.

I want to channel my interest in neuroscience through Computer Science and work in R&D, particularly at the Fusion Brain lab. I have already tried interviewing there, but it was unsuccessful so far, as they were looking for a more experienced developer.

In addition to my research work, I am involved in mentoring with Women in Tech and Skoltech. This started in the second year of my master's program when prospective students began reaching out to me with questions about admissions.

I thought it would be interesting to share my experience, not only about Skoltech but also about other opportunities. In the summer, I applied to a mentoring program that operates in Russia, France, Kazakhstan, and Azerbaijan. This international platform helps women build careers in the IT field, offering a choice of various tracks, including HR and project management.

Within the program, mentors can choose who they want to work with, and I selected early-career professionals. Since I myself switched fields from engineering to IT and neuroscience two years ago, I can offer advice on starting a career and building useful connections. Many of my mentees have 7-8 years of work experience and are interested in new directions, and I help them understand what knowledge and skills are needed for their projects.

I enjoy sharing my experience with young professionals; it energizes me and helps them change their paths. I've realized that I can provide valuable advice, and this has been a revelation for me. Mentoring programs help people find the right contacts and communicate naturally.

I would tell myself that I'm doing everything right and there's no need to worry. That period was stressful because I was initially put on Skoltech's waitlist, and I was very anxious. I had deliberately applied during the first wave and was afraid there wouldn't be another chance. When the result came, I was upset, not knowing that people get accepted from the waitlist too. I had to start looking for other options.

I would advise myself not to worry and just to wait. I remember my friends told me that I would receive an acceptance letter, but I didn't believe them. Then, at the end of August, the letter really did arrive, and I was over the moon with happiness.

In the end, everything worked out exactly as it was meant to!

We are Skoltech. A new type of university in Russia, established in 2011 in collaboration with MIT with the vision of being a world-leading institute of science and technology. From the zero stage, Skoltech has rapidly advanced along the way towards a top-100 young university recognized globally by Nature Index.