When did you realize that chemistry was not a «temporary choice» but your life’s work?

I realized that chemistry was my life’s work the moment I first obtained a new compound that had never existed before. The awareness that a substance synthesized in the lab had not existed anywhere in the world—and was later described and published in a high-ranking English-language scientific journal—became a turning point for me. That was when I knew I wanted to dedicate my life to creating new materials in a chemistry lab—materials that could eventually change the world.

What fascinates you most about chemistry today, even after years in the field?

What fascinates me most about chemistry is its uniqueness and unpredictability. No two days are the same: one day you’re running an experiment at 1000°C, the next you’re measuring spectra at −100°C. But above all, it’s being part of a team of like-minded people—creative, inspired, and deeply immersed in the same field of science—who work together to generate new knowledge.

Chemistry is everywhere. Could you share an everyday example where an interesting chemical reaction is «hidden in plain sight»?

A sliced apple turns brown not simply because it comes into contact with «air», but due to enzymatic oxidation of polyphenols. It’s a biochemical reaction we see every day, yet we rarely stop to think that we’re actually watching enzymes at work.

Was there a moment when an experiment truly surprised you or produced an unexpected result?

Yes, there was. During my PhD studies, I accidentally obtained crystals of a new substance but couldn’t reproduce the synthesis for an entire month—until it turned out that the key factor had been an unexpected power outage and a brief «failure» in the melt-cooling regime. That experience taught me two things: in chemistry, the smallest details can be decisive.

Which myth about the work of a woman scientist would you most like to debunk?

First and foremost, I’d like to dispel the myth that a woman scientist’s work is lonely, monotonous «test-tube labor» devoid of emotion or human connection. In reality, science is a constant dialogue—with colleagues and students, with your own doubts and unexpected ideas—where mistakes, support, well-developed soft skills, and intuition are just as important as formulas and instruments.