What drew you to astrophysics—when did you realize you wanted not just to admire the sky but to study it professionally?

My father was an astronomer. He was deeply passionate about space and loved astronomy. My mother (a chemist by education) admired him and was proud of his work. So I grew up with the feeling that astronomy was something incredibly fascinating, and that astronomers were very cool and intelligent people. From an early age, I enjoyed taking part in various scientific events or accompanying my father to conferences whenever possible. Doing research, spending time in libraries, and traveling for observations always seemed to me like meaningful and exciting work—something that carried real responsibility.

How would you explain to people far from astronomy why humanity needs to understand how planets form?

Astronomy is a fundamental science that helps us understand our place in the Universe. Knowing how planets form and what properties planets around other stars have is essential for a better understanding of our own planet as well. At the same time, space research requires new methods and equipment, and developing them undoubtedly drives technological progress—much of which later finds its way into our everyday lives.

Searching for planets beyond the Solar System is often compared to a «treasure hunt». Which moment in this work excites you the most, and why?

For me, scientific research is a way of life. In exoplanet search projects, there are several stages: defining the research question and observation strategy; creating a catalog of target stars; preparing for and carrying out observations; and analyzing the results and describing them in scientific publications. Each stage is unique and exciting in its own way.

Observations I conducted on the other side of the globe—at the La Silla Observatory in Chile—were a particularly special experience. Just getting there took two days, followed by a major time-zone shift: first adapting to Chilean time, then to night shifts. The first observing cycles were extremely stressful, because the responsibility is enormous—observing time is expensive, and every minute matters. Over time, however, it became routine, while still giving a strong sense that you’re doing something important and meaningful.

Does working with space change how you perceive everyday life here on Earth? If so, how?

In everyday life, I don’t think about space very often. But I’m glad my work is connected to it, because work takes up a large part of our lives. Astronomy is a science of extremes: when we talk about stars and galaxies, everything—sizes, masses, timescales—is vast or unimaginably vast. On the other hand, when we discuss interstellar or interplanetary space, it’s all about dust and gas—tiny particles. Comparing these scales vividly illustrates how relative everything in our lives is and sometimes helps us accept things we cannot change.

Science involves a lot of uncertainty and long waiting times. What helps you stay motivated and keep moving forward?

From the very beginning, I understood that scientific research involves many years of work before results appear. Just to start doing research, one needs to study at university and in graduate school—at least eight years. I think this is simply the scientists’ way of life, and those who choose this profession are mentally prepared for it. I’m inspired by the results already achieved, by my colleagues and their work, by curiosity about future outcomes—and, of course, by my family, who motivate me to keep going every day.