Ukrainian Scientists in Exile: An Interview With Yana Sychikova
In December 2023, the journal Nanophotonics published a special issue in support of Ukrainian scientists. Prominent scientists contributed thirty-three papers to the special issue. Open access article fees, together with an additional donation from one of the authors, raised over €80,000.
Read the special issue Nanophotonics in support of Ukrainian Scientists.
Yana Sychikova discovered the project through a Facebook post and later received a grant to support her work. She is Vice-Rector for Scientific Work at Berdyansk State Pedagogical University, whose research focuses on nanoscience and advanced materials for photonics and solar energy application. Alongside her research she teaches masters courses in nanoscience and supervises PhD students in scientometrics and academic writing. We interviewed her about the effect the grant has had on her work.
She is currently relocated due to the occupation of Berdyansk.
De Gruyter: What is your current research area?
Yana Sychikova: I am currently researching nano and heterostructures on the surface of A3B5 and A2B6 semiconductors for photonic devices and solar energy applications. My focus is on improving materials for photodetectors and lasers.
DG: Can you introduce your research and its potential impact?
YS: In simple terms, I study nanostructures on semiconductor surfaces, which have great potential for improving technologies like solar cells, lasers and photodetectors. These devices can have both civilian and military applications, such as missile detection and environmental monitoring, which makes this research crucial, especially in the current context in Ukraine.
DG: How have you used your research grant?
Learn more about Yana Sychikova’s work at Berdyansk State Pedagogical University.
YS: The grant allowed me to continue my research despite the war in Ukraine. After our university was relocated due to the occupation, I had no access to our laboratories. Thanks to the grant, I was able to travel to Poland, where I conducted essential measurements and analysis of my samples, ensuring that my scientific work could continue abroad.
DG: What’s next for your research area?
YS: I plan to continue investigating complex heterostructures based on semiconductors like Ga₂O₃, AlₓGa₁₋ₓAs, GaₓAs₁₋ₓO₃, and CdₓTeᵧO₃, with a focus on their use in photodetectors and lasers. These materials are important for early missile detection, an issue of critical importance in Ukraine today.