At the outbreak of the full-scale war in Ukraine, I was in the final year of my PhD program at the Department of Structural Engineering at Poltava Polytechnic. In late December 2021, I had been awarded a Fulbright scholarship and was preparing to move to the United States with my family and young child in September 2023. But the war changed everything.
On March 3, 2022, I fled Ukraine with my one-and-a-half-year-old son, seeking safety in Europe. Just a month later, I received an extraordinary opportunity through the “Help Ukrainian Science” initiative. Professor Katrin Beyer from EPFL (École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Switzerland), to whom I am sincerely grateful, offered me a position at the university. I immediately accepted and relocated to Switzerland to continue my scientific journey.
I am deeply grateful to Professor Lignos from the RESSLab, who welcomed me into his laboratory and offered not only a professional position but also the chance to complete my PhD dissertation remotely. With his support and that of the entire EPFL community, I was able to successfully defend my thesis online while contributing to ongoing research in the lab. The working conditions and encouragement provided by the team were truly exceptional.
Despite the supportive environment, adapting to a new life in a foreign country during wartime, as a single mother and young scientist, was both fast-paced and challenging. Nevertheless, I remained active in both scientific work and community engagement. I volunteered extensively at Ukrainian support centers in Switzerland, staying connected to my homeland and its people.
Currently, I work as a geotechnical engineer at BEG SA, where I am continuing to develop my professional skills while learning the specificities of the Swiss construction sector—particularly in the area of soil mechanics and geotechnical design. This experience is invaluable, and I am committed to integrating the knowledge I gain into future collaborations and research that will benefit both Swiss and Ukrainian engineering communities.
I remain dedicated to supporting Ukrainian science through my ongoing research and upcoming publications. I believe that our scientific voices and contributions are vital—especially now, as Ukraine faces immense challenges. Sharing our experiences abroad is one way we can foster resilience, visibility, and international collaboration for the future of Ukrainian science.