Personal dimension

That's the point - I don't want to leave!

Physicists are machines for turning coffee into diagrams.

Jason Statham

I learned about JINR in my senior classes at a chemistry lesson. Nelly Ivanovna, our chemistry teacher and my aunt at the same time, was talking about the synthesis of the last elements of the Periodic Table, as always, showing us a bright presentation. Something caught my attention at that moment and determined my future. I consciously entered the International University of Nature, Society and Man "Dubna", today, the Dubna State University, on the recommendations of school graduates that had already studied there. I remember how I was slightly torn between theoretical physics and chemistry, but in the TV series "The Big Bang Theory" Jim Parsons as Sheldon Cooper was so absurdly charming and impossible that the choice was made in favor of physics.

My first visit to the JINR territory with my classmates was hilariously serious. At the department, they drew us a map of how to get from the bus stop to the pass office and afterwards, the route from the checkpoint to the UC. We weren't even late. So, from the first lecture on programming, the process of studying at the university was inextricably related to the Institute. We made new acquaintances, participated in events organized, had our first internships, wrote our diplomas and finally, were employed.

The quote in the epigraph most vividly describes the working processes at the Institute: "Physicists are machines for turning coffee into diagrams". The morning begins with the buffet, where you can discuss work issues while standing in a long line for your coffee, or find out who is better to fix your car and buy a new kitchen that is also, of course, important. Now, you can finally work, but after lunch, you repeat the ritual.

From my undergraduate studies to the present day, I have been working in the Group of Theoretical and Computational Physics of Flerov Laboratory of Nuclear Reactions under the scientific supervision of Alexander Karpov. My work (between cups of coffee) is primarily related to the theoretical analysis of low-energy nuclear reactions, in particular, to the prospects for obtaining new isotopes of heavy and superheavy elements in fusion reactions and multinucleon transfers. The calculations are carried out within the framework of the developing prototype of nucleus-nucleus collisions based on the Langevin equations.

I love my job and I am sincerely amused that when I heard the news about my participation in the social mortgage programme for young scientists and specialists, some people said, "You won't be able to leave for the next 10 years". That's the point, I don't want to leave.

Among the advantages of working at the Institute, I would highlight the rich scientific community and the active social life. I like the attitude of society towards me as a scientist: a little surprise and pleasant respect. There is a wide choice of both scientific and cultural events organized by the Institute, you just should find time to go everywhere. Of course, financial prospects are developed at a slightly different pace than those observed in a number of other areas of professional activity widely developing in Dubna. However, there is scope for participation in well-paid grants and projects, as well as invaluable assistance in the region's housing programmes.

The main goal is to defend a PhD thesis. Unfortunately, it is not achievable anytime soon, there is still a lot of work to be done. But it is even more interesting, isn't it?

Natalia KURKOVA, FLNR engineer