Published on: 2026-07-08
Source: Saint Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering –
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Alexander and Olesya Samodolov
On July 8, Russia celebrates Family, Love, and Fidelity Day. The family is an unshakable support, a source of inspiration, and the main value in every person’s life. It is within the circle of loved ones that we draw strength for new achievements, find support and understanding. A strong, united family is the foundation of our society’s well-being and the key to the country’s prosperity.
In the “Family in Science” series, we present the story of the scientific and family couple – Alexander and Olesya Samodolov, employees of the Faculty of Engineering Ecology and Urban Management, Department of Water Use and Ecology. Alexander is an assistant of the department and deputy dean for educational work, Olesya is an assistant of the department and deputy dean for career guidance. Their path is an example of how personal history, science, and professional activity can form a unified space of development and support.
The first meeting and the beginning of a shared path
The family’s story began long before working at the university. The spouses knew each other even before entering the scientific community, and then their path into science became a joint decision. Later, a mutual friend introduced them, after which they jointly decided to pursue graduate studies.
Over time, studying together evolved into a deeper immersion in science: first a master’s degree, then postgraduate studies, followed by professional work at the university.
Choosing a scientific direction
The decision to dedicate their lives to ecology and water management was deliberate and based on the relevance of the topic. The couple notes that environmental pollution, industrial impact, and changes in natural ecosystems make this field especially important.
Their professional interest is linked to the desire to contribute to solving environmental problems and improving the quality of water resources for future generations.
Professional activities and roles at the university
Today, the spouses work within the same educational and scientific system: Alexander Samodolov is engaged in educational work with students, combining administrative and teaching activities, while Olesya Samodolova is responsible for career guidance and helps students choose their professional path.
Despite different departments within the university, their scientific interests are closely intertwined.
General scientific projects and research
The spouses have repeatedly worked together on scientific publications and projects. Their research is related to water resources, but with different focuses:
- urban areas and industrial enterprises,
- surface and polluted waters,
- differences in pollution sources and cleaning methods.
Moreover, they participated in joint projects already during their master’s and doctoral studies.
The university’s impact on family life
Working and studying at the same university became an important part of their family history. The university played a key role in shaping their professional path and academic interests.
At the same time, the spouses emphasize that they know how to separate work and personal life: at home, they try not to discuss work-related matters, maintaining a balance between professional activity and family.
Children and scientific dynasty
The family is raising children, but the continuation of the scientific dynasty remains an open question. The parents admit that they would like to see their children in science, but the final choice of profession is up to them.
Today, children’s interests lie in various fields, including aviation.
Balance between work and family
Despite working in the same professional field, the spouses note that they manage to maintain harmony: work tasks stay at the university, rare complex issues can be discussed at home, and the rest of the time the family completely switches to personal life.
They consider such a balance to be one of the key factors for successful cooperation.
Shared hobbies and family traditions
Besides science, the family also shares common hobbies: walks and discovering new places, family weekends, board games that have become a new tradition.
These activities help to switch gears and strengthen family bonds.
Professional goals
Currently, the main professional goal of the spouses is to defend their dissertations and obtain the degree of Candidate of Technical Sciences. In the future, they plan to continue developing in the scientific field and expand their research.
Advice for young families in science
The spouses highlight several key recommendations: support each other in professional development, move towards goals gradually, step by step, do not postpone important tasks, and do not stop along the way.
In their opinion, it is mutual assistance and shared goals that help preserve both scientific and family harmony.
An interesting episode from life
One of the memorable moments was a curious situation when, due to an error, the wrong term paper was printed and submitted. Despite the misunderstanding, the situation was quickly resolved, and the paper was successfully accepted.
Conclusion
The Samodolov family’s story is an example of how shared interests, mutual support, and a joint professional path can form a strong union in science and life. Their experience shows that with the right balance, it is possible to successfully combine family, career, and scientific development while remaining a united team.
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