Published on: 2026-07-31
Source: Novosibirsk State University –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
Aleksei Vopilovsky graduated from the master’s program of the Physics Department at NSU and is preparing to enter graduate school. During his studies, he became the winner of several prestigious competitions: he received a scholarship from the Novosibirsk mayor’s office, the Alfa-Future program, and a presidential grant based on the results of the “I am a professional” Olympiad. We spoke with Aleksei about why he chose to study physics, what his research work consists of, and what advice he would give to those who are just planning to connect their lives with science.
– Why did you decide to enroll specifically in the Physics Faculty of NSU?
– After ninth grade, I enrolled in the Physics and Mathematics school and studied in the physics and mathematics class. I have always liked mathematics, physics, and chemistry, but physics came easiest to me, so the choice of direction was quite natural.
Why NSU in particular? In eleventh grade, I attended olympiad preparation classes, and almost all the instructors were students of the physics faculty. I was interested both in the people themselves and in how they taught. That’s when I realized that the physics faculty at NSU was the right fit for me.
– When did you realize that you wanted to pursue science?
– Probably, during the first months of studying at FMSH. Before that, I studied at regular schools, but here I first felt a completely different atmosphere. I was very inspired by the teachers who themselves worked in scientific institutes and spoke about physics, chemistry, and mathematics with great enthusiasm. Gradually, I fell in love with the atmosphere of Akademgorodok and realized that I also wanted to become a scientist.
– Looking back, how well did the expectations from studying match reality?
– After the Specialized Physics and Mathematics School, the first years at the physics faculty turned out to be a bit different from what I expected. At school, you could choose special courses and study exactly what interested you. In the bachelor’s program, there was practically no such freedom.
Moreover, the approach to education itself is changing at the university. In school, teachers are constantly involved in the process and closely monitor each student. At the university, the responsibility rests much more with the student himself.
Over time, I realized that this format provides a very strong fundamental foundation and teaches how to develop independently in science. I especially liked studying in the master’s program at the Department of Chemical and Biological Physics – the modern specialized courses were as close as possible to what world science is working on today.
– You changed your scientific field after your bachelor’s degree. Why?
– During my bachelor’s degree, I researched photoinduced processes in a lithium niobate crystal. This crystal has many practical applications; for example, it is used in the creation of high-speed optical data transmission devices. My task was to build a physical model of the processes occurring inside the crystal after the impact of a laser pulse.
After 2022, cooperation with foreign experimental groups became significantly more difficult, so continuing the research turned out to be problematic. That is when I decided to change the laboratory and the research direction.
I am currently working at the International Tomographic Center of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences and am engaged in theoretical research in the field of nuclear magnetic resonance.
– What are you doing right now? To explain as simply as possible.
– I work on calculations of spin relaxation of magnetic nuclei – this is the process by which nuclear spins return to a thermally equilibrium state. The environment of the investigated magnetic nuclei has a significant influence on relaxation, so the relaxation rate can reveal certain properties of nearby molecules and, for example, produce magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) images weighted by the relaxation rate of protons. Currently, scientists are developing new contrast agents for MRI that enable the study of cancer cell metabolism. My work is aimed at improving the understanding of spin relaxation mechanisms and searching for promising contrast molecules.
– You have presented your research at scientific conferences. What does participating in them provide?
– First of all, the opportunity to meet people from other universities and research institutes, to learn what other research groups are working on.
This is especially important for a young scientist. For example, such connections can help find scientific partners, reviewers, or opponents when defending a dissertation in the future.
– You became the winner of several scholarship competitions at once. What advice would you give to students who also want to receive such scholarships?
– It all depends on the specific program, but speaking generally, there are three main directions.
First – participation in student olympiads. Second – publications of scientific articles in good journals. Third – obtaining patents for developments.
At the same time, publications and patents largely depend on which laboratory and scientific supervisor you choose. Therefore, it is worth approaching this choice very carefully.
– What, in your opinion, helps NSU students to engage in scientific research while still studying?
– First of all, there is a huge number of scientific institutes nearby. Students have the opportunity to join real research teams practically from their first years, where scientists are ready to supervise the work of young researchers and involve them in real scientific projects.
– What advice would you give to applicants who dream of pursuing science?
– The most important thing is to enroll where you yourself want to go, not where your parents, friends, or anyone else wants you to go. If the choice is made consciously, studying becomes much easier and more interesting.
And to those who want to pursue science at NSU, I would advise choosing a scientific advisor and research topic very carefully. It is important that the advisor is passionate about their work and interested in working with students, and that the tasks stir curiosity rather than fear in you. It is precisely the combination of a good scientific advisor and a properly chosen research topic that can help one develop a love for scientific work, rather than become disillusioned with it.
Please note; This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of information. It represents an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.