August 1999 - August 2004 — I was doing graduate studies at SUNY
Buffalo Biophysics program
under guidance of Dr. Michael Morales researching a novel toxin for potassium channels Kv4 subfamily. The idea behind it was to develop a new drug for cardiac arrhythmia but I earned my Ph.D. just for describing selective changes in gating of Kv4 channels imposed by the Heteropodatoxin.
City of Good Neighbors is an interesting place to be. But rather "to be" there just for a short time, I'd say. When you go out, you go out of the country - Canada is just across the river (due to my regular appearance, some of Canadian border guards knew my face and even denied to check documents when I was crossing the border - take it, DHS!). When guests, who don't want to leave US, are coming you take them to 1) Niagara Falls and soon are exhausted by this sightseeing and can be a guide there with closed eyes, 2) Letchworth Park, 3) Downtown Buffalo and are sorry for its awful shape. Nevertheless, these were five good years to live! Wonderful people, a lof of interesting life events and overall good experience.
20 August 2000 - I met a girl named Alexandra (Sasha, in Russian). She is originally from Bendery: the city just 60 km (40 miles) on the east from my hometown. We had to cross the ocean to meet on a social event at UB. Isn't it called fate?
September 2004 - February 2008 — I was a postdoctoral fellow in Boston University School of Medicine.
The official name of my lab was Ion Channel and Calcium Signaling Unit. Long name, isn't it? Almost doesn't fit a business card. I was doing research on store-operated channels under supervision of Dr. Victoria Bolotina.15 July 2005 - Alexandra and me wed!!! . Here are photos from our first anniversary.
April 2007 — My long-time interest in creative writing and in creating fantasy worlds finally came to something material as I cofounded a company that can be classified as "independent game developer".
It's not a big enterprise but if your hobby brings you money - why not?
July 1, 2007 — My wife got me the best birthday present ever: demanding, stubborn, fretful, noisy black furry monster named Teddy (because he's cute and looks like a big teddy bear).
Isn't this chow-chow handsome? That's what most people on streets say when they see him dragging me every morning and evening.
February 2008 - present — I work in Synta Pharmaceuticals, trying to find store-operated channel's inhibitor to treat immune diseases.
Finally, I work on practical application of fundamental research, trying to make a difference. But I don't save the world - just sit in the lab and do patch-clamp or calcium influx experiments.
Hey, we are in Beantown (actually, we live in Malden - one of suburbs). Boston offers everything that we like... And if not Boston roads and traffic, and high rental prices...Oh well, there is no perfect place on Earth.