How does an international researcher go from being a student to a Russian citizen and find a true scientific home here? Julijana Cvjetinovic, Assistant Professor at the Skoltech Photonics, shared her personal journey at the session "Green Corridor for Scientific Discoveries: Attracting Foreign Scientists and Engineers to the Russian Far East," held during the Eastern Economic Forum.
🇷🇸 Overcoming early barriers and language immersion
A decade ago, Julijana came to Russia on a Ministry of Science and Higher Education fellowships:
"Of course, at first, there was an information vacuum and plenty of bureaucracy. Even though Serbian and Slavic languages are close, taking exams and defending a thesis in another language is a huge challenge. From day one, my main goal was to actively learn Russian and fully immerse myself in the culture."
⚖️ Navigating uncertainty
The biggest question after her second year of Master's studies was how to build a future in the country:
"I realized I wanted to stay, live, and work here. The positions I was interested in required Russian citizenship. Skoltech’s PhD program made all the difference: an incredible international environment, top-notch research conditions, and fantastic financial support. In 2019, right when I enrolled, a law was passed allowing students with honors degrees to get permanent residency on an expedited track. That took away the immense stress of constantly worrying about visa renewals. Having reliable immigration support at universities is absolutely critical for international students."
✨ A new home, a family, and Russian citizenship
"I’ve come a long way from an international student coming from a small country to a Russian citizen. Last year brought two major milestones: my daughter was born, and I finally received my Russian citizenship! My journey shows that Russia offers truly unique opportunities for young researchers."
🎯 How to attract top talent?
"Strong scientists are always drawn to meaningful projects and brilliant colleagues whose expertise naturally pulls in researchers from all over the world. It’s essential to build a clear, comprehensive path for international researchers: a strong education, a great team, and the right conditions for families."
The panel was moderated by Alexander Vayno, Director of the Young Professionals Directorate at the Agency for Strategic Initiatives (ASI). Other speakers included Boris Korobets, Rector of FEFU; Irina Korotkova, CEO of the Agency for Attracting International Talents to Russia; Denis Sekirinsky, Deputy Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation; Elena Kharisova, CEO of the Russky Innovative Science and Technology Center (INSTC) Foundation; Lyudmila Shcherbakova, President of Velfarm Group; alongside session participants Khashayar Sadeghi, Associate Professor at Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University, and Tarek Nabil Salim Farouni, Associate Professor at the Higher School of Economics.
Julijana Cvjetinovic also took part in a meeting between Yury Trutnev, Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation and Plenipotentiary Presidential Envoy to the Far Eastern Federal District, and the leadership of the Russky INSTC, where they discussed strategies for attracting leading researchers and forming high-performing scientific teams.
Earlier today, Russian President Vladimir Putin instructed the government to develop a dedicated program for attracting Russian and international scientists to the Russian Far East. To support this initiative, the Russky INSTC is launching the "100+ Scientific and Engineering Teams for Far Eastern Companies" program, which will combine grants, the infrastructure of upcoming research and educational clusters, and comprehensive relocation support for specialists and their families.
Skoltech is part of the VEB.RF Group.