We are excited to announce the new winners of the Talents for Ukraine program, who have received grants from the KSE Foundation to implement their ideas and further their personal development.
⭐️Olha Strilbytska is a senior researcher in the Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology. She investigates the issue of extending lifespan and healthy aging, while also developing international cooperation in this field. Olha’s scientific contributions include the publication of monograph s and six book chapters, as well as thirty-nine scientific articles. Olha has a Hirsch index of 15 in Scopus and has received awards from the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine and the National Academy of Sciences. Olha researches post-traumatic stress disorder in Ukraine and actively supports women’s leadership in STEM fields.
«The only way to get what you want is to take action», says Olha.
⭐️Nastya Popandopulos is the Director of Victory Center, which specializes in the psycho-emotional rehabilitation of veterans and children affected by the war through equine assisted services and hippotherapy. Thanks to her efforts, Victory Center supports over 150 veterans and their families and implements innovative rehabilitation programs. Nastya is also a co-founder of the PR Army and a board member of the association UEATARA. She collaborates with international partners such as Carousel Ranch and DreamPower Horsemanship and she is the finalist of the IVLP Impact Awards program, which enhances her professional skills.
«My best investments include contributions to my mental health, which have provided me with the strength and stability to achieve my goals», says Nastya.
⭐️Nataliya Stasyuk is a scientist with a PhD in biological sciences. She has developed biosensors for measuring various analytes, such as lactate, glucose, and heavy metals. In 2024, she defended her doctoral dissertation in microbiology, studying the immobilization of enzymes and cells on the surfaces of various converters. Nataliya is actively involved in promoting scientific research and publishes her work in international journals. Currently, she is working on a project to create biosensors for the detection and neutralization of explosives, which is particularly relevant due to the contamination of areas in Ukraine as a result of the war.
«Don’t be afraid to take risks, as it is through risk that you discover new horizons», says Nataliya.
More about the Talents For Ukraine winners
