Marina Polonskaia

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About me

I graduated from Krasnoyarsk State University (Russia) with M.Sc. degree in physics and teaching. I received a Ph.D. in theoretical biophysics from the Institute of Biophysics in Krasnoyarsk. Right after my defense our family moved to the USA and I worked as a postdoctoral research associate and research scientist at UIC (University of Illinois at Chicago), HMS (Harvard Medical School) and Stony Brook University.

In high school I was very lucky to become a part of two different programs: one was an enrichment program in mathematics and natural sciences taught by university faculty and graduate students and another was the Summer School for gifted children. Both programs changed my life. I learned a lot of new and exciting things, and met very interesting people. Many of them have become my lifelong friends (I even met my husband in the Summer School). We had lectures from world-renowned scientists and discovered a whole new world of people who treasure education, culture and art. I am still connected to this summer school. I went there as a counselor and teaching assistant during my undergraduate years and then as a lecturer during my graduate school years. Despite the fact that I live on the other side of the Earth, I try to go back there and teach as often as I can.

I was very happy to meet several people in Stony Brook who went through a similar experience in their youth and valued the importance of a good education for children. In 2004, we opened a weekend enrichment program on the campus of Stony Brook University and I became the director of the school.