Female scientists — Inscience
A series of documentary videos about Ukrainian women in science
Role: Scientist
Olena Pareniuk
Ph.D.
Description of the field of scientific research:
Olena studies the influence of microorganisms on the migration of radionuclides in the environment and the structure of microbial communities in soil under high doses of ionizing radiation. In addition, she studies the biocorrosion and bioleaching activity of microorganisms in destroyed nuclear power units, as well as the nuclear and radiation safety of nuclear fuel cycle facilities.
List of duties:
Olena is a senior researcher at the Institute for Safety Problems of Nuclear Power Plants NAS of Ukraine. Her main areas of expertise are radiation biology, radiation ecology, and nuclear and radiation safety. Currently, Olena's work focuses on the impact of microorganisms on the availability and migration of radionuclides in the environment and on the revision of nuclear safety standards that should be changed in connection with Russia's armed attacks on Ukrainian nuclear facilities.
Professional experience:
From 2010 to 2014, Olena worked as an assistant at the Department of Radiobiology and Radioecology at the National University of Life and Environmental Sciences of Ukraine. From 2014 to 2016, she was an Assistant Project Professor at the Institute of Environmental Radioactivity, Fukushima University.
From 2016 to 2020, Olena worked as a senior researcher at the Department of Radiobiology and Radioecology at the National University of Life and Environmental Sciences of Ukraine, and from 2020 to 2022, she pursued her doctorate at the same university.
Since 2021, Olena has worked as a Senior Researcher at the Institute for Nuclear Power Plant Safety Problems of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine.
She also serves as a reviewer for the “Journal of Environmental Radioactivity,” “Journal of Hazardous Materials” and “International Journal of Radiation Biology.” She is a member of the European Radioecology Alliance, Nuclear And Radiological Emergency Response And Recovery Platform, and the Radiobiological Society of Ukraine.
Also, from 2016 to 2021, she was a member of the sections of the Expert Council of the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine for youth projects, and from 2020 to 2022, Olena was a mentor at Global Talent Mentoring.