In the last week of May 2025, the SOLARIS Centre in Kraków hosted participants representing all three pillars of the NEPHEWS project (Neutrons and Photons Elevating Worldwide Science). Among them was Ihor Sukhenko, a young researcher affiliated with the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, who was undertaking his research internship as part of the Early-Stage Researcher (ESR) programme. His presence at SOLARIS was not only part of an international research initiative, but also the culmination of a months-long process of structured scientific training and preparation.
The internship under the ESR programme was divided into two stages. First, Ihor Sukhenko took part in the online course “Synchrotron Radiation for Science”, organized by SOLARIS. The course included a lecture series (28 hours) covering the physical principles, properties and applications of synchrotron radiation, as well as project classes (15 hours), aimed at familiarizing participants with research methodologies and the procedures for applying for access to large-scale research infrastructure. The training ran from March 3 to June 9, 2025, and was designed to provide participants with a solid theoretical foundation before transitioning to practical experience.
The second stage involved participation in an experiment conducted from May 26 to June 1, 2025, on the URANOS beamline at SOLARIS. Under the supervision of the scientific team and the beamline coordinator, Ihor had the opportunity to observe and actively participate in real-time synchrotron radiation-based measurements. His collaboration with the research group, engagement with instrumentation, and involvement in data analysis allowed him to directly apply the knowledge gained during the course.
From the course, I appreciated a lot the advice given by Dr. Wojciech Tabis during the presentations of the project class. Also, the opportunity to ask questions, in particular about the practical aspects of synchrotron techniques (namely XAS and ARPES), during the lectures (by Dr. Agnieszka Witkowska and others), was really valuable. When it came to the experiment, I learned a lot about the mode of operation of the researchers at synchrotron: sample preparation, interaction with beamline scientists, data handling, work distribution and a lot more. As a matter of fact, a beamtime application to SOLARIS by my group is currently under review, so hopefully, in the case it is accepted, I will be immensely more prepared to contribute than would have been otherwise. – said Ihor Sukhenko, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine.
Ihor Sukhenko at the National Synchrotron Radiation Centre SOLARIS – Krakow/Poland
I learned the importance of maintaining proper lab notes: with large amounts of data, different people and multiple samples, one would easily get confused without it. I also learned how helpful a beamline scientist can be. Once we lost access to a remote manipulator, and just when we thought we were stuck, David appeared remotely, as if by some miracle, and promptly fixed our problems remotely. I also learned about the flexibility of beamline settings, and experimental setup overall, and the freedom of choice available to the scientists. We were free, e.g., to change the beamline energy and polarisation any time, move to spin-polarised mode and so on, without any additional approvals – just as emergent data required. – he added.
The experience gained by Ihor Sukhenko during his two-stage NEPHEWS internship involved both solid theoretical preparation and intensive laboratory practice. This thoughtfully designed participation path provides young researchers not only with technical skills but also a deeper understanding of how large research infrastructures operate, along with insights into how international experimental projects are structured and coordinated.
First of all, ARPES in general – this is the first time I was directly involved in an ARPES experiment. With the DFT I have calculated band structures and Fermi surfaces extensively but seeing them come alive brought an aesthetic joy and inspiration to me. I was especially moved by the beautiful patterns of Fermi surfaces. I have finally started to appreciate and even somehow picture the true four-dimensionality of the band structure – that is, three dimensions of reciprocal space plus energy. This aspect underlines the importance of the synchrotron radiation: as only by changing the excitation energy (which is virtually only available at a synchrotron), one may perform a kz-scan: to „film” either slices of Fermi surfaces or band dispersion moving along kz-axis of the Brillouin zone, e.g., from Z to Γ to A high-symmetry points. I have always been fascinated by superconductivity and thus had a lot of enriching discussions with more experienced members of the team. So, it had all come together perfectly. – said Ihor Sukhenko.
Thanks to the support of the NEPHEWS project and the scientific guidance provided by the SOLARIS team, this young Ukrainian researcher gained access to specialist knowledge that would be difficult or even impossible to obtain under local conditions, due to infrastructural limitations and systemic challenges. Participation in the Early-Stage Researcher programme allowed him to learn how European research infrastructure’s function “from within” — not as a guest, but as an active member of the scientific process. This experience helped him not only to develop experimental competencies and deepen his understanding of advanced techniques but also to build international professional relationships — an essential step for any early-career scientist seeking to engage in global research collaboration.
The people who came up with the idea of such internships are geniuses. We all know that international cooperation is important for science, but for developing countries, it is essential. If you’re working in relative isolation under a very limited research budget, there is a scenario in which your results may suffer, and, as a result, fewer people will be interested in collaborating with you, which will make you even less up to date with current trends and methods. Internships like this help to break that potential vicious cycle. Moreover, in the case of synchrotron experiments, there is always some potential barrier to entry. You usually don’t get your first beamtime allocation as a complete beginner. Typically, young researchers gain experience by joining a group led by a senior scientist who already has beamtime access. But what if your team doesn’t include such a person — even though your project requires synchrotron techniques? This is exactly the problem NEPHEWS solves. Finally, I’d also like to highlight the importance of financial support. To give a personal example — in my institution, I don’t have access to any reimbursed travel or conference budget, and that’s not unusual. That’s why I truly appreciate the reimbursement of travel and accommodation costs. – emphasized Mr. Sukhenko.
Research team at the URANOS beamline at the National Synchrotron Radiation Centre SOLARIS – Kraków/Poland
Participation in the Early-Stage Researcher programme by Ihor Sukhenko represents a thoughtful and comprehensive model of support for the development of young scientists. By combining an online course with a practical research experience, participants gain not only technical capabilities but also familiarity with the standards of European science and the culture of international collaboration.
In the context of the challenges currently facing Ukrainian science, involvement in initiatives such as ESR NEPHEWS is a meaningful tool for strengthening human capital, restoring institutional capacity, and laying the foundation for long-term scientific partnerships. The case of Mr. Ihor Sukhenko demonstrates that knowledge and mentoring can together contribute to building a more resilient and integrated European research and innovation system.
Author: Agnieszka Cudek