Master of science in radio electronics engineering from Mozhayskiy Space Engineering Military Academy, Saint Petersburg, Russia, 1993; Ph.D. in physics and mathematics (radio physics) from Kharkov State University, 1996; worked since 1995 in the Institute of Magnetism of National Academy of Sciences of Ukrania as a scientific researcher; was assigned as backup for STS-87; since June 2003 member of the Canadian Arrow team; hobbies: Computer, mathematics, reading, learning new languages, flying, soccer, badminton, basketball, listening to classical and folk music, singing.