The HSE Effect: Q1 Journal Publications and a PhD at the University of Sydney
Last year, Stephen Sodoke, a master's student on the Population and Development programme at the Vishnevsky Institute of Demography, HSE University, won the Student Research Paper Competition. This year, as a recent HSE graduate, he has published two articles in first-quartile journals and secured a PhD position at the University of Sydney. In this article, Stephen Sodoke discusses his research and the role HSE played in shaping his academic career.
‘In Science, You Are Your Own Boss’
Polina Nasledskova is interested in identifying gaps in linguistics and topics that have been overlooked by other researchers. In an interview for the Young Scientists of HSE University project, she spoke about rare ordinal numerals in Nakh-Daghestanian languages, the benefits of knitting for concentration, and the beauty of the Patriarshy Bridge.
HSE Researchers Determine Which Internet Users Are More Likely to Fact-Check
Researchers at HSE University examined the strategies employed by Russian internet users to verify unreliable information and the factors that motivate them to do so. The study found that more than half of users who encounter potentially false information online attempt to verify it by locating the original source. The likelihood of fact-checking is influenced by several factors, including age, place of residence, social status, information literacy skills, and the use of AI. The findings have been published in Monitoring of Public Opinion: Economic and Social Changes.
'I’m Used to Producing Distilled Knowledge'
Ivan Rubachev works in a HSE University laboratory established jointly with Yandex Research, where he focuses on machine learning with tabular data. In this interview with the HSE Young Scientists project, he discusses why following a vibe can be better than goal-setting, explains the concept of the Neural Turing Machine, and argues why withholding scientific knowledge is counterproductive.
Bioinformatics Researchers Identify Twenty Potentially Pathogenic Mutations in Gene Associated with Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension
Researchers at HSE University, in collaboration with colleagues from other Russian institutions, have identified which mutations in the ACVRL1 gene may be pathogenic in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension. The team modelled how genetic variations affect ATP binding to the protein—a process essential for transmitting signals required for normal vascular function. The researchers found that 20 of the 32 variants studied can disrupt signal transmission and are therefore likely to cause disease. The findings have been published in the Journal of Structural Biology.
Population Lifespan Is Governed by Mathematical Laws
Researchers at HSE University and MSU have established a universal law governing the time to extinction of a population in a random environment. Their analysis of the evolution of branching processes—complex probabilistic systems—shows that, regardless of the initial population size, extinction follows strict mathematical laws. The results have been published in the Journal of Applied Probability.
Taking Stock Without Euphemisms: Experts Propose Solutions for Russia’s Foreign and Defence Policy
The recent 34th Assembly of the Council on Foreign and Defence Policy (SVOP) presented analytical approaches to emerging global challenges and developed practical recommendations in the context of a transforming world order. Experts from HSE University took an active part in the sessions and closed briefings.
Sociologists: Conservative Consumers Dominate Russian Middle Class
The Russian middle class cannot be regarded as a homogeneous and uniformly stable social group. Similar income levels often mask significant differences in financial strategies, lifestyles, and levels of economic security. This is the conclusion reached by sociologists at HSE University. The study has been published in Voprosy Ekonomiki.
'Over 12 Years, We Have Participated in Nearly 1,000 Awake Surgeries'
HSE University hosted the 13th Summer Neurolinguistics School, organised by the Centre for Language and Brain with support from the HSE Faculty of Humanities. The programme focused on collaboration among neurolinguists, neurosurgeons, and neurophysiologists in the operating room, standardisation of linguistic paradigms, and practical approaches to preserving patients’ language function.
Doctoral Student at HSE University Reveals Hidden Layout of Ancient Parion
İdil Malgil, a researcher at HSE University, conducted a UAV-based LiDAR survey of the ancient Roman city of Parion in present-day Turkey. The high density of the scans allowed the team to detect subtle terrain features concealed beneath the ground and vegetation. The survey revealed traces of entire neighbourhoods, terraced structures, and walls that had remained invisible during routine excavations and could not be identified through aerial photography. The findings have been published in Ancient Civilizations from Scythia to Siberia.
Submission deadline: June 29, 2026