Renaissance man

Mikhail Ryazanskiy is an electronic engineer and a new immigrant from Russia, who recently joined the Surface Analysis team. Driven by tenacity, and with a deep fascination with technology, he has happily assumed responsibility for the operation and optimization of the ion-beam accelerator.

 Small change makes a world of difference

Mikhail Ryazanskiy enjoys finding creative solutions to complex problems. He also draws great satisfaction from getting things to work properly, which is mainly why he loves his job overseeing optimization of all the technological aspects. But, he emphasizes that this also has to do with the friendly team and the positive collaborative work environment at BINA.

His broad experience spans system engineering, computer programming, optoelectronics, medical equipment, aerospace, and small satellites. “At large companies with highly complex systems and hundreds of engineers, it takes a while until you can locate and fix a technical failure. It requires the work of each team assigned to a different system element”, Mikhail said.

“Here at BINA about 20 scientists operate advanced analytical systems with high power electronic and micromechanical components, including radiation, vacuum and gas equipment, and computers with specialized software. In order to support and ensure smooth operation of all these systems, I must be highly versatile. I am constantly challenged, learning new technologies and searching for innovative solutions for new experiments”, he said.

One of the projects the team is working on, initiated by the Interpol, is analysis of hundreds of glass particles originating from different car models, as they search for tiny, reproducible distinctions. As Mikhail explains, this will help crime scene investigations in determining the type of car involved in an accident, which could lead to a suspect in hiding. “Maximal accuracy is essential, and therefore the equipment has to be constantly calibrated and stable. Furthermore, analysis results of all laboratories worldwide participating in the project must be consistent, so the entire scientific output depends on how well I do my job. We work together as a team to find optimal solutions for ensuring accurate and reliable experiments”, said Mikhail.

No tech support in outer space

Mikhail volunteers as an engineer at the D-MARS (Desert Mars Analog Ramon Station) project which creates Mars-analog infrastructure for academic research and technological development. He is involved in the design and construction of a habitat where the Ramonauts live and work on simulated missions to Mars. “Since aerospace development is prohibitively expensive, our aim is to develop space-suitable technologies that can be commercialized and used on Earth, and later on Mars”, he explained. “In outer space, you can’t return faulty equipment to the manufacturer, which is why all systems, in addition to being compact and lightweight, must also be robust and reliable, but also repairable if needed.

Mikhail is proud and grateful to be a member of the BINA team at Bar Ilan, and in his spare time to promote space science and technology in Israel. He feels fortunate to have the opportunity to apply his accrued knowledge and experience towards a better future for humankind on Earth and beyond.