Supporting the New ACS Science LAB
Where Tomorrow’s Innovators Begin Their Journey
July 15, 2025 - From unraveling the secrets of our immune system to mapping the cosmos, from chasing microscopic molecules to advancing medicine – ACS alumni are making waves in science, and their journeys start right here on campus. Here are their stories:
Darina Spasova (’05) sees her job as a general leading the body’s immune knights. “Inside the castle lives a powerful team of guards and knights called your immune system. Their job is to protect the castle from invaders – like viruses, bad bacteria, or anything trying to make you sick. My job is to study these guards and knights and understand how they work together to prevent disease," she explains.
Konstantin Karchev (’15) looks to the stars, teaching AI to decode the universe’s secrets. But his proudest moment? Building a 3D-printed robotic lab setup just to avoid tedious manual work. In Konstantin's words, science is not just about producing results, "it’s about understanding the world and enjoying the road of discovery.”
Nadya Dozova (’98) slows time with ultrafast lasers, watching biomolecules dance in trillionths of a second. She highlights the fact that science education is for everyone, not just future researchers, because “science teaches us how to think by ourselves.”
Polina Kehayova (’97), now Scientific Director at Harvard University, credits ACS for unlocking her love of organic chemistry – “magic made of logical steps” – and has helped pioneer drug discovery methods that could save lives.
And rounding out this extraordinary group is Yordan Penev (’11), an OB/GYN in Maine, USA, combines his passion for medicine with scientific curiosity that led him to Tanzania, where he developed an algorithm for better allocation of healthcare workers. He believes AI will transform medicine and says: “Even if you don’t work in a scientific field, a strong foundation in science will help you navigate an increasingly complex and tech-driven world.”
Together, these ACS alumni demonstrate the extraordinary impact of a strong science education – one that combines curiosity, courage, and creativity. The Science LAB fundraising campaign seeks to build a state-of-the-art facility to nurture this spirit for generations to come.
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