'Our Mathematics Is for Far-Reaching Minds'

Anna Presnova focuses on automatic control theory, a branch of science that addresses global problems. In this interview with the HSE Young Scientists project, she talks about her aspiration to achieve practical results, the energy she gains from teaching, and why she would be interested to meet with Alexandr Lyapunov, founder of stability theory.

Why I Decided to Pursue Science

In my fifth year of study, I gave birth to a daughter, and the academic supervisor of my degree thesis at Moscow State University, Valery Afanasyev, invited me to join his doctoral programme. The choice was simple—either stay home on maternity leave and do nothing else, or work on problems under the guidance of a professor who was willing to accommodate my schedule. I chose the latter and never regretted it.

The Subject of My Research

My field is automatic control theory, which focuses on engineering systems that control various processes. For example, consider launching an unmanned spacecraft to Mars. It must launch, detach its modules, enter orbit, stay on course, and finally land on the Martian surface. This is a fully automated system, and the function that controls the flight is designed using control theory.

It is also required for controlling the trajectory of a quadcopter. It is an object with velocity, spatial coordinates and orientation angles, subject to wind resistance and gravity, and also having inertial properties. In addition to the natural forces that come into play once the object is launched, we apply force to it through a function we have designed to influence its behaviour. This function regulates and maintains the desired height and speed, monitors for nearby obstacles, and commands the object to steer clear if any are detected.

About the Scale of Problems

Automatic control theory involves advanced mathematics, including functional analysis, calculus of variations, optimisation methods, stability theory, and control theory itself. As the academic supervisor of a bachelor's programme, I recognise that four years are insufficient to master this field. Therefore, it is not surprising that many young people are now drawn to branches of mathematics where results can be achieved more quickly, such as machine learning and artificial intelligence.

However, the problems addressed by these fields are generally much simpler. In contrast, our branch of mathematics is for people with far-reaching minds and ambitious goals.

The Focus of My Research Papers

During my doctoral programme, my research papers focused on medicine. Initially, I was designing control actions for accurate insulin delivery to patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus.

We still have a problem with that in our country. For patients with type 1 diabetes, there is no universal device that could simultaneously draw blood, measure blood sugar levels, calculate the appropriate insulin dose, and administer the insulin.

Unfortunately, very young children can also develop type 1 diabetes, and they are unable to assess their own condition. Of course, it would be ideal if this process could be automated.

My second topic focused on the treatment of HIV patients, and I defended my dissertation on this subject. It is known that when taken correctly, antiretroviral therapy can extend the lifespan of people with HIV to match that of people without the virus.

However, today this therapy is often prescribed in a trial-and-error manner: a treatment is prescribed, and its effectiveness is monitored over time. We developed a control function to prescribe optimal long-term therapy based on data, including blood levels of the virus, T-helper cells, T-killer cells, and other immune system-related cells.

My Dream

My dream is for our work to have a practical dimension. Currently, we are focused on pure mathematics without immediate practical application. We search for new algorithms and methods to address previously unsolved problems.

If I Hadn't Become a Scientist

At one point, I dreamed of working for a corporation, sitting in an office, and being a decision-maker. In reality, I have accomplished nearly all of this. I work at a prestigious institute with a global reputation. I have also become an academic supervisor, allowing me to enjoy making decisions, just as I had hoped. As a child, I also dreamed of becoming a teacher—and now I teach.

Scientists I Would Like to Meet

I would have loved to meet both Alexandr and Alexey Lyapunov. They were both members of a distinguished family of scientists and cultural figures. Alexandr, born in 1857, is regarded as the founder of stability theory. Alexey, born in 1911, was a pioneer of cybernetics in the Soviet Union. He had access to one of the first large computers and worked on translating mathematical language into programming language.

A Typical Day for Me

I am a mother of two. Each morning, I need to feed everyone, get them ready and send them off to school and kindergarten, while explaining how important it is for mum to work. Once everyone has left, I stay at home with my life and my work.

With my first daughter, I did not take an exceptional leave of absence or a maternity leave. I gave birth in December and then immediately went on to take my exams at Moscow State University. Similarly, with my second daughter, I continued teaching in June, gave birth in August, and returned to teaching in September. When my daughter turned 15 months old, I was appointed academic supervisor. I am grateful to my superiors for this honour.

During the day, I either go to the university or work from home. I go to the gym twice a week and make an effort not to miss it to stay in good shape. In the evening, I return to being a mum.

Whether I Have Experienced Burnout

Burnout does occur, often due to the lack of practical results. When the problem reverts to basic mathematical concepts and modelling is still far off, and everything needs to be debugged and verified, it can be very exhausting.

Burnout is a common experience and a normal part of any profession. For me, the main way of dealing with it is to set more realistic goals for myself. After experiencing burnout, it often feels like you have fallen far behind and may struggle to catch up. But you just need to take one step at a time and remember that it’s not you who is at fault; it’s the excessive demands you place on yourself. In reality, you have achieved a lot, and things don’t look too bad overall.

What I Have Read Lately

I really enjoyed Ayn Rand's book We the Living. It is set in post-revolutionary Russia, with the famine in Petrograd and food rationing. Against this backdrop, the love story unfolds between a girl from a once wealthy but now impoverished family and a young man, a former aristocrat.

What I Have Been Watching

The Lessons of History, a project by Sergey Minaev on YouTube. I hold the author in high regard, as he is a multifaceted and highly educated person. I used to read his books as a student, and now I am filling in the gaps in my knowledge of history.

Advice for Those Choosing a Career in Science

Consider teaching. Teaching helps you soar, giving you the sense that you are contributing to the next generation. When students approach you with questions and look to you for answers, it’s an unparalleled feeling.

This, in turn, drives your own self-development, creating a virtuous cycle: as you grow, become smarter and more interesting, people are even more impressed, which strengthens your desire to share your knowledge.

My Favourite Place in Moscow

The area around the metro stations of Novokuznetskaya, Tretyakovskaya, and Polyanka. I enjoy walking to Red Square via the Bolshoy Moskvoretsky Bridge or crossing the Bolshoy Kamenny Bridge to reach the Cathedral of Christ the Savior. When the weather is not too hot, I head to the city centre and take a walk.