Anuar Idrissov

He did not immediately become a researcher at the Fesenkov Astrophysical Institute. As a boy, Anuar Idrissov spent much time in the workshops of the village of Shortandy, then attended the Republican Physics and Mathematics School in Almaty, later developed a deep passion for running, and completed an internship at Oxford. However, the young Kazakhstani won the Yessenov Foundation grant only on his third attempt! Today, Anuar continues to collaborate with his British colleagues. What did the scientist work on during his internship? Why did he choose one of the most prestigious universities in the world? And what advice does he have for future competition participants?

• A Long Road to Victory. I applied for research internships three times but every time I failed. Once I was lucky enough to win a competition in another program of the Foundation – Yessenov Data Lab. However, the internship program remained out of reach. At first, I took it very hard, but then I accepted it as a challenge and started preparing more thoroughly. Every year, I submitted a stronger portfolio, and finally, I won.

• Tips to Become a Winner. First, understand why you need this internship. Define your intrinsic motivation. As the psychiatrist Viktor Frankl quoted Nietzsche, ‘He who has a Why to live for can bear almost any How.’ Second, prepare in advance. If you already know which laboratory you want to join, study the relevant research papers and reach out to the professor. This will help you integrate into the project more quickly and communicate as equals with colleagues. Once you are there, don’t hesitate to ask questions. I highly recommend giving a presentation at an internal seminar. Third, keep a research diary. Write down ideas, even if they seem unrealistic at first. Attend seminars since a single phrase overheard there can trigger an idea.

• About Oxford. An internship is not just about science – it’s also about personal growth, expanding your knowledge, and stepping up to a new level. Prestige played a role, of course. But… I had the option to go to a ‘simpler’ university and work on something I already knew well. Instead, I chose Oxford, where I was offered the opportunity to study something new and unfamiliar within my field. It was a challenge. Oxford truly knows how to work with visiting researchers. There are offices for guest scholars everywhere, and every day you interact with professors, postdocs, and PhD students from all over the world. Prestige is not just about the name – it is about the environment. And at Oxford, that environment is extraordinary.

• The Laboratory. The Rudolf Peierls Centre for Theoretical Physics is a true temple of science. The modern building with comfortable offices, coffee zones, and quiet spaces for thinking, is designed to inspire. It is the kind of place where you genuinely want to work 24/7.

• The Internship. Since I arrived around Christmas, the university was practically deserted. I devoted that time to reading research papers, reflecting, and preparing. I was offered several project ideas to consider. Having made a choice, I worked through a huge amount of scientific literature. The topic was related to modeling a star cluster and a black hole. We met regularly with my supervisor to discuss ongoing tasks and outline weekly plans. Whenever difficulties arose, I turned to the postdocs, whose guidance helped keep the work moving forward. The internship was originally set for three months, but it was extended at the initiative of the laboratory. That speaks volumes.
• During the Internship I attended two astrophysics seminars, delivered a presentation at the group’s seminar, received valuable feedback and recommendations that helped me improve my scientific paper, which I later published in the European Physical Journal C.
• I presented at the International Conference on Theoretical Physics and Astrophysics  and participated in a seminar where I presented our 2020 research paper which is still highly cited. The audience included leading experts in galactic dynamics. They suggested potential directions for developing my model, and now we are working together.

• What Have I Achieved? By the end of the internship, my colleagues and I completed the development of an analytical model that will be used to describe stellar dynamics near the center of our galaxy. All the results have been compiled into a scientific paper. We plan to complete the final revisions within the next month and submit it to one of the leading astrophysics journals.

• Practical Significance. I once heard an apt analogy: theoretical physics is like classical music – rarely heard, yet rich in beauty, depth, and high intellectual culture. At Oxford, I studied a key mechanism influencing stellar behavior near black holes. The results will help better understand how galaxies evolve, how stars move, collide, and disappear, which ultimately reveals how our galaxy is structured and what the future holds for it and for us.

• What I’ve Learned. In science, the most important thing is not just what you know, but the ability to generate ideas. I learned that pots aren’t made by angels – they are made by people like us. The people working there are ordinary individuals. Yes, they have excellent infrastructure, and an environment that constantly fosters creativity and research. But with the right mindset, I can work at their level too.

• Free time. I tried to absorb everything I could – interacting with all kinds of people, attending dinner parties, going to homemade syrniki (fried quark pancakes) gatherings with the Ukrainian community, and meeting with students and professors. At one event Vladimir Pozner was a guest, while at another – Stephen Fry. Random conversations often turned into profound stories. I met Anel Sytdykova – the first Kazakh woman to swim across the English Channel without a wetsuit, and to swim in the waters of Antarctica. She lives in Oxford. We became friends, and soon I joined her support team on a trip to northern England, where she completed an extreme swim in icy water.

• I trained a lot, and I run at a fairly high level. In Oxford, everyone runs, everywhere, all the time. Sometimes on weekends, I would head out of town – one of those runs took me to Dover. In general, free time in Oxford isn’t really about ‘rest’- it’s about intensity, interactions, and inspiration. Every day was like a chapter of its own.

• Plans. I am continuing to develop the research direction I began during the internship. I am currently conducting scientific calculations related to another, equally fascinating project. If all goes well, there is a strong chance this could evolve into a full internship, or even a PhD program. I am collaborating with colleagues from KazNU and Nazarbayev University. My top priority right now is to maintain the momentum set during the internship and move toward international collaboration.

• It All Started in Childhood. I was born in the village of Shortandy, 60 km from the capital. We lived in a house where I spent most of my time in the garage, tinkering with all kinds of machinery. At the time my father was the director of the district power supply company, so I had access to workshops, assembly bases, and lathes. I could spend hours watching adults work – learning from them, building things myself, and, of course, often getting in their way. That environment had a profound impact on me. I believe it was there that my drive for precision, systematic thinking, and pattern-seeking first emerged. I studied at a regular rural school, then moved to Astana, and later to Almaty to attend the Republican Physics and Mathematics School. It was there that I truly found the opportunity to fulfill my passion for the exact sciences. But it all started in Shortandy – in those workshops, with the hum of machinery and the scent of metal and oil, where I first learned to observe and to understand.

• Hobbies. Sports have been an essential part of my life since childhood – I practiced judo, swimming, and played chess. For now, running has taken center stage. Together with my friends, we even launched the ‘Astana Fartlek Podcast’ about running and triathlon. For me, running is not just a sport – it is a form of self-expression and a path of continuous growth. You are always competing only with yourself and striving to become better.