Do you enjoy looking behind the scenes of the Lisk project? 

 

Surely, you have already seen our dream research team at various blockchain conferences and online videos. In their everyday working life, they are dedicated to researching, reviewing, and specifying the Lisk blockchain protocol. These people work closely together with different developer teams at Lightcurve to ensure its smooth, correct, and secure implementation. 

 

In today’s blog, we offer you a unique opportunity to get to know our researchers from a different, more personal side.  
 

Take a peek into what life as a researcher looks like. 

 

Let’s go!

 

 

 

Jan Hackfeld, Ph.D. - Chief Research Officer (CRO)

 

How would you describe the research team? 

Everyone on our team has different backgrounds (mathematics, physics, and computer science). Yet, everyone is similarly excited about the latest research inside and outside the blockchain industry and enjoys discussing technical, philosophical, or generally nerdy topics over a coffee or in front of a whiteboard. We also have a lot of fun playing different board games or old-school computer games during team events. 

 

What are the most interesting facts about you?

I am passionate about cultural exchange and traveling. In high school and university, I participated in various exchange programs. I lived one year as an exchange student in Austin, Texas, one year as an Erasmus student in London, UK, and further participated in shorter exchange programs in Russia, Tunisia, Ukraine, and Ecuador. I also hiked around 900 km on the Camino de Santiago starting in Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port in southern France. 

 

What do you like about working at Lightcurve? 

I really like working in such an international environment as we have at Lightcurve. Just in the research team alone, we are 9 people with 7 different nationalities. Talking with colleagues, I frequently learn something new and interesting about their countries and diverse backgrounds. I also enjoy our generally friendly, collaborative, and positive working environment a lot.

 

 

Vikas Jaiman, Ph.D. - Research Scientist

 

What are the most interesting facts about you?

I love to travel! I have a collection of postcards from all the cities around the world that I have visited. 

 

What do you like about working at Lightcurve? 

Apart from the free coffee, I like the diversity and working environment at Lightcurve, where everyone is working passionately towards a common goal. All the research team members are always willing to help each other.

 

Describe the Research team in three words. 

Focused, friendly, cooperative.

 

 

Ananya Shrivastava, Ph.D. - Research Scientist

 

What are the most interesting facts about you?

I am pretty good at solving Rubik's cube. I have a bunch of cubes and I get a little fanatical when I see an unsolved cube around me.

 

What do you like about working at Lightcurve? 

I really enjoy working with amazing people having different backgrounds from different parts of the world, yet converging towards the same goal.

 

Describe the Research team in three words. 

Innovative, diligent, curious.

 

 

 

 

Alessandro Ricottone, Ph.D. - Head of Research

 

What are the most interesting facts about you?

I hold the unofficial world record for Cubefield. It's unofficial because I never checked if it actually is the world record, but I reckon it's pretty good.

 

What do you like about working at Lightcurve? 

I really enjoy working in a diverse environment with people from all over the world. Also, I always felt bad for not studying math at university and getting to work with mathematicians is at least a consolation.

 

Describe the Research team in three words. 

Check ma LIP.

 

 

Sergey Shemyakov, Ph.D. - Research Scientist

 

What are the most interesting facts about you?

I used to be an active member of the Couchsurfing community by letting travelers stay at my place. In total, I hosted around 100 people, including a 9-year-old girl hitchhiking with her sister and a couple of people committed to traveling around the globe without any money. 

I have an identical twin brother and sometimes meet complete strangers that consider it rude that I haven’t greeted them.

During the COVID lockdown, I was perfecting my recipe for borscht soup, which got me into heated arguments with some Ukrainians.

 

What do you like about working at Lightcurve? 

First, the company is very committed to contributing to blockchain technology, which makes us strive for a common goal. We share technological positivism and curiosity. Second, I have a feeling of open collaboration, the company is transparent and I feel heard. Finally, I enjoy the research-driven nature of Lightcurve: all my colleagues always seek to deepen their knowledge about the technology and the protocol and genuinely value the contribution of the Research Department.

 

Describe the Research team in three words. 

Curious, diverse, focused.

 

 

Andreas Kendziorra, Ph.D. - Research Scientist

 

What are the most interesting facts about you?

I have a brown belt in Judo and I'm fighting against advertising in public spaces by participating in an initiative for a referendum in Berlin ("Berlin Werbefrei").

 

What do you like about working at Lightcurve? 

To work on a challenging and ambitious project in a motivated team where everyone strives for the same goal.

 

Describe the Research team in three words. 

Passionate, eager, accurate.

 

 

 

Greg Koumoutsos, Ph.D. - Research Scientist

 

What are the most interesting facts about you?

I have been to 22 islands of the Cyclades, most of them camping. I participated in a workshop that took place on a train from Saint Petersburg to Novosibirsk. 

My hobbies change almost every year. The music I like can not be categorized: I have been to a rock, dub, and Greek folk concert within the same week. I am always late, but my friends still talk to me. I am perhaps the only person at Lightcurve who does not like gin tonic. I taught my daughter to use traffic lights at the age of 2.

 

What do you like about working at Lightcurve? 

The diversity and the international environment. We have members from all around the world, most of them having lived in several countries. The exchange of ideas, experiences, and life stories is endless. Moreover, I really feel that all teams are devoted to a common goal. 

 

Describe the Research team in three words. 

Crazy scientists’ union.

 

 

 

Miroslav Jerkovic, Ph.D. - Research Scientist

 

What are the most interesting facts about you?

I ran the New York Marathon, which was a surreal experience for me, especially considering the fact that I started running pretty late (but not too late). And the result for that first time was pretty good.

 

What do you like about working at Lightcurve? 

Overall strong focus of the whole team, positive, and friendly working atmosphere. Everyone is willing to help each other. We find our ways to make serious topics interesting and fun. We try to find the best solutions to the problems at hand, which is not always easy.

 

Describe the Research team in three words. 

Attentive, smart, friendly.

 

 

Maxime Gagnebin, Ph.D. - Research Scientist

 

What is a random musical fact about you?

I've been playing the tuba since I was 12. I played throughout high school and in several bands, we even went for a tour in China for a few concerts. 

 

What do you like about working at Lightcurve? 

The whole team is really focussed to the same goal. We strive to make everyone fit in and make sure we have the tools to produce the best results.

 

Describe the Research team in three words. 

Ingenious, curious, passionate.