Davyd Stepanenko graduated from the Financial-Economic Lyceum in Dnipro (Ukraine), where he specialized in Economics and Natural Sciences.
In the 10th grade, he conducted a research project on the creation of a biopolymer based on calcium alginate—a sustainable material designed to help reduce plastic pollution by offering a low-cost, eco-friendly alternative for packaging and everyday products. His project earned first place in the national stage of the All-Ukrainian research competition of the Junior Academy of Sciences of Ukraine (JASU). This achievement gave him the opportunity to represent Ukraine at several prestigious international science fairs, including INOVA in Croatia, I-FEST in Tunisia, and the GENIUS Olympiad in the USA.
In the 11th grade, Davyd continued to expand his environmental work and was awarded first place at the national stage of the All-Ukrainian Ecology Olympiad, further affirming his commitment to ecological innovation.
Currently, Davyd is pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Molecular Biotechnology at FH Campus Wien in Vienna. In 2025, he was awarded the IV-STEM Scholarship for High Potentials from Ukraine, a program that supports outstanding young scientists dedicated to solving global challenges.
As part of this program, Davyd will lead a course on Data Science Analysis in Biology for high school students in Vienna—sharing his knowledge at the intersection of biology, sustainability, and data, and inspiring the next generation of innovators.