Graduated from College of Physics, Theoretical Physics Department of Kalinigrad State University (1979). PhD (candidate of physical&mathematical sciences), Leningrad State University (1983), scientific advisors Prof. F.M. Kuni and Prof. A.I. Rusanov. The academic title of Associated Prof. in Department of Theoretical Physics (1990). Doctor of Science Degree, St Petersburg State University (1994). The academic title of Professor in Department of Statistical Physics (2003).

Works as professor of Statistical Physics Department of St Petersburg State University since 1997, the vice-head of the Theoretical Physics Division of V.A. Fock Research Institute of Physics StPbSU since 2005, the head of the Department of Statistical Physics of StPbSU since 2007.

The research fields thermodynamics and kinetics of phase transformation, the theory of nucleation and micellization, statistical calculations of equilibrium nanoparticles. The results obtained in these fields are published in 206 works (among them 124 papers, 4 reviews, 5 textbooks). Was a supervisor of 6 Ph.D. theses.

Worked on the thermodynamic and kinetic theory of the effect of an asymmetry to a charge sign in ion-induced nucleation. This theory described the mechanism of charge separation in the Earth atmosphere and in other natural electric phenomena in disperse systems. Worked on development of thermodynamics of a new phase formation in a non-central electric fields, when the critical and stable new phase particles can be non-spherically deformed (elongated or squeezed) by the field; on development of the theory of sized thermal effects in homogeneous and heterogeneous nucleation; on the theory of the mechanism of the barrierless nucleation on wettable insoluble and soluble condensation nuclei, on the theory of adsorption effects of the surfactant condensation nucleus matter at droplet surface; on direct calculation of the structure and thermodynamic parameters of a critical nanodroplet with the help of the density functional approach; on description of the sized effects of linear tension of the contact line of lens-like droplets. Investigated the equations of nucleation kinetics on soluble and insoluble condensation nuclei and their non-steady solutions, found the universal relationships for thermodynamic quantities at barrierless and barrier heterogeneous nucleation. By contrast to the common opinion, it was demonstrated that the effect of surface activity of soluble nuclei is able not only to impede but also to enhance heterogeneous nucleation on soluble nuclei of surfactants. During last decade was active in the theory of micellization in surfactant solutions, together with colleagues we built thermodynamic models for spherical, cylindrical and globul micelles, developed the theory of molecular mechanism of micellar relaxation which involved key questions from the physical origin and hierarchy of relaxation processes to a direct calculation of relaxation characteristic times.

The member of Scientific Council in Colloid Chemistry and Physical and Chemical Mechanics of the Russian Academy of Sciences since 2007. The member of the Editorial Board of the Colloid Journal of RAS, since 1997. Awarded by the diploma of the Ministry of Higher Education of Russian Federation (1989), honour diploma of the Ministry of Education of Russian Federation (2004). Was a scientific supervisor of 6 PhD theses. Awarded by the diploma of International Publishing Company Maik-Nauka (1995) for the best publications in scientific journals of Russian Academy of Science. Soros Professor (2002-2004). The winner of the main award of International Publishing Company Maik-Nauka for series of works entitled The general kinetic theory of micellization and molecular mechanisms of relaxation (2005).

Was an invited professor in the University of Kentucky (Lexington, USA, IREX program) in 1987-1988, in Cornell University (Ithaka, USA, grant of NSF) in 1995, in the University Nebraska-Lincoln (Lincoln, USA, grant of NSF) i 1997, in University of California-Los Angeles (Los Angeles, USA, grant of NSF) in 2003, in the Kabardino-Balkaria State University (Nalchik, Russian Federation) in 2008, in the Leibnitz Institute for Tropospheric Research (Leipzig, Germany) in 2009.