
A native of Ukraine, Rybak-Akimova, while in high school, was the first girl to win a gold medal in Ukraine’s National Chemistry Olympiad. She also won the gold medal at the 10th International Chemistry Olympiad in Torun, Poland.
Professor Rybak-Akimova was a summa cum laude graduate of Shevchenko University in Kiev. She later earned a Ph.D. u inorganic chemistry at the Institute of Physical Chemistry of the Academy of Science of Ukraine. Dr. Rybak-Akimova came to the United States in 1992 to conduct postdoctoral research at the University of Kansas.
Professor Rybak-Akimova joined the faculty at Tufts University in 1997 as an assistant professor. She was promoted to associate professor in 2003 and full professor in 2009.


