The life journey of an outstanding scientist
Born on May 15 in the Ivanivka village, Kupiansk district, Kharkiv region. Father — Illia Ivanovych Mechnikov, an officer from St. Petersburg of Moldavian noble descent. Mother — Emilia Levivna Nevakhovych.
Enrolled in the Second Kharkiv Gymnasium. Showed early interest in natural sciences.
Graduated from the gymnasium with a gold medal. Enrolled in the natural science department of the Faculty of Physics and Mathematics at Kharkiv University.
At age 19, completed the university course and published his first scientific work in Germany. Traveled to Heligoland island to study marine fauna.
Together with Alexander Kovalevsky, studied embryonic development of marine invertebrates in Naples, laying the foundations of comparative embryology.
Received the Karl Baer Prize from the Academy of Sciences together with Kovalevsky for their work in embryology. Defended his master's thesis and was elected docent.
Defended his doctoral dissertation on the embryonic development of fish and crustaceans at St. Petersburg University.
Became an ordinary professor of the Department of Zoology and Comparative Anatomy at Novorossiysk University in Odesa.
In Messina (Italy), while studying starfish larvae, discovered phagocytosis — the process by which cells engulf foreign particles. This discovery became the foundation of cellular immunity theory.
Together with Mykola Gamaleya, founded the first bacteriological station in the country in Odesa — now the Odesa Research Institute of Virology and Epidemiology named after I.I. Mechnikov.
After meeting Louis Pasteur, moved to Paris and received a laboratory at the Pasteur Institute, where he worked for the next 28 years.
Elected honorary doctor of the University of Cambridge. Presented his phagocytosis research results at the London International Congress.
Published the fundamental work 'Immunity in Infectious Diseases', presenting the phagocytic theory of immunity.
Published 'Études sur la nature humaine', studying aging and introducing the term 'gerontology' into scientific discourse.
Elected member of the French Academy of Sciences. Recognized as one of Europe's leading scientists.
Together with Paul Ehrlich, received the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 'for their work on immunity'. Became the first Ukrainian Nobel laureate.
Died on July 15 in Paris at the age of 71. His urn was placed at the Pasteur Institute according to his will.