 In 1915, he joined the staff of the St. Petersburg Botanical Garden, where he continued to work until his death at first as lecturer (1915), then conservator in the Herbarium (1915-1931), senior botanist for living plants (1931-1933) and director of the Museum (1933-1934).From 1934 on, he was director of the Botanical Garden.In 1939-1941 he was sent to assist in the construction of Balkhash town, where he led the landscaping around the Balkhashtsvetmet copper plant and the city of Balkhash.