Engineer of communications and one of the pioneers of locomotive construction in Russia, professor.

In 1879, he organized the first laboratory in the country for studying fuel, water, and lubricants on the Southwestern Railway. From 1880 to 1882, he created the world's first locomotive laboratory based in the Kyiv workshops.

Together with L. M. Levi, he developed a methodology for stationary testing of locomotives. In 1885, according to Borodin's project, the first tandem compound locomotive was built.

He was also one of the founders and editors of the journal "Engineer" (1882, Kyiv) and became its chief editor in 1889. The Russian Technical Society established the Borodin Gold Medal for outstanding inventions and research in the field of railway transport.