St Petersburg University to prepare unique specialists in chemical technology

The joint project of St Petersburg University and Almaz-Antey aims to fill the gap in preparing chemists-technologists who conduct research in the field of materials science of high-performance materials. St Petersburg University has always prepared high-calibre specialists. St Petersburg University graduates will now receive a broader range of competencies. Among them are both fundamental and engineering competences. They are also expected to be engaged in the development and operation of products.

The Department of Technology of High-Performance Materials and Products will focus on the practical application of the developments of St Petersburg University’s experts and the results of fundamental research in the field of chemistry conducted by researchers, students and early-career researchers at the University. Today, a number of laboratories at St Petersburg University are successfully implementing projects for the design of nanomaterials. For example, scientists have developed molecules that are combined with nanoparticles to obtain hybrid materials with new unique properties. Scientists are also actively experimenting with organic electrode materials for chemical current sources; modelling superplastic inorganic semiconductors; and testing molecular-plasmon nanostructures for biomedical applications.

According to Sergey Mikushev, Vice-Rector for Research at St Petersburg University, cooperation between scientists and companies will enable us to conduct research and avoid the customer-executor relationship scheme. This approach enables scientists to make adjustments in the course of the research to achieve the results in the most cost-efficient and timely manner possible and avoid dead-ends of the development process.

The results of the development of new materials can be applied in the field of rocket and missile engineering, where nanocomposite materials and optical elements are used. They can also be used in solar power engineering, where nanostructured materials are used to convert solar energy into electricity. Additionally, they can be used in research in the field of polymers and semiconductors.

‘For the classical university, the Department of Technology of High-Performance Materials and Products is unique,’ said Irina Balova, Director of the Institute of Chemistry at St Petersburg University. ‘This is the Department with a technological orientation. Today, we should be engaged in the development of chemical technologies. To this end, we will prepare specialists with experience in working with chemical technologies and developing new effective materials.’

Students are planned to be prepared as part of the master’s programme "High-Tech Materials". It is one of the few engineering programmes at the University that prepares specialists in the development of methods for the synthesis of new materials; the study of physical and chemical properties of the materials; and their application. According to Aleksei Povolotskii, Head of the academic programme, the demand for new high-performance materials in various fields is very wide: ‘Among them are: physics; chemistry; medicine; biology; cell imaging; and research into various processes. In other words, each area where nanotechnology is used. These are huge areas: not interdisciplinary, but multidisciplinary ones. Graduates are multi-discipline specialists who can develop and apply various methods. What is more is that they can manage groups, both small and large, to run projects for the development of nanotechnology, to prepare a project proposal and carry out a project from the very beginning to copyright protection in the form of patents.

Over the past two years, several laboratories and departments have been opened at St Petersburg University. They are engaged in fundamental research and applied development to benefit the real economy. St Petersburg University opened the Laboratory for the Production of Batteries in cooperation with the Rigel Battery Company. The University also opened the Laboratory for the Development of Processors in cooperation with the Yadro Company. The purpose of this partnership is to use the results of fundamental research; improve the competencies of the University students; and develop practical skills of students.

Master’s students will be able to pursue the programme even this year. They will carry out research on laboratory equipment and in the resource centres of the Research Park at St Petersburg University. The most successful students are expected to have an internship at the Institute of Applied Materials Science at the North-Western Centre of the Almaz-Antey Aerospace Defence Concern.