WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR
Curiosity first, technique second
  • Students from year 1 onwards — we care less about what you already know than about whether you're willing to learn
  • PhD candidates in polymer chemistry, organometallic catalysis or membrane science
  • Groups interested in joint projects on cycloolefins, Pd catalysis or gas separation

You do not need to have worked with norbornenes before. Most people who join us haven't. We usually start with a coursework project — some stay on for a diploma and a PhD, others move on, and that's normal too.

What matters is that you enjoy synthesis and want to understand why a structure behaves the way it does.



WHAT YOU GET
A bench, a project, and a team behind you
  • A working lab
    Glovebox and Schlenk lines, autoclaves, HPLC and GPC, and the TIPS RAS equipment for characterization of structure and key polymer properties.
  • A supervisor, not a template
    Every newcomer gets a supervisor and a defined project. How that works varies — some people run a piece of a larger project under close guidance, others get more room early on. It depends on the topic, the stage and on you.
  • You will present your own work
    Everyone here presents — at the annual lab seminar first, then at conferences once the results are there. Our students have spoken in St Petersburg, Ekaterinburg and Kazan, and won best-presentation awards.
  • Funded projects
    Our research is supported by Russian Science Foundation grants — including projects led by younger members of the group, not only the head of the lab.
Open Directions
Where a new person could start
These are the areas where we currently have room for someone new. If none of them fit but the chemistry interests you, contact us anyway.
  • Catalysts for vinyl-addition polymerization
    Designing (NHC)Pd and (NHC)Ni catalysts, understanding what makes them active and air-stable.
  • Membrane materials
    Synthesising polynorbornenes for CO₂ capture and studying structure–property relationships.
  • Materials for electronic devices
    Preparation of polynorbornenes for anion-exchange membranes and various polymer structures for polyelectrolytes for batteries
  • Fuels and lubricant additives
    Metathesis routes to synthetic base oils, pour-point depressants and dispersants.
WHAT PEOPLE HERE HAVE DONE
Students who came and what came of it
  • Diana attended the conference near Elbrus mountain, won best oral presentation in St Petersburg and co-authored her first paper
  • Six PhD theses defended by lab members in the last three years
  • Valeriia has taken a best-presentation award twice, in Moscow and Ekaterinburg
  • Artyom took the
    Presidential scholarship for his effort in the development of functional polynorbornenes
Life in the lab
Long days, and people worth spending them with
Liquid nitrogen arrives every Monday, whatever the weather. The annual lab meeting runs to eighteen talks and ten hours of discussion, and then we go and play archery tag. Our people have eaten hot pot in Chengdu, skied in Siberia and argued about polymerization mechanisms at the foot of Elbrus.
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How it works
From first email to first experiment
  • Write to us
    Send a short email describing what you have worked on and what you would like to try. A CV helps, but a couple of honest paragraphs help more.
  • Come and see the lab
    We show you the benches, the glovebox and the instruments, and you meet the people you would work with. No commitment at this point.
  • Pick a starting project
    We suggest you a first task that matches your background and gives a visible result within a few months.
Tell us what you would like to work on
A short email is enough to start. We answer everyone, and we are happy to talk even if you are only considering your options.
Contact us
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