Chemistry

Profession

Chemistry is one of the most important sciences that provides an opportunity to understand the world around us. It is the science of substances, their properties, structure and transformations that occur as a result of chemical reactions, as well as the fundamental laws to which these transformations obey. Since all substances consist of atoms that due to chemical bonds are able to form molecules, chemistry is mainly concerned with the study of interactions between atoms and molecules resulting from such interactions. The subject of chemistry is chemical elements and their compounds, as well as the patterns that govern various chemical reactions. The inability to imagine any modern technology without chemistry is the value of chemistry for humanity. Knowledge of chemistry gives the opportunity to work in the field of medicine, pharmacology, biochemistry and biophysics, molecular biology and other fields of human activity.
A chemist performs chemical analysis and research of the composition of substances, studies their properties, carries out chemical analysis and synthesizes new products and materials with a specified chemical composition and structure. Observation and curiosity, perseverance and desire to learn new things, patience and critical thinking, interest in conducting research and the ability to scientific creativity are important for a chemist. The profession requires a high level of concentration and stability of attention, the ability to analyze and systematize the received information. Such personal qualities as organization, accuracy, clarity, concentration, perseverance are important.

Educational Process

Educational process provides for the assimilation of basic knowledge in physics and mathematics, as well as fundamental university training in the field of inorganic, organic, analytical, physical and colloid chemistry. Great attention is paid to the learning of modern methods of obtaining and analyzing new substances and materials, including chromatography, mass spectrometry, NMR and X-ray diffraction analysis, electives. Considerable time is devoted to research work, participation in scientific seminars and scientific and practical conferences.

Practice

All 3rd year students do academic and research internships at the Topchiev Institute of Petrochemical Synthesis at the Russian Academy of Sciences and scientific centers of the Joint Institute for Chemical Research. The research work and internships provided for in the curriculum contribute to the formation and consolidation of professional competencies, includes the mandatory participation of students in scientific work, the execution and defense of interdisciplinary course paper on the subject of compulsory disciplines of the professional module, as well as the participation of students in scientific work through the scientific student society. Every year, workshops for students are held by leading experts and representatives of employers of real sectors of the economy, Russian and foreign scientists from leading universities and research centers.

Career

Chemistry graduates work in organizations and firms related to the manufacture, analysis and quality control and implementation of chemical products, in research and development institutes, in pharmaceutical firms and enterprises, as well as in chemical and technological departments of factories, at chemical enterprises which produce fertilizers, plastics, synthetic fiber, at the enterprises of the food, perfume, pulp and paper industry, ore mining and processing, metallurgical combine. The acquired knowledge can be applied in ecology, the agricultural sector, in the field of processing and certification of food and medicinal plants. In addition, a chemist with a bachelor’s degree can engage in teaching activities at school or college.