Inorganic Chemistry

Profession

The area of expertise of the graduates, who have completed the postgraduate course in “Chemical Sciences” includes problem-solving of complex professional tasks in the field of science-intensive technologies and chemistry education, which encompass а whole set of branches of theoretical and applied chemistry, as well as related natural sciences.
The objectives of the course are:
development of independent research and teaching skills;
in-depth study of the theoretical and methodological fundamentals of chemical sciences;
improvement of philosophical education being focused on the area of expertise;
mastering of a foreign language knowledge, in particular for use in professional activities;
completion of the final empirical research which contributes to creation, broadening and development of scientific knowledge.
Postgraduate course graduates can carry out research activities in the field of chemistry, as well as in related fields (biochemistry, geochemistry, petrochemistry, ecology, pharmacy), teach in higher education establishments and plan and organize work of their structural divisions to solve specific chemistry oriented technological tasks.

Educational Process

Postgraduate course in „Chemical Sciences” at the Faculty of Science of the RUDN University, is aimed at training of scientific and academic personnel of higher qualification, capable of innovation practices in the relevant field of chemistry and related fields of science and higher education.
Postgraduate course consists of several units.
Unit 1. “General Courses”:
Compulsory (Disciplines) Module:
“English”
“Philosophy”
University Disciplines Module:
“Methodology of scientific research”
“Priority areas for development in chemistry”
“Methodology of teaching chemistry in a higher education institution”
Electives:
“Coordination chemistry”;
“Solid-state chemistry“;
“Supramolecular chemistry of polyhedral compounds“;
“Applications of synchrotron radiation in inorganic material research“.
Unit 2. “Internship“
research internship;
teaching internship.
Unit 3. “Scientific Research“
Unit 4. “State Final Certification“
the state examination;
presentation of a scientific report on the main results of the scientific qualification work (thesis).
Practical classes and scientific research are performed in educational and research laboratories equipped with modern instrumentation and analytical equipment.
Areas of research:
new types of functionally substituted compounds of group 14 and group 16 elements in unusual valence state and coordination environment;
structurally substituted complex oxide ceramics with specific electrophysical properties;
coordination compounds of rare platinum group metals with nitrogen- and sulfur-containing ligands;
metallic oxide and metallic nitride clusters as a base for creation of a new type of materials with adjustable magnetic, luminescent, photosensitive and catalytic properties;
synthesis, structure and property research of molecular clusters and supramolecular compositions based on alkali and transition metal complexes.
Postgraduate course accomplishes with preparation and defense of the thesis for the degree of Candidate of Chemical Sciences.

Practice

Teaching and research internships, as well as scientific research are meaningful opportunities for postgraduate students to try themselves as teachers and research chemists. Internships included in the curriculum are held using scientific laboratories of the Department of Inorganic Chemistry of Faculty of Science, Common Purpose Center “Physical and Chemical Research of New Materials, Substances and Catalytic Systems”, and centers of The Joint Institute for Chemical Research. As part of the course implementation, postgraduate students actively take part in grant-funded research. Cooperation with leading universities of Russia is used extensively in terms of joint research projects. There is an opportunity for international cooperation and education abroad. The Department of Inorganic Chemistry actively cooperates with laboratories of the Institute of Organoelement Compounds of the RAS (Russian Academy of Sciences), A.V.Topchiev Institute of Petrochemical Synthesis of the RAS, Baikov Institute of Metallurgy and Materials Science of the RAS, National Research Center “Kurchatov Institute”, Karpov Institute of Physical Chemistry, University of New Mexico (USA).

Career

Course graduates continue their career in foreign universities and institutes of the Russian Academy of Sciences; Research Center laboratories conducting research in the fields of chemistry, biochemistry, geochemistry, petrochemistry, ecology, pharmacy; in research and analytical laboratories of various industries; institutions for higher vocational education.