The Importance of Being a Scientist: What Young Researchers Do in Moscow Technology Parks

The work of these people resembles images from a science fiction movie: microscopes, sensors, counters. Young scientists are testing innovations, studying parts of future spaceships, satellites, and medical devices. And it was Moscow’s technology parks that powered the most ambitious research. Their laboratories and production facilities create all the conditions for inventions and discoveries.

“Today we have 46 technology parks in Moscow. These parks are provided with the entire infrastructure required to develop and implement innovative solutions, and of course, highly qualified specialists with unique competencies work here. Over 68 thousand people are employed with Moscow technology parks, and every one of them contributes to the development of science, technology, and Russian capital in general,” said Aleksei Fursin, Head of the Moscow Department of Entrepreneurship and Innovative Development.

Monitoring of new drugs

Timofey Komarov, Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Sciences, a Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University graduate, Head of Bioanalytical Research Laboratory of the Center for Pharmaceutical Analytics at Slava Technopark

Timofey Komarov has been working at the Center for Pharmaceutical Analytics for six years since it was founded six years ago. He studies what happens to drugs in the human body. Such studies are a mandatory stage of new drug authorization in Russia and the countries of the Eurasian Economic Union.

“There are two main sections in pharmacology: pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics. The former investigates the drug effect on the human body, the latter – the human body effect on the drug. Our laboratory’s focus is on pharmacokinetics. We research new drugs on high-performance liquid chromatographs and mass spectrometers. It is sophisticated and expensive chemical equipment that requires special skills and continuous maintenance,” explains the young researcher.

According to him, the Center employees develop methods of determining the studied drugs in plasma, conduct quantification of these drugs, then transfer the data to another employee – a statistician who performs processing of the results.

For Timofey, it is crucial that his work is not only research but also valuable to people. “The COVID-19 pandemic affected the Center and me personally. Currently, many of our studies involve drugs designed to treat coronavirus infection,” notes the head of the laboratories.

In his opinion, almost everyone can be interested in chemical research.

“Pharmaceutical and chemical science are not only significant areas of knowledge for subject matter experts. They may also be of interest to regular persons. Our laboratory is a regular participant in the Day Without Turnstiles campaign. Students of specialized universities, high school students, and ordinary Muscovites come to us for a tour, and our employees are glad to introduce them to pharmacology. Anyone, even those far from chemistry, can get interested,” says Timofey Komarov.

For example, a researcher acquaintance’s daughter, after visiting the Center’s laboratory on a tour, got high on chemistry, entered a major class, and now participates in all-Russian competitions in this subject. And before that, the girl was going to enter a university for the humanities.

The young man devotes his spare time to exploring the world and traveling. “I really like walking around Moscow. It is my hometown, and I truly believe it is the best place in the world. I like to travel but always return home with joy from trips,” he admits.

Add More Current

Burkhan Massalimov, a National Research Nuclear University MEPhI graduate, Junior Researcher at the Physical Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Engineer at S-Innovations at Slava Technopark

The field of Burkhan Massalimov’s scientific interests is superconductors, i.e., materials capable of conducting current without resistance.

“Conventional materials have resistance, so some energy is lost. A superconductor allows current to flow through itself without losses. I study the magnetotransport properties of superconductors, that is, how much specific current can be passed through a cable covered with such a material,” says Burkhan Massalimov.

The young scientist’s developments will be useful at almost any enterprise – from a metro substation to a thermonuclear reactor.

“I like working with my hands. We produce the superconducting tape, which is used in the construction of electric motors, current-limiting devices capable of stopping short circuits in milliseconds. So in my work, I feel involved in the creation of global projects,” he notes.

According to the engineer, Slava Technopark has all the conditions for inventions and research and, most importantly, is favorably located and easily accessible using public transport.

Outside work, the young man is an experienced swimmer. On weekends and vacations, Burkhan travels to different Russian cities, where swim races are held.

Cybernetic prosthetics, electric planes and levitating trains: Slava Technology Park unveils unique inventions

A Pilot Won’t Make a Mistake

Aleksei Medvedev, a MIREA – Russian Technological University graduate, a “quantum electronics” specialty postgraduate student of Stelmakh Polyus Research Institute, the Polyus Science and Technology Park managing company, SIC-470 first category engineer

At Polyus Science and Technology Park, Aleksei Medvedev develops and studies laser gyroscopes. These are instruments that allow for the accurate measurement of angular velocity (this is the angle by which an object rotates in a certain amount of time).

“Gyroscopes are used, for example, in the aviation industry, vehicles, robot toys. The devices I work on consist primarily of what is called a ring laser. It is made of an ultrahard material, resistant to vibration and shock, temperature effects, it does not deform, and does not break. Therefore, a device equipped with such a gyroscope will work properly, regardless of the environment,” explains the young man.

Aleksei Medvedev tests gyroscopes in the technopark’s research center: in particular on special roll-over stands, by immersing the devices one by one in heat and cold chambers and on vibration units.

The researcher’s enthusiasm is immediately apparent – it is never too much for him to talk about gyroscopes. The young scientist plans to improve the device to such an extent that it has no peers anywhere in the world. Aleksei is a regular participant in scientific conferences, his works are published in Fotonika magazine; and last year, Aleksei won the technopark’s internal competition “Best Young Specialist of the Year.”

It seems the inventor himself has already become part of the mechanism he is working on since he has to spend much time in the research center, even on weekends. However, the young man still has time for hobbies, which, by the way, he enjoys at the technology park.

“I’m into sports. Our company has three sports areas for employees: futsal, volleyball, and basketball. We develop table tennis and pistol shooting sections. We opened a chess club. I do my best to participate everywhere! Soon we will launch a musical club at the Union of Young Scientists, as many of our scientists are creative persons,” says the interviewee.

In addition, Aleksei and his colleagues visit schools and introduce high school students to gyroscopes, telling them where to use these devices. From the scientist’s perspective, it is realistic to get teenagers engaged in science if you explain that such inventions form the foundation for the future. According to his beliefs, “A new world will be built with your hands – that is what you should tell schoolchildren!”

We Got the Signal!

Olga Bagaeva, a Lomonosov Institute of Fine Chemical Technologies graduate, a postgraduate student and a first category design engineer at Stelmakh Polyus Research Institute

Olga Bagaeva is engaged in research of single-frequency lasers of a wide spectrum. Such devices are used in satellite equipment, medical devices, telecommunications.

“These lasers are in demand all over the world. Thanks to the fact that they work on a single optical mode, that is, give a single beam, transmitting signals for 100 kilometers or more is now possible. When you have many beams, there is a momentum diffusion, which leads to the reduction of transmission distance,” says Olga passionately.

She had been interested in chemistry since high school, then graduated from Lomonosov Institute of Fine Chemical Technologies with a degree in “electronic materials technology” and embarked on postgraduate studies. Olga Bagaeva got an internship at the Polyus Science and Technology Park, found herself admired for the progressive nature of the enterprises, and eventually got a job there. “I don’t want to go anywhere else. I’m in the right place, doing what I love to do,” says Olga.

According to her, the main motivator is the demand for the developments she is testing. Single-frequency lasers are used in devices instantly purchased by various organizations, including foreign ones.

In her leisure time, Olga dives into reading, particularly fantastique. “And in a paper format only, despite the age of technology. I’ve run out of space to put my books, but I keep buying them,” she smiles.