Guedes Manuel Soma

I am from Angola. I moved to Russia in 2013 and got my Master's degree in computer science and engineering from Tver State Technical University.

I chose to continue my education for two reasons: first, I wanted to expand my expertise in the field and earn a PhD degree. Then, I earned a presidential grant to study at one of the world's top 600 universities, according to the 2019 QS World University Rankings, and my home country gave me a seven-million-ruble grant for my four-year studies. As a result, I enrolled in ITMO University and began studying management in organizational systems. Thanks to ITMO, I was able to attend international conferences, publish my papers in international scientific journals, and obtain funding for my research. 

Namely, I created an AI-based software to better the lives of Angolans; the system, called TERS (Target Emotional Routing System), is designed to improve the quality of service at the country's banks, multipurpose centers, and other organizations.

Here is how it works: the software uses AI to recognize people’s emotions and age in real-time and automatically determine the best-suited customer route based on this data. It helps to reduce customer waiting times, prevent conflicts by directing emotionally-tense customers to specialized employees, and provide priority service to the elderly. The technology has already been adopted by a large Angolan bank, Banco Sol, in Luanda, as well as civil protection and fire services in Angola.

Alexander Semyonov

After completing my Master’s in robotization of chemical technologies at ITMO, the next natural step for me was to pursue my PhD. This move made me realize that science is what I like doing, so I decided to learn more about methods and devices for monitoring and diagnostics of materials, products, substances, and the environment. I was intrigued by the program’s interdisciplinary nature, which combines physics, chemistry, engineering, programming, and automation. I was particularly interested in automation required for improved research accuracy, minimization of the human factor, and faster data processing. This approach lays the path for novel solutions to global environmental problems, making it both relevant and socially-beneficial. 

One of my projects focuses on automating a mobile mini-laboratory for managing cell and bacterial systems. The laboratory is equipped with a robotic arm – the collaborative manipulator Rozum Pulse 90; it is designed to increase experiment replicability and minimize the risk of cell culture contamination. My role in this project is to develop automation methods for the laboratory, which includes training the robot to use various chemical equipment. Laboratories of this kind can already be found in some Russian schools.

Another research project I'm working on is aimed at identifying the optimal corrosion inhibitors in petroleum fluids. In particular, we’re looking into substances that protect metal pipes from being destroyed by oil-produced water.

My PhD studies are about more than just furthering my education; they are also an opportunity to do what I genuinely enjoy. It equips me with hands-on experience – and also proves useful in solving real-world tasks.

Oleksii Peltek 

I enrolled in a PhD program because I’ve been doing science since I was a Bachelor’s student: I studied medical physics at Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University, followed by my Master’s in advanced quantum and nanophotonic systems at ITMO University. After that, I was determined to stay at ITMO and so I applied for a PhD program here. I opted for optics because it was similar enough to my prior field of study, but also because I wanted to continue my studies at the Faculty of Physics. 

Speaking of my research, I’m studying and developing nanoparticles. For one, I did a study on the use of gold particles in photothermal therapy. The idea is to deliver nanoparticles to the tumor, heat them with a laser, and thus destroy tumor cells. For that purpose, we’ve come up with a fluorescent method for determining intracellular temperatures and also investigated how gold nanoparticles inside cells behave when heated.

These research projects require varied competencies; they turn out to be interdisciplinary and challenge us to bring together materials science, biology, and in vivo experiments. I like working on complex cases that call for different specialists and teams that exist at ITMO. 

What I love about my PhD studies is freedom. Here, I can grow both as a researcher and also a team lead. I also appreciate having a say in academic and work matters; the university encourages new ideas and initiatives. During my PhD years at ITMO, I managed to launch the student research competition named ITMO.Collab. For three years now, ITMO.Collab has been bringing together academics from different fields, promoting collaboration between Master’s and PhD students and training future PIs at the university.