Nazarbayev University stimulates, supports and sustains a vibrant research and intellectual environment across and between disciplines for postgraduate and early career researchers. Focusing on investment and development in training, resources and facilities, the PhD Program in Science, Engineering and Technology provides an outstanding quality experience for those in the early stages of their research careers.

The PhD program is typically conducted over 48 months full time.

Each student will develop their personal and professional skills and their PhD program as part of the core curriculum courses. The program includes the possibility of taught courses (during the first three years) to support the development of postgraduate research students, to extend and test their knowledge in their research discipline. Each student will be required to formally defend their PhD proposal at the end of their first year. The program also progresses into a 36 month period dedicated to their research topic, from which a demonstrable original contribution to the knowledge pool will be assessed through a viva voce.

In total, the student would be expected to spend the first 42 months conducting research and the remaining 6 months to finalize the thesis before defending their research. Continuation into a 5th year is possible upon approval and may come with specific requisites and stipulations. The program includes the possibility of a mobility period in a host university abroad in order to provide the students with international experience.

The research visit must be fully justified and approved by the PhD Program Committee managing the PhD Program.

• Demonstrate an in-depth understanding of the contemporary research literature in their field of study;
• Critically evaluate all major types of research in their field of study;
• Identify appropriate research topics in their field of study, and generate hypotheses about such topics;
• Plan, conduct, analyse and communicate research in writing and verbal forms, independently;
• Make an original contribution to the knowledge in their area of specialization;
• Explain their research and research findings to others both orally and in written form;
• Have a deep understanding of how their research relates to the broader field of knowledge in their discipline;
• Have an understanding of how to disseminate their research findings and to develop their academic/scholarly career through presentations, publications, and national and international networking;
• Teach in their discipline at university level in English.

• Possess an in-depth and sophisticated understanding of their domain of study.
• Be intellectually agile, curious, creative and open-minded.
• Be thoughtful decision makers who know how to involve others.
• Be entrepreneurial, self-propelling and able to create new opportunities.
• Be fluent and nuanced communicators across languages and cultures.
• Be cultured and tolerant citizens of the world.
• Demonstrate high personal integrity.
• Be prepared to take a leading role in the development of their country.

Luis  Rojas-Solórzano
(Chair)
Associate Professor
Dept. of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
School of Engineering and Digital Sciences

Hortelano, Gonzalo 
(Co-chair)
Professor

Dept. of Biology

School of Science and Technology

Anara Sandygulova 

Assistant Professor
Dept. of Robotics and Mechatronics

School of Engineering and Digital Sciences

Mohammad Hashmi

Associate Professor

Dept. of Electrical and Computer Engineering

School of Engineering and Digital Sciences

Kostas, Kostantinos

Assistant Professor

Dept. of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

School of Engineering and Digital Sciences

Shazim Memon 

Associate Professor

Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering

School of Engineering and Digital Sciences