PhD in Science, Engineering and Technology (only until cohort 2018)

Message from the Director of PhD in SET

Dear PhD applicant, Thanks for your interest in our PhD programs in the School of Engineering and Digital Sciences at Nazarbayev University:

PhD in Chemical Engineering
PhD in Civil Engineering
PhD in Computer Science
PhD in Electrical Engineering
PhD in Mechanical Engineering
PhD in Robotics Engineering

Nazarbayev University is a growing research university located in the heart of Eurasia, with a strong commitment to deliver world-class education and research training to our local and international students. Our internationally recognized faculty, partners and visiting fellows are fully accompanied by growing research grants from different funding sources, state-of-the-art lab/computer facilities, modern library and classrooms, supported by tremendously diligent and resourceful technical, administrative and managerial staff. Our PhD Programs focus on developing a new generation of globally competitive scientists, researchers and developers of new technologies. With such a tremendous effort in bringing together the finest team, infrastructure and organization, we strive in inviting you, among the best students from Kazakhstan and around the world, to experience together the fantastic journey towards your doctoral degree in a world-class institution. Visit the website of the affiliated department to PhD program of your interest and contact the Head of Department if you have questions about the program, admission or your research field of interest to help you completing the application forms. We look forward to meeting you soon. Konstantinos Kostas, Ph.D. Associate Professor and Director of Graduate Studies School of Engineering and Digital Sciences Email: konstantinos.kostas@nu.edu.kz

Outstanding support for postgraduate and early career researchers

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.

About the program

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.

On successful completion of the program, the PhD student will be able to (Learning Outcomes):

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.

NU Graduates shall: (Graduate Attributes)

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.

PhD in Science, Engineering and Technology program's alumni

Name

Sultangali Arzykulov

Background:

-The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
MSc in Communication Engineering,

-KazNTU named after K.I.Satpayev, Almaty,

Kazakhstan

BSc in Radio Engineering, Electronics and Telecommunications

Thesis topic:

"Enhanced Cognitive Radio with Energy
Harvesting and Non-Orthogonal Multiple Access”

Lead Supervisor:

Behrouz Maham, Seng, NU

Co-Supervisor(s):

Refik Kizilirmak, SEng, NU

External Co-Supervisor(s):

Theodoros Tsiftsis (Jinan University, China), Mohamed Abdallah
(Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Qatar)

Email:

sultangali.arzykulov@nu.edu.kz

Name

Aliya Mukanova

Thesis topic:

“Design and engineering of advanced anode materials for energy storage and conversion applications”

Research of interests

Material science, nanomaterials, characterization methods, lithium-ion batteries, thin films, materials for fission and fusion reactors, modeling of substance-irradiation interaction

Lead Supervisor:

Zhumabay Bakenov, SEng, NU

Co-Supervisor(s):

Arailym Nurpeissova, NLA, NU

External Co-Supervisor(s):

Sung-Soo Kim (Chumgnam National University, South Korea)
Maksym Myronov (The University of Warwick, UK)

Email:

aliya.mukanova@nu.edu.kz

Name

Zhandos Tauanov

Background:

-Loughborough University (United Kingdom)
MSc in Advanced Process Engineering

- Al-Farabi Kazakh National University (Kazakhstan)

BSc in Chemical Technology of Organic Substances

Thesis topic:

"Removal of Mercury and Iodide from Water using Coal Fly Ash derived Synthetic Zeolites and Nanocomposites"

Lead Supervisor:

Vasileios Inglezakis, SEng, NU

Co-Supervisor(s):

Dhawal Shah, SEng, NU

External Co-Supervisor(s):

Grigorios Itskos (Purdue University, USA)

Email:

zhtauanov@nu.edu.kz

Name

Marzhan Sypabekova

Background:

-Ecole Normale Superieure de Cachan, Paris, France
MSc in Bionanophotonics for telecommunications and biology

-University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK

BSc Honors in Biotechnology

Thesis topic:

“Impedance based biosensor for detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis secreted protein MPT64”

Lead Supervisor:

Damira Kanayeva, SST, NU

Co-Supervisor(s):

Daniele Tosi, SEng, NU

External Co-Supervisor(s):

Claude Nogues (Ecole Normale Superieur de Cachan, France)

Links:

https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Marzhan_Sypabekova , https://www.linkedin.com/in/marzhan-sypabekova-567a4b130/

Name

Vadim Yapiyev

Background:

- Central European University, Budapest, Hungary
Master of Science in Environmental Sciences and Policy

- Eurasian University, Astana Kazakhstan B.Sc. in Chemistry and Environmental Science

Thesis topic:

“Evaporation and water balance of small endorheic lakes in semi-arid Northern Kazakhstan”

Lead Supervisor:

Jay Sagin, SEng, NU

Co-Supervisor(s):

Christian Schonbach, SST, NU
Inglezakis Vassilis, SEng, NU

External Co-Supervisor(s):

Anne Verhoef (University of Reading, UK)

Email:

vyapiyev@nu.edu.kz

PROGRAMS

School of Engineering and Digital Sciences