HSE Faculty of Chemistry Professor Wins Vyzov Prize
On December 9, 2024, the winners of the Vyzov Prize for Future Technologies were announced. Professor Leonid Fershtat from the Joint Department of Organic Chemistry with the RAS Zelinsky Institute of Organic Chemistry was honoured in the ‘Future’ category for his advanced research on creating functional organic materials for multi-purpose use based on high-nitrogen molecular architectures.
Vyzov is an award in the field of future technologies, established by the Vyzov Foundation for the Development of Scientific and Cultural Relations. Gazprombank is a co-founder of the prize, with partners including Rosatom State Corporation, the Roscongress Foundation, and the Moscow Government. The award aims to inspire and motivate young people to connect their lives with science and technology in Russia, making scientific discoveries symbols of success.
‘The Vyzov prize recognises and supports scientific advancements and projects. The prospects for scientists are vast. By 2030, funding for Russian science is expected to increase to 2% of GDP, including non-budgetary sources. Business involvement in science is crucial, and the Vyzov Foundation and its prize exemplify such synergy,’ said Dmitry Chernyshenko, Deputy Prime Minister of Russia and a member of the foundation's board of trustees.
The prize is given in five categories: ‘Future’ (for scientific achievements impacting the dynamics of science and technology, for individuals under 35), ‘Engineering Solution,’ ‘Breakthrough,’ ‘Discovery,’ and ‘Scientist of the Year.’ Each category has one winner, with a total prize fund of 55 million roubles.
Leonid Fershtat is a young organic chemist and graduate of the Higher Chemical College of the Russian Academy of Sciences, part of the D.I. Mendeleev University of Chemical Technology. He received his Candidate of Sciences (PhD) degree in 2015 and his Doctor of Sciences (DS) degree in 2020. Currently, he leads the Laboratory of Nitrogen-Containing Compounds at the RAS Zelinsky Institute of Organic Chemistry and works at the institute’s Joint Department of Organic Chemistry.
Leonid Fershtat
‘Our research is focused on developing methods to create new organic substances with high nitrogen content. These substances have significant energy density, meaning they store a large amount of chemical energy. Due to these properties, such materials are in demand in the mining industry, for tunnel construction, and as next-generation fuels for aerospace programmes,’ said Leonid Fershtat.
He added that some of the synthesised substances also have tremendous potential in medicine due to their various pharmacological activities, including vasodilatory, thrombolytic, and anti-tumour effects. ‘Our research is essentially multifaceted and aimed at developing both new functional materials and potential pharmaceuticals,’ he concluded.
‘I never expected to win the prize,’ admitted Leonid Fershtat. ‘The competition is tough, as there are already many actively working young scientists in our country. For me, this award is not only recognition of my achievements by a highly distinguished scientific committee, which includes leaders of modern science, but also a powerful incentive for further development. After all, the most important thing is to never rest on your laurels.’
Leonid Fershtat has been teaching at the HSE Faculty of Chemistry since 2022, running three specialised courses on organic synthesis. He notes that his students are deeply motivated to study organic chemistry and may pursue careers in the field. Teaching, he says, also has a practical benefit: identifying talented students to invite to his laboratory.
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