We are proud to share that Makpal Rakhatkyzy, a third-year PhD student in Chemical Engineering at the School of Engineering and Digital Sciences, Nazarbayev University, has been awarded the highly competitive DAAD Short-Term Research Grant, which supports international academic exchange and research excellence in Germany.
This remarkable milestone follows the publication of her research article in the Chemical Engineering Journal – one of the top-ranked international journals in the field. Her article, which explores innovative approaches to sustainable materials, can be accessed here.
As part of the DAAD program, Makpal completed a two-month research stay at the University of Duisburg-Essen, where she worked under the guidance of Prof. Dr. Mathias Ulbricht, a leading expert in polymer science. Her research focused on the synthesis of bio-derived polymers from 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid, a promising route toward the development of eco-friendly materials.
Reflecting on her experience, Makpal shared:
“This opportunity greatly enriched my academic journey, both scientifically and personally. I am deeply grateful to DAAD, Prof. Ulbricht, and his team for their support. Representing Nazarbayev University in such an esteemed research environment was truly an honor.”
Professor Nuraje, who leads the PhD program in Chemical Engineering at NU, highlighted the broader impact of such achievements:
“These international research opportunities allow our PhD students to collaborate with world-class scientists and laboratories. This not only elevates their individual research but also strengthens NU’s global academic presence.”
Makpal’s achievement exemplifies the academic excellence and international ambition of our students at SEDS. We look forward to seeing the continued impact of her work in the field of sustainable materials.
This remarkable milestone follows the publication of her research article in the Chemical Engineering Journal – one of the top-ranked international journals in the field. Her article, which explores innovative approaches to sustainable materials, can be accessed here.
As part of the DAAD program, Makpal completed a two-month research stay at the University of Duisburg-Essen, where she worked under the guidance of Prof. Dr. Mathias Ulbricht, a leading expert in polymer science. Her research focused on the synthesis of bio-derived polymers from 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid, a promising route toward the development of eco-friendly materials.
Reflecting on her experience, Makpal shared:
“This opportunity greatly enriched my academic journey, both scientifically and personally. I am deeply grateful to DAAD, Prof. Ulbricht, and his team for their support. Representing Nazarbayev University in such an esteemed research environment was truly an honor.”
Professor Nuraje, who leads the PhD program in Chemical Engineering at NU, highlighted the broader impact of such achievements:
“These international research opportunities allow our PhD students to collaborate with world-class scientists and laboratories. This not only elevates their individual research but also strengthens NU’s global academic presence.”
Makpal’s achievement exemplifies the academic excellence and international ambition of our students at SEDS. We look forward to seeing the continued impact of her work in the field of sustainable materials.