Official website of the President of Russia

Yelena Korochkina, winner of the 2024 Presidential Prize in Science and Innovation for Young Scientists

The prize was awarded for developing innovative methods for the effective implementation of genetic and reproductive potential of livestock farming in Russia.

Yelena Korochkina was born on December 17, 1988, in Nazarovo, Krasnoyarsk Territory. She is a professor at the Department of Genetic and Reproductive Biotechnology at St Petersburg State University of Veterinary Medicine, holds a DSc in Veterinary Medicine.

Yelena Korochkina’s research interests include veterinary science and reproductive biotechnology. Her academic footprint includes more than 200 articles in Russian and foreign publications.

Yelena Korochkina’s work is dedicated to developing innovative methods for the vitamin and mineral nutrition of cows during different phases of the production cycle, as well as modification of protocols for conservation of genetic material of high-value agricultural breeding animals (cryopreservation of goat, ram and bull semen).

Based on many years of research in biochemical and clinical parameters of cows’ blood during different phases of the production cycle with varying intensity of external influence, Ms Korochkina developed innovative feed additives: short-term and long acting plant-mineral and mineral complexes. These additives were tested under production conditions on a large herd of cattle with medium and high milk productivity in the northwestern part of the Russian Federation and were patented.

Yelena Korochkina studied and proposed new methods for offsetting the negative impact of stress factors on the reproductive capacity of males; modified protocols for preserving genetic material; and developed a model of a diluent medium for the long-term storage of genetic material from high-value livestock. Samples of diluent medium she developed make it possible to create a bank of reproductive cells for the advancement of animal husbandry in Russia.

Yelena Korochkina’s research findings expanded and supplemented the fundamental knowledge about the physiological state of farm animals under increasing production loads aimed at increasing productivity and reproductive capacity.

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Vadim Popkov and Kirill Martinson, winners of the 2024 Presidential Prize in Science and Innovation for Young Scientists

The prize was awarded for developing and implementing a technology for producing multicomponent ferrites and the creation of ceramic products based on them, addressing challenges in import substitution and advanced development of microwave electronics.

Vadim Popkov was born on October 19, 1988, in Balakovo, Saratov Region. He is a leading researcher and head of the Laboratory of Materials and Processes for Hydrogen Energy at the Ioffe Physical-Technical Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences. He holds a PhD in Chemical Science.

His research interests include the physical and chemical design and synthesis of novel functional materials. His publication record includes over 130 articles in both Russian and international journals.

Kirill Martinson, born on September 27, 1994, in St Petersburg, is a senior researcher at the Laboratory of Materials and Processes for Hydrogen Energy at the Ioffe Physical-Technical Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences, holds a PhD in Chemical Science.

His research interests include the physical chemistry and technology of magnetic and microwave ceramics. His publication record includes over 50 articles in Russian and international journals.

The research conducted by Vadim Popkov and Kirill Martinson focuses on the development and implementation of a novel technology for producing ferrites (compounds of iron (III) oxide with oxides of other transition metals) and the functional ceramics derived from them. The authors pioneered the use of the solution combustion method with thermal post-processing to produce ferrites and microwave ceramic products. This approach significantly reduced production time compared to traditional methods for making ferrites and broadened the range of ceramics, which are superior to their foreign counterparts in terms of performance. The new technology enables the adjustment of ferrite composition to achieve optimal magnetic and electromagnetic properties, which is crucial for modern radio devices.

The materials developed have already been introduced into production and are being used by several leading Russian enterprises to manufacture various components based on microwave ceramics, including in phased-array antennas for radar systems. The scientific achievements of the authors contribute significantly to the applied materials research.

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Natalya Cherkashina, winner of the 2024 Presidential Prize in Science and Innovation for Young Scientists

The prize was awarded for developing highly effective radiation shielding composites to ensure the safety of cosmonauts and radio-electronic spacecraft equipment.

Natalya Cherkashina was born on June 12, 1988, in Belgorod; she is a leading researcher at Belgorod State Technological University named after V. Shukhov, holds a DSc in Engineering Science.

Her research interests include space materials science, radiation solid state physics, and condensed matter physics. She has published over 250 articles in both Russian and international journals.

Natalya Cherkashina’s research focuses on the development of composite materials for space applications, designed to offer effective protection of cosmonauts and radio-electronic spacecraft equipment from radiation during prolonged orbital missions.

Natalya Cherkashina has developed a technology for incorporating radiation-protective nanofillers into thermoplastic polymers at concentrations of up to 70 percent, significantly higher than the 30 percent seen in previous analogues. This innovation preserves the mechanical properties of polymers while greatly enhancing the radiation protection capabilities of composite materials derived from them.

Natalya Cherkashina established the physical and chemical principles for modifying radiation-protective nanofillers and identified how their composition affects physical and technical properties of composite materials (such as heat resistance, strength, plasticity, radiation protection, and others) when exposed to extreme conditions of outer space.

The materials developed by Natalya Cherkashina have been tested in prolonged orbital flights to the ISS (from 2022 to 2024) and have demonstrated excellent radiation-protective properties.

The use of materials developed by Natalya Cherkashina will significantly extend the time cosmonauts can spend in space, which is crucial for the success of the Luna Programme. Also, they will allow using standard factory microcircuits, which are much more cost-effective than specialised “space” electronics.