On June 27, Skoltech awarded diplomas to a new generation of graduates for the eleventh time. This year, 245 master’s degrees were conferred, including 64 graduates from 24 countries, as well as 11 bachelor’s degrees from the joint program in chemistry with Mendeleev University of Chemical Technology of Russia. The ceremony also involved PhD graduates who successfully defended their theses throughout the year. Three MSc graduates received degrees upon defending their startups. During the ceremony, the proud diploma holders reflected on their journey, listened to honorary guests’ speeches, and enjoyed a concert in the Skoltech courtyard.

Skoltech President Alexander Kuleshov welcomed the graduates and their guests: “You’re beginning a new life, and you will have to make a very difficult choice: risk vs safety. It’s your personal choice. And every decision is good. To be successful, you should be ready for the action. You will see many opportunities in your life, and you cannot just skip them, otherwise you can skip your whole life. You have to be a researcher and stay a researcher. But research is not only about science, it’s about any kind of activity. You have to stay the one who is ready for something new. Don’t hesitate, you’ll succeed. Good luck!”

The graduates also received warm speeches and inspiring advice from Viktor Vekselberg, the chairman of the Skoltech Board of Trustees, Igor Drozdov, the deputy chairman of the VEB.RF state corporation, Natalia Voevodina, CEO of CyberQ and a partner at the Cyberus Foundation, and Dean of Education Clement Fortin. The ceremony’s special guest was Ilya Semerikov, the head of a scientific group at the Russian Quantum Center and a researcher at the Lebedev Physical Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences. In 2024, Ilya was awarded the prestigious national Vyzov prize in the Perspective category for creating an ion quantum processor using multilevel quantum systems and demonstrating quantum algorithms.

This year, the largest number of graduates came from Data Science, Engineering Systems, and Life Sciences MSc programs. Three students presented their startups as their final projects — the “Startup as Thesis” track was held at Skoltech for the second time. Aleksander Sharshavin (Data Science program) showcased a computer vision system for classifying tangerine quality using the EfficientNet_b3 architecture. Ilona Claire Basset’s startup, “Prometheus,” (Data Science program) is a predictive analytics system for IT infrastructure. Angelina Treskova’s project, FiberStill, (Photonics and Quantum Materials program) focuses on studying the operation of an optical interrogator based on a waveguide array grating. All three were awarded the “Startup as Thesis” certificate.

Special awards were also given for outstanding achievements in academics, science, and entrepreneurship:

• Academic Excellence: Rustam Arabov, Pavel Bartenev, Amber Batool, Danil Belov, Daria Chistiakova, Egor Ciulcov, Andrei Dergachev, Ekaterina Dolzhikova, Anastasiia Dudkovskaia, Kamil Garifullin, Ismail Gazaliev, Grigorii Gerasimov, Amir Atef Fouad Habel, Timofey Kaliakin, Olga Klimanova, Makar Korchagin, Aleksander Kuzmin, Vladimir Kuzurman, Nikita Liashenko, Alexandra Malygina, Kamil Mardanshin, Dariia Musaeva, Viktoriia Palagina, Evgenii Riabkov, Vladislava Sagitova, Diana Shimlovskaya, Eva Shipulina, Daniil Shlenskii, Anastasia Soldatenkova, Natalia Starkova, Shakir Suleimanov, Denis Taurenis, Valentin Tikhonenko, Vera Tomilova, Kseniia Uglovskaia, Elizaveta Vaneeva, Aleksandr Eremeev, Radion Zaripov, Viktoriia Zinkovich, Andrei Gundorov, Pavel Meshcheriakov, Mark Prokushkin, Anton Rarovskii.

• Best Research Thesis: Fedor Belolutskiy, Aleksandr Kolomeitsev, Cleison Armando Manrique Aguirre, Nikita Kornilov, Yaroslav Savotin, Kapel Dev, Sofia Marianchik, Vera Tomilova, Dariya Terentyeva, Pavel Meshcheriakov, Elvir Karimov, Ekaterina Filimoshina, Pavel Muravskii, Aleksei Chernyshov, Nikita Gordeev.

• Entrepreneurial Spirit: Polina Astanina, Roman Akinshin, Ilona Claire Basset, Iana Kulichenko, Katherin Mishelle Rivera Casa, Valentin Tikhonenko, Angelina Treskova, Dmitrii Zatekin.

For the ninth time in Skoltech’s history, academic members were also recognized with awards:

• Outstanding Course Instructor: Associate Professor Gonzalo Ferrer, Assistant Professor Alexander Korotin, Professor of the Practice Dmitry Kulish.

• Best Research Supervisor: Assistant Professor Dmitry Krasnikov.

• Outstanding Lecturer: Head of Startup Incubation Programs Alexander Chekanov, Junior Research Scientist Artyom Novikov, Senior Research Scientist Oleg Rogov.

• Best Mentor: Associate Professor Aslan Kasimov.

• Best Professor: Associate Professor Henni Ouerdane.

• Institute Leader in Teaching and Learning: Deputy Director for Development of the Bio Center Vera Rybko.

The graduation concluded with performances by two musical groups composed of Skoltech staff and students in the courtyard.