Chemistry plays a role in our daily lives that is often underestimated. Telecommunications, housing, energy, food, transportation, health care… all major areas of human activity—both present and future—are or will be made possible by chemistry and its innovations.
In light of the new societal challenges ahead, this field has turned its attention to environmentally friendly applications that promote the health and safety of citizens. Research in chemistry is actively contributing to the transition toward a society based on knowledge and sustainable development, which requires new models of production and consumption.
This key discipline for the future is the flagship of the University of Strasbourg: ranked first in chemistry among universities in the European Union (2021 Shanghai Ranking), the University also ranks first in Europe for its impact on innovation (latest Nature Index Innovation ranking). This strength has not gone unnoticed by the Grand Est region, which has decided to support a school of excellence in chemistry— a major asset for the region.
In 2018, Professor Jean-Marie Lehn (Nobel Prize laureate in Chemistry) joined forces with Professor Joseph Moran to create this new university-level research school in chemistry—a graduate school modeled after the Anglo-Saxon system, where the best international students are selected and receive multidisciplinary training in close collaboration with researchers, from the master’s through the doctoral level.
With a contribution of 150k€, the Grand Est Region is co-funding three doctoral fellowships at the University of Strasbourg—a strategic investment that helps attract responsible and creative international talent ready to tackle the greatest societal challenges of the future. Through its management training and extensive interactions with industry partners, this school is promoting a new model for professional integration for doctoral students. Thus, as part of its Regional Strategy for Higher Education, Research, and Innovation,the Region supports the development of programs of excellence that showcase the quality of teaching and research at universities in the Grand Est region and attract talent to contribute to the region’s economic development.
Maciej Piejko, a Polish national, is beginning his doctoral thesis in Joseph Moran’s laboratory on an innovative topic, leveraging an emerging field of quantum optics to control the speed and selectivity of organic chemical reactions, a novel approach with significant environmental implications, as it could enable manufacturers to streamline their production processes, minimize waste, and reduce the effort and costs associated with disposing of unwanted byproducts.
While Joseph Moran was named one of the world’s most brilliant young researchers by the prestigious magazine *Chemical & Engineering News* in 2018, Maciej, too, is starting his career with some very prestigious honors. Notably, he received the 2019 Gold Medal in Chemistry from the Polish Academy of Sciences, an award that recognizes the research theses of talented young researchers in Poland.
This exemplary career path is driven by a passion for science: “My desire to pursue a career in science has always been motivated by the need to understand the world in greater detail. My education has been interdisciplinary, and early on in my academic journey, I realized that I didn’t want to limit myself to working in a single discipline without engaging with other scientific fields. Before starting my studies, I was primarily interested in the molecular aspects of biology—in fact, I was a winner of the Polish Biology Olympiad. Then, I chose to study chemistry for my bachelor’s degree. During that time, I worked concurrently in two laboratories on very distinct disciplines: supramolecular chemistry and computational biophysics. These fields seem very far apart from one another. Nevertheless, gaining insight into both allowed me to develop a unique perspective.
After earning his bachelor’s degree, Maciej Piejko chose to move to Strasbourg to continue his studies. His decision to attend the CSC Graduate School was no accident:“This chemistry research school offers a unique opportunity to learn chemistry in a different way, by participating in academic or industrial research for three semesters. Thanks to the opportunities offered by the school, I was able to work in various fields to gain as comprehensive an understanding of research as possible (from theoretical chemistry to industrial research on polymers). I chose chemistry because it’s a science that can be seen as a bridge between many other scientific disciplines, such as physics and biology. Studying chemistry allows me to understand the world around me, which is beneficial even in everyday life outside the lab.”
Nathan Aknine, a French national, is joining Andrey Klymchenko’s laboratory, where he will develop functional fluorescent nanoparticles and study their biological and biomedical applications. This is a highly specialized field, and the young researcher explains what’s at stake:“My research focuses on the fluorescent detection of certain components of our living cells. My work will involve developing molecules that spontaneously become fluorescent under certain biological conditions—for example, when they encounter specific signals in our bodies, which may be unusual depending on how they are used.”
These molecules, which act as light-emitting probes, represent a promising tool for research and diagnosis: “Imagine if we could diagnose cancer based on the biochemical signals it induces, rather than relying on medical imaging to detect symptoms that are often already too advanced; using these probes would save valuable time and enable early patient care. Fluorescent probes also have a role to play as research tools in biology: as receptor probes, they will find applications in molecular screening, the gold standard for identifying new compounds that could become the therapies of tomorrow.”
It was during his preparatory classes for engineering school that Nathan Aknine developed a passion for chemistry. After enrolling at the University of Strasbourg and earning his bachelor’s degree, he chose to join the CSC Graduate School’s Master’s-Ph.D. program of excellence: “I was inspired by the very high-level instruction, which seemed more relevant to current needs compared to the other programs I considered. In fact, it includes courses in management and professional preparation that provide some guidance for a smoother transition into the industrial world.”
The future doctoral student will begin his dissertation at the start of the 2021 academic year. Aware of the significant commitment required by a doctoral research project, he remains very enthusiastic: “In my view, research is an extremely stimulating field; I like knowing why I’m working—that’s what keeps me grounded in the face of failed experiments. Health, the environment, and the technologies of tomorrow all offer research topics that help motivate me to tackle the daily grind.”
Andrei Golushko, a native of Russia, earned his bachelor’s degree at the Institute of Chemistry at Saint Petersburg State University. After beginning a master’s program in Russia, Andrei decided to apply to the CSC graduate school in Strasbourg; he was drawn to the school’s transdisciplinary approach: “Despite excellent expertise in a specific field, researchers in Russia seem to have fewer opportunities to apply their knowledge to other areas of chemistry, which would allow them to view existing problems from a new perspective. Science is moving toward interdisciplinary studies, which is why I decided that the School of Complex Systems Chemistry was the best place to continue my studies.”
In order to transcend the boundaries between fields related to chemistry, Andrei Golushko set his sights on a cutting-edge laboratory conducting interdisciplinary research:“Professor Nicolas Giuseppone’s research group is very appealing because their projects on new materials require a multidimensional approach and a wide range of experimental investigations.”
His dissertation focuses on a highly promising area of research in the field of new materials: organic electronics. Today, electronic components are manufactured using inorganic materials such as silicon, the purification of which is polluting and whose production harms the environment near extraction sites. Organic electronics offers the possibility of producing carbon-based components that are not only cleaner but also more flexible and potentially scalable down to the nanoscale.
A solenoid is an electromagnet used in many electronic components, such as microphones, speakers, switches, and transformers. Andrei Golushko’s research project aims to develop the first nanoscale organic solenoid. The creation of such a miniaturized component would also be an asset in developing nanoscale switches useful for operating small molecular machines. This innovative solenoid may become an essential component of future nanorobots, which have numerous applications in medicine and water purification.
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