Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: Peoples'Friendship University of Russia
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
In 2021, RUDN University launched a grant support system for young scientists and research teams. Since then, 247 teams from various institutes and faculties, including some from outside the university, have participated.
"The strategic goal of the grant support system is to create and develop RUDN University's own human resources and scientific capacity for conducting research, including through external funding. The system's philosophy is to cultivate talent from student to leading scientist," says Andrey Melnikov, Head of the Department of Scientific and Technical Programs, Grants, and Projects at RUDN University's Research Department.
Project evaluation criteria
Currently, competitions are divided by areas (fundamental and applied) and fields of science (natural sciences and social sciences and humanities).
This year, the number of applications submitted for the competition increased by 50% compared to 2024, from 36 to 53. The most active were representatives of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences and the Institute of Innovative Engineering Technologies, each department submitting six applications. The Faculty of Economics and the Faculty of Philology also made the top three in terms of number of applications.
As for the grant support categories, 13 applications were received for the competition for research teams led by young scientists (D-1), 21 for the competition for research teams led by leading scientists (D-2), and 19 for the competition for young scientists (R.1).
All applications are first reviewed for compliance with formal requirements, including minimum performance indicators, the percentage of planned funding, and so on. Projects are then submitted to independent external experts. They evaluate the work based on seven criteria, including the relevance of the topic, the scientific novelty of the research, its theoretical and practical significance, and whether the research and expected results are world-class.
"Each project must be aimed at solving specific problems in one of the areas of the Russian Federation's Scientific and Technological Development Strategy. For example, the Faculty of Physics, Mathematics, and Natural Sciences leads in the areas of 'Transition to advanced digital and intelligent manufacturing technologies, robotic systems, new materials and design methods…' and 'Transition to personalized medicine, high-tech healthcare, and health-preserving technologies.' Meanwhile, the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences most often submits applications in the areas of 'Possibility of an effective response by Russian society to major challenges, taking into account the interaction between humans and nature' and 'Countering sociocultural threats,'" says Andrey Melnikov.
Funding for research projects has increased approximately 1.5-2 times over the past five years. This year, RUDN allocated 107 million rubles to support winners across all competitions. The maximum grant amount for each competition is:
D-1 — 6 million rubles; D.2 — 8 million rubles; R.1 — 3 million rubles.
Innovative development
The results of the latest competition are still awaited, but for now, one of the winners of the previous competition, Kirill Zubarev, shared details of his project with us. According to the scientist, his project involves conducting research in the field of construction, or more specifically, developing an innovative device for determining the thermal resistance of building envelopes.
"It took two years from the concept to the actual project. The idea of upgrading the device first arose at a scientific conference, where specialists discussed the challenges of measuring thermal resistance. Then came the search for information, literature review, and meetings and discussions with people working on experimental determination of thermal resistance, including manufacturers. Two years ago, the concept of the work had already been formulated, and I decided to create a team to implement it," says Kirill Zubarev, project manager, leading researcher, and associate professor at RUDN University.
As the scientist noted, several approaches are currently used to determine the thermal resistance of building walls: calculations using engineering formulas, mathematical modeling, laboratory experiments, and field studies. A number of similar devices from Russian and foreign developers exist.
"The device being developed at RUDN University will achieve higher measurement accuracy through a combined approach: it will simultaneously utilize modern computing systems, artificial intelligence algorithms, and new materials and technologies for device design. In terms of practical application, imagine you've designed and calculated a building. Once it's built, the question arises: how do you verify that it meets the design specifications? To ensure construction quality control, an on-site inspection is conducted—specialists visit the completed facility, measure its thermal resistance, and compare the results with the design values. This ensures the quality of the thermal envelope of buildings and structures under construction. Our project involves developing a device that will improve this control," says Kirill Zubarev.
According to Kirill, in 2025, the grant funds were invested in a specialized computer with very high power and performance. Scientists are currently using it to perform calculations, select the device's geometry, and strive to capture the physics of the processes in as much detail as possible. In 2026, the funds will be used to purchase materials, components, and sensors for the production and testing of a prototype.
"We've already developed a concept for the device, calculations are being made to refine its geometric dimensions, and negotiations are underway with suppliers to procure the necessary materials and sensors. We plan to begin testing the device by the end of next year. I envision the end result as a device that will be portable, convenient, and lightweight, while also being more accurate than existing analogs. Perhaps in the future, either the device itself or the concepts behind it will be used in the construction industry to verify the quality of building insulation installations," says Kirill Zubarev.
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