Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: Peoples'Friendship University of Russia
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
Today, March 2, Russia celebrates Mentor's Day for the first time. This holiday was established by a presidential decree on March 1, 2025, to recognize the importance of those who pass on knowledge, experience, and wisdom to new generations. On this day, we want to highlight those who serve as guides in the world of science and the profession.
The path to chemistry
Alexandra Sergeevna Golubenkova is a young student mentor who completed the full cycle of university education at RUDN: a bachelor's degree in Chemistry (class of 2018), a master's degree (class of 2020), and defended her PhD dissertation in December 2023, completing her doctoral program in March 2024. Since September 2023, she has also served as an assistant in the Department of Organic Chemistry, and in the fall of 2025, she transferred to the position of Deputy Dean for Research of the Faculty of Physics, Mathematics, and Natural Sciences.
At school, Alexandra Sergeevna initially preferred physics. But everything changed in 10th grade with the arrival of a new teacher who managed to engage the class in the subject. Her final decision came in 11th grade, when preparing for the Unified State Exam in organic chemistry sparked genuine interest. In January of her senior year, she chose chemistry over physics and passed the exam with a 98.
"My choice of RUDN University for admission was a conscious one, driven by several factors: my desire to learn foreign languages in a multinational environment with a translation degree, the opportunities for international internships (I was able to visit the UK and France), and my desire to receive a well-rounded education," says Alexandra Golubenkova.
Her student life was closely tied to science and conference organizing. She first participated in organizing the "Advances in Synthesis and Complexation" conference in her third year of undergraduate studies in 2017.
"Subsequently, I also participated in organizing conferences in 2019, 2022, and 2025. And here I can't help but mention the 2019 conference, when Nobel laureate Jean-Pierre Sauvage (for his work on the synthesis of 'molecular machines') visited us, and I accompanied him during his stay in Moscow. It was my first time with him at an awards ceremony at the Russian Academy of Sciences," says Alexandra Golubenkova.
Achievements in science
Already in graduate school, her future mentor tried her hand at reverse engineering. Her team was tasked with analyzing and improving the composition of a gun care mixture. The research was successful: the composition was not only deciphered but also refined, which was confirmed by a patent. Overall, Alexandra Sergeevna's research at the department can be divided into two stages. The first involved confirming the structures of complex indole-containing alkaloids from sea sponges, which can be found at great depths in certain regions of the sea. The second stage involved developing one of the key areas of the Organic Chemistry Department: studying the properties of nitrogen-containing heterocycles. Her work led to the creation of a new class of highly reactive molecules that undergo completely different reactions depending on conditions (for example, access to air).
"This work is of fundamental importance, and it is also very beautiful," – Alexandra Golubenkova.
Speaking about mentorship, Alexandra fondly remembers her academic advisors. During her undergraduate and graduate studies, it was Nikita Evgenievich Golantsov, a candidate of chemical sciences and associate professor, whose lively lectures and willingness to patiently answer questions she still values. During her graduate studies, her mentor was Leonid Gennadievich Voskresensky.
"From him, I learned to make decisions and take responsibility for them, always knowing he would support me. I must say that I'm the kind of person who sets a new goal the moment she sees the previous one approaching. I think it's difficult to work with me. I have very high expectations of those around me, but my demands on myself are even higher, much higher. I'm grateful to Leonid Gennadievich for his patience and support," says Alexandra Golubenkova.
Contact with teachers
Today, Alexandra Sergeevna herself imparts knowledge to students. She teaches bioorganic chemistry to medical students (in Russian and English), and together with Leonid Gennadievich, she teaches a course to chemists on domino reactions in the synthesis of heterocycles.
"In the age of smartphones and artificial intelligence, I believe it's important to teach students to analyze information and question it. Students value contact with teachers, the opportunity to ask any questions, and seek advice on more than just the subject matter," says Alexandra Golubenkova.
Alexandra Sergeevna is just beginning her journey as a mentor. She is proud of the chemistry students' successes in Olympiads (incidentally, at the end of January, they won three gold and one silver medal at the International Olympiad in Bucharest) and dreams of creating a strong chemistry Olympiad movement at RUDN University. For a long time, she served as the chair of the "Planet Chemistry" student council, but last year she passed the baton to active students.
Currently, most of Alexandra Sergeevna's time is spent on administrative work. She devotes two days a week to teaching and interacting with students, continuing her research under a new grant to study domino reactions of nitrogen-containing heterocycles catalyzed by alkynes. She also prepares new scientific papers and tries to regularly participate in conferences. This schedule helps her stay abreast of current trends, making her a role model for future generations of RUDN students.
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