October 16, 2025 – At the invitation of Professor Yufei Zhao and Associate Professor Xiaojue Bai from the State Key Laboratory of Chemical Resource Engineering, a delegation of professors from Southern Federal University (ЮФУ) in Russia, comprising Prof. Tatiana Minkina, Prof. Svetlana Sushkova, Prof. Saglara Mandzhieva, and Prof. Vishnu D. Rajput, visited our university for academic exchanges.
During their visit, the two sides jointly inaugurated the "International Joint Laboratory of Environmental Remediation Materials." The ceremony was witnessed by Mr. Ping Yin, the Leader of the School of Chemistry. This laboratory is a key component of the 2025 Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps (XPCC) "Belt and Road" Science and Technology Cooperation Plan Project. It is jointly established by Tarim University, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Southern Federal University (Russia), and the Quzhou Institute for Innovation in Resource Chemical Engineering. The laboratory will focus on fundamental and applied research of environmental remediation materials and conduct practical "Belt and Road" international cooperation in the remediation of soil, water, and solid waste environments. Collaboration will include personnel exchanges, 2+2 joint student training programs, joint project applications, and application promotion. This laboratory represents another significant milestone following the cooperation agreement signed by both parties in 2024. Fruitful collaboration has already been achieved in projects supported by the XPCC and foreign expert programs.
At the subsequent academic seminar, Prof. Tatiana, Prof. Svetlana and Prof. Vishnu first introduced the research profile and cooperation prospects of Southern Federal University. They then delivered specialized reports on cutting-edge areas such as environmental remediation and academic writing. The topics covered included "Innovative Remediation Technologies for Contaminated Soils", "Long-Term Monitoring and Environmental Impact of PAH Contamination Around the Power Station: Soil-Plant System, Microbial Community, and Pollution Mapping with Novel Insights into PAH Cycling" and "Effective Scientific Writing: Essential Elements and Publication Ethics". The seminar was chaired by Professor Yufei Zhao and attracted numerous faculty and students. During the Q&A session, attendees actively asked questions and engaged in in-depth discussions with the three professors on relevant academic topics, creating a lively atmosphere.
Introduction to the Visiting Professors:
Prof. Tatiana Minkina, Head of the Soil Science and Land Evaluation Department at Southern Federal University (Russia) and Scientific Leader of the University’s Strategic Project on Natural Resource Management. Her research focuses on environmental soil chemistry, biogeochemistry of trace elements, soil monitoring, and ecological restoration. She has authored over 760 publications indexed in Scopus and has been recognized as one of the World's Top 2% Scientists by Stanford University (2022-2025). With more than 15,665 citations and an h-index of 60, she has supervised 16 Ph.D. and 42 MPhil students, and led over 40 national and international research projects. Prof. Minkina also serves as an editorial board member for several internationally recognized journals, including Geochemistry: Environment, Exploration, Analysis, Eurasian Journal of Soil Science, and Water.
Prof. Svetlana Sushkova is a leading expert in environmental soil chemistry at Southern Federal University, Russia. Her research focuses on the biogeochemistry of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), soil contamination assessment, and sustainable land management. She has authored over 956 scientific papers, including 304 Scopus-indexed publications, with an h-index of 42. Dr. Sushkova holds 7 patents and has led 17 research projects funded by national and international programs such as the Russian Science Foundation and BRICS. She also serves as an editorial board member for several international journals, including Environmental Geochemistry and Health, and acts as Vice-Director for International Collaboration at the Academy of Biology and Medicine.
Prof. Saglara S. Mandzhieva, Ph.D in Soil Science, is the Main Researcher and the Head of laboratory “Monitoring of biosphere” of Southern federal university, Russia. Research interests are soil science, biogeochemistry of trace elements, environmental soil chemistry, remediation using physicochemical treatment methods. Currently handling projects funded by Russian Scientific foundation, Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation, Russian foundation of Basic Research. Member of the Eurasian Soil Science Societies; the Russian Society of Soil Science named V.V Dokuchaev. Total scientific publications: 643 (362 in English); Scopus - 327. Citing index: Scopus - 7899, h-index - 42. Editorial board member of Minerals; ISSN 2075-163X (Impact factor: 2.2) and Eurasian Journal of Soil Science; e-ISSN: 2147-4249.
Prof. Vishnu D. Rajput is a Principal Scientist and Head of the International Laboratory on Nanobiotechnology and Rhizosphere Bioengineering at Southern Federal University, Russia. His research specializes in the interactions between nanoparticles/heavy metals and soil-plant-microbial systems, and the development of remediation technologies using nano-biochar and rhizosphere bioengineering. Recognized among the World's Top 2% Scientists (Stanford University, 2023-2025) and ranking 2nd in Environmental and Earth Science in Russia, he leads multiple international projects including BRICS collaborations. With over 569 publications, he has an h-index of 58 and more than 13,375 citations (Scopus).
Southern Federal University traces its origins back to the University of Warsaw, founded in 1869. During World War I, Rostov State University was established, marking over 110 years of history. The present university was formed by merging four leading specialized institutions in Southern Russia: the former "Rostov State University", "Taganrog State Radio University", "Rostov State Pedagogical University", and "Rostov State Academy of Architecture and Art". It is a major scientific and educational center in Southern Russia and a leading research university nationwide. The university is located in Rostov-on-Don, known for its Cossack culture, and Taganrog, the birthplace of Anton Chekhov. In 2006, it was ranked 4th among Russian universities by the Bulletin of Higher Education Institutions.