Dr. Darkhan Yerezhep | Environmental Science | Distinguished Scientist Award

Satbayev University, Kazakhstan.

Darkhan Yeseyuly Erezhep is a Kazakh scientist, engineer, and academic leader currently serving as the Head of the Department of Standardization, Certification, and Metrology at KazNITU named after K. I. Satpayev, Kazakhstan. With over 10 years of academic and industrial experience, his expertise spans thermal physics, metrology, quality management, and energy systems. A double PhD holder, Dr. Erezhep is an award-winning educator and a leading voice in advancing Kazakhstan’s technical education and research infrastructure.

Profile

Orcid

🎓 Education

Dr. Darkhan Yerezhep is a distinguished scholar with dual Ph.D. degrees in Engineering—one in Thermal Physics and Theoretical Heat Engineering from ITMO University, Russia (2020), and another in Technical Physics awarded by the Ministry of Education and Science of Kazakhstan (2021). He holds a Master’s degree in Refrigeration and Cryogenic Engineering (2017) and a Bachelor’s degree in Standardization and Metrology (2015), both from ITMO University. Additionally, he pursued a second higher education in Financial Management, reflecting his interdisciplinary expertise. Dr. Yerezhep has also earned multiple professional certifications in standardization, scientific mentoring, and quality systems from leading institutions in Kazakhstan and Russia, further demonstrating his commitment to academic excellence and applied research.

💼 Experience

Dr. Darkhan Yerezhep currently serves as the Head of Department at KazNITU in Almaty (2023–present), where he has led significant advancements including the development of Master’s and Ph.D. programs, fostering international collaborations, and increasing the department’s research funding tenfold. He also holds roles as Associate Professor and Researcher at KazNITU and the Physicotechnical Institute, and previously served as a Senior Lecturer at Al-Farabi Kazakh National University. His earlier career includes work as a Researcher and Design Engineer at ITMO University and Roselectromotor in St. Petersburg. Dr. Yerezhep has extensive teaching and research experience in cryogenics, metrology, quality systems, and technical regulation.

🔬 Research Interests

Thermal physics and thermoelectric systems

Cryogenic engineering

Standardization and metrology

Quality assurance in industrial systems

Energy system efficiency and low-temperature processes

Passionate about integrating SDG goals, inclusive education, and scientific commercialization in engineering research.

🏆 Awards & Honors

🏅 Best University Teacher (2024) – Kazakhstan Ministry of Education

🎓 State Scientific Scholarship for Talented Young Scientists (2024–2025)

Led department to 2nd place in Atameken National Ranking (2024)

Recipient of state and institutional recognition for leadership in education and science.

📚 Selected Publications

🧪 1. Multiple Phase Transitions in Ethanol Thin Films Obtained by Physical Vapor Deposition

Journal: Applied Surface Science
DOI: 10.1016/J.APSUSC.2024.162259
WOSUID: WOS:001402656800001
Co-authors: Aldiyarov A., Sokolov D., Korshikov E., Nurmukan A., Tasmukhanova A., Ramos M.A.
This article explores complex phase behaviors in ethanol thin films created via physical vapor deposition, highlighting unique thermodynamic transitions.

💧 2. Geoinformation and Analytical Support for the Development of Promising Aquifers for Pasture Water Supply in Southern Kazakhstan

Journal: Water
Date: April 2025
DOI: 10.3390/w17091297
Co-authors: Tazhiyev S., Murtazin Y., Sotnikov E., Rakhimova V., Adenova D., Abdizhalel M., Yerezhep D.
This study presents a GIS-based approach to assessing groundwater potential for sustainable livestock support in arid Kazakh regions.

🚀 3. Optimizing Combustion Characteristics of Ammonium Perchlorate Composites with Nickel-Enhanced Carboxymethyl Cellulose

Journal: Aerospace
Date: March 2025
DOI: 10.3390/aerospace12040270
Co-authors: Nurguzhin M., Janikeyev M., Omarbayev M., Yermakhanova A., Meiirbekov M., Zhumakhanov M., Lesbayev A., Yerezhep D., Atamanov M., Tulepov M.
The work investigates improvements in the combustion efficiency of AP-based propellants through the use of nickel-modified additives.

❄️ 4. Криогенная установка для FTIR-спектроскопического исследования поведения углеводородных соединений при атмосферном давлении

Journal: Bulletin of Toraighyrov University. Energetics series
Date: March 28, 2025
DOI: 10.48081/NJKI9829
Co-authors: Кенбай А. А., Алдияров А. У., Ережеп Д. Е.
Title translation: Cryogenic Setup for FTIR Spectroscopic Study of Hydrocarbon Compounds at Atmospheric Pressure
The article describes a cryogenic system designed for FTIR spectroscopy to analyze hydrocarbon behavior under atmospheric conditions.

Ms. Claudia Elijas-Parra | Structural Geology | Best Researcher Award

University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom.

Claudia Elijas-Parra is a PhD student in Geophysics at the University of Edinburgh, specializing in the rheology of dense unsteady granular flows with shear gradients. Her research focuses on understanding granular temperature and the contact network in complex flows, particularly in pyroclastic density currents, to refine large-scale volcanic hazard models. With expertise in high-performance computing and numerical modeling, she contributes to advancing our knowledge of volcanic processes and geophysical flows.

Profile

Google Scholar

🎓 Education

Claudia Elijas-Parra is a PhD candidate in Geophysics at the University of Edinburgh, researching pyroclastic density currents using numerical modeling and high-performance computing. She holds a First-Class Honours MEarthPhys from the same university, with work on geomechanical risk and geophysical flow modeling. She completed her secondary education at Institut Pons D’Icart, Spain, with a 9.7/10 grade and spent an exchange year in London.

💼 Experience

Claudia Elijas-Parra is a PhD candidate in Geophysics at the University of Edinburgh, specializing in numerical modeling of pyroclastic density currents. She holds a First-Class Honours MEarthPhys and has experience as a Tutor & Demonstrator in mathematics, programming, volcanology, and seismology. Previously, she worked as a Research Assistant on catastrophic rock failure and interned to improve hybrid learning strategies. She completed her secondary education in Spain with a 9.7/10 grade and spent an exchange year in London.

🔬 Research Interests

🌋 Granular Flow Rheology – Understanding the dynamics of unsteady shear flows in pyroclastic density currents
💻 High-Performance Computing – Numerical simulations using MFIX-DEM, ParaView, COMSOL Multiphysics
🌍 Volcanic Hazard Assessment – Improving the boundary conditions of large-scale volcanic models
🧱 Rock Mechanics & Failure – Investigating microcrack evolution in deforming porous rocks

🏆 Awards & Grants

🏅 Overseas Research Visit & Conference Fund – E4DTP (2023) (Cities on Volcanoes 12, Guatemala)
🏅 12th SAGES Small Grant – SAGES (2023) (Cities on Volcanoes 12, Guatemala)
🏅 Small EPS Grant – University of Edinburgh (2023) (Cities on Volcanoes 12, Guatemala)
🏅 Certificate of Achievement – University of Edinburgh (2023) (Top Student in Earth Science Masters)
🏅 Small EPS Grant – University of Edinburgh (2022) (Summer Research Internship)

📚 Publication & Conferences

📄 Elijas-Parra et al. (2025). Controls on shear band orientation in deforming porous rocks: insights from improved microcrack segmentation method. 🔗 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsg.2025.105404

🎤 Tectonic Studies Group (TSG) Annual Meeting (Burlington House, London, 2022)

Quantifying crack network evolution during failure of a porous rock

🎤 Cities on Volcanoes 12 (CoV12) (Antigua, Guatemala, 2022)

Basal flow rheology of pyroclastic density currents: Implications for large-scale modeling in volcanic hazard assessment