Over the past 15 years, Nazarbayev University (NU) has built a vibrant community of early-career researchers, bringing together graduates of the world’s leading universities and its own alumni. Today, more than 170 NU faculty members are Kazakhstani nationals, while National Laboratory Astana (NLA) is home to more than 140 researchers who returned to Kazakhstan after studying and working abroad. Meet five young NU researchers and faculty members whose work is advancing science, medicine, and technology.
Alexandr Pak
Assistant Professor, School of Sciences and Humanities (SSH)
Alexandr Pak studies how the human brain works and how artificial intelligence can improve healthcare. He is the co-founder of FLECTION.AI, a medical technology startup developing an AI-powered digital rehabilitation platform for stroke patients using gamification. The platform has already completed pilot testing in collaboration with hospitals in Astana. Pak earned his bachelor’s degree in Biomedical Sciences from Nazarbayev University and his PhD in Neuroscience from Purdue University. His research explores neural circuit dynamics, learning and memory, and how eye movements can serve as a window into brain function.
Aliya Assubayeva
Assistant Professor, Graduate School of Public Policy (GSPP)
Aliya Assubayeva specializes in water security, transboundary water governance, and environmental policy. She earned her PhD in Public Policy from Nazarbayev University, where she also completed research fellowships at the University of Oulu in Finland and the IHE Delft Institute for Water Education in the Netherlands. Before joining NU, she received a bachelor’s degree in Water Resources Management from the Kazakh National Agrarian University and a master’s degree in Agricultural Economics from Humboldt University of Berlin. In addition to her research, she works at the intersection of science communication and evidence-based policymaking.
Zhanat Makhataeva
Senior Data Scientist, Institute of Smart Systems and Artificial Intelligence (ISSAI)
Zhanat Makhataeva works at the intersection of artificial intelligence, augmented reality, and educational technologies. She earned all three of her degrees—bachelor’s, master’s, and PhD in Robotics—from Nazarbayev University. During her doctoral studies, she received the prestigious Microsoft Research PhD Fellowship and completed a research internship at Microsoft Research Cambridge, where she contributed to the Future of Work group. She presented her research at CHI 2023, one of the world’s leading conferences on human-computer interaction. Her doctoral research introduced a novel approach to augmenting human memory using augmented reality, computer vision, and artificial intelligence. Today, she continues her research while mentoring the next generation of scientists.
Sultangali Arzykulov
Assistant Professor, School of Engineering and Digital Sciences (SEDS)
Sultangali Arzykulov conducts research on next-generation wireless communications. His current work focuses on sixth-generation (6G) technologies, including reconfigurable intelligent surfaces (RIS), integrated sensing and communications (ISAC), and space-air-ground integrated networks (SAGIN). He also applies artificial intelligence and computer vision to sports analytics and the development of intelligent sports technologies. Arzykulov earned his PhD from Nazarbayev University after completing a master’s degree in Communication Engineering at the University of Manchester. He later held postdoctoral positions at Nazarbayev University and King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST).
Aliya Mukanova
Lead Research Scientist, National Laboratory Astana, Deputy Director General of INMET
Aliya Mukanova develops next-generation materials for batteries and energy storage systems. She earned her PhD in Science, Engineering and Technology from Nazarbayev University. Her research focuses on thin-film materials for microbatteries and next-generation superconductors. These technologies could enable lighter, higher-capacity batteries for microelectronics and medical devices while making energy transmission significantly more efficient through near-lossless superconducting materials.
Togzhan Syrymova
Instructor, Department of Robotics and Mechatronics, School of Engineering and Digital Sciences (SEDS)
Togzhan Syrymova is a robotics researcher and founder of the medical technology startup ROBIO. She earned both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Robotics and Mechatronics from Nazarbayev University. Together with her team, she is developing an AI-enabled smart tactile glove that helps physicians detect abnormal tissue during physical examinations with greater accuracy. The technology is designed to improve early breast cancer detection while making screening more accessible. In 2026, ROBIO won the national ALEM.AI BATTLE competition for artificial intelligence projects.
