Nurlan Turmaganbetov
B.Sc. in Chemistry: 2020, Nazarbayev University
M.Sc. Candidate in Chemistry: 2020-present, Nazarbayev University
Nurlan works on applications of glyoxalases for stereospecific synthesis of a-hydroxy carboxylic acids
Our Team

Darkhan Utepbergenov
The laboratory is led by Dr. Darkhan Utepbergenov, assistant professor in the department of Chemistry, Nazarbayev University. After graduation from the Department of Natural Sciences of Novosibirsk State University in 1996 Dr. Utepbergenov was awarded a scholarship from Daimler-Benz Foundation and moved to Germany to work on his Ph.D. in Research Institute of Molecular Pharmacology in Berlin and Institute of Chemical Kinetics and Combustion in Novosibirsk. After obtaining Ph.D. degree in 2000 from Institute of Bio-organic Chemistry (Novosibirsk) he worked as a postdoctoral researcher in Germany for two years and later moved to United States where he continued his research in top public universities (University of North Carolina and University of Virginia).
Dr. Utepbergenov joined Chemistry Department of Nazarbayev University in August of 2015.

Aizhan Tkirova
M.Sc. in Biotechnology: 2017, Eurasian National University (Astana).
Ph.D. candidate in life sciences: 2019-present, Nazarbayev University
Aizhan studies the metabolism and role of methylglyoxal in cancers driven by K-Ras mutations.

Azamat Begenov
B.Sc. in Chemistry: 2021, Nazarbayev University
Research assistant: 2022-present, Nazarbayev University
Azamat studies reactions of methylglyoxal with biological nucleophiles

Adilkhan Yeskendir
B.Sc. in Chemistry: 2021, Nazarbayev University
Research assistant: 2022-present, Nazarbayev University
Adilkhan works on chemoenzymatic synthesis of alfa-hydroxy carboxylic acids
Alumni
Mussa Yedigenov
Research Assistant - June 2022-September 2022
B.Sc. student (Chemistry) - November 2019-June 2021
Currently M.Sc. student (life science) at Max Planck School Matter to Life
Aizat Abdirassil
B.Sc. student (Chemistry) - February 2020-June 2022
Currently M.Sc. student (pharmacology and toxicology ) at Nazarbayev University
Tomiris Mulikova
Research Assistant - June 2021-June 2022
B.Sc. student (Chemistry) - November 2019-June 2021
Currently Ph.D. student (biochemistry) at University of North Carolina
Zhanibek Bekkhozhin
B.Sc. student (chemistry) - June 2019-June 2022
Currently Ph.D. student (chemistry) at Dartmouth University
Raushan Nugmanova
Research Assistant - June 2017-June 2018
Currently Ph.D. student in KAUST
Nuriza Omertassova
B.Sc. student (Biology) - June 2017-June 2020
Currently M.Sc. student (molecular medicine) at Nazarbayev University Medical School
Timur Baizhumanov
B.Sc. student (Chemistry) - September 2018-June 2020
Currently M.Sc. student (pharmaceutical technology) at Tubingen University