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

Darkhan Utepbergenov
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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
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Aizhan studies the metabolism and role of methylglyoxal in cancers driven by K-Ras mutations.

Adilkhan Yeskendir
B.Sc. in Chemistry: 2021, Nazarbayev University
Research assistant: 2022-present, Nazarbayev University
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Adilkhan works on characterization of cyclic phosphoglyceric anhydride and its biological adducts

Evelina Shkraba
B.Sc. student (class of 2025, Biology) at Nazarbayev University
Research assistant: June 2023-present, Nazarbayev University
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Evelina characterizes enzymatic activity of pathogenic DJ-1 mutants, performs molecular cloning and works with cell cultures

Adilet Bekmagambetov
B.Sc. student (class of 2024, Biology) at Nazarbayev University
Research assistant: June 2023-present, Nazarbayev University
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Adilet characterizes enzymatic activity of pathogenic DJ-1 mutants.
Alumni
Nelly Dey
Research Assistant - February 2023-August 2023
Currently M.Sc. student (pharmaceutical sciences), Paris-Saclay University
Azamat Begenov
Research Assistant - June 2022-June 2023
Currently Research Assistant in the laboratory of V. Peshkov (Dept. of Chemistry, NU)
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, School of Pharmacy, University of Pittsburg
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
Timur Baizhumanov
B.Sc. student (Chemistry) - September 2018-June 2020
Currently M.Sc. student (pharmaceutical technology) at Tubingen University
Nuriza Omertassova
B.Sc. student (Biology) - June 2017-June 2020
Currently M.Sc. student (molecular medicine) at Nazarbayev University Medical School
Raushan Nugmanova
Research Assistant - June 2017-June 2018
Currently Ph.D. student in KAUST