Dmitry Zimin, a PhD student who is under Prof. Ruben Martin’s supervision, has successfully defended his PhD thesis entitled “Development of Novel Ni-Catalyzed Reductive Coupling Reactions of Aziridines” publicly on May 13th.
The members of the evaluation committee were Prof. Christophe Aissa (University of Liverpool), Prof. Yolanda Díaz Giménez (URV) and Prof. Ciril Gimeno
Dr. Zimin was born in Russia. He studied chemistry for six years at Saint Petersburg State University, specifically organic chemistry during his master studies. Dimitry’s hobbies are sports like football or beach volleyball, and swimming. Apart of sport he enjoys spending time with friends, reading, watching movies and cooking.
Dimitry’s PhD was funded by ITN CO2PERATE grant (No. 859910).
Why did you become a scientist?
It happened naturally as I studied in a classical university with a very strong scientific school.
What do you want to achieve as a scientist?
Build my own understanding of what science and scientific research is.
What is your thesis about?
Ni-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions with aziridines (3-membered saturated N-heterocycles).
What triggered your interest for the subject of your thesis?
This study is quite niche because I worked on the reactivity of a particular substrate. However, there are many different ways to activate aziridines, which makes the actual background of the study very broad, so I have learned many other aspects of catalysis, rather than just Ni-catalyzed reactions.
What applications can your thesis have in the future?
It expands the pool of existing synthetic methodologies and reactions developed under my PhD studies can be used by synthetic chemists in actual synthetic practice.
From the lessons learnt (or skills developed) at ICIQ, which one do you value the most?
The atmosphere in the collective goes first, and everything else goes after.
What ICIQ moment you´ll never forget?
Every ICIQ PhD day for me was a special experience.
What will you miss the most from ICIQ?
Many many many wonderful people whom I have met here, both among researchers and administrative workers.
What do you wish you had known at the beginning of your PhD?
Basic life priorities go first, and research goes after.
What advice do you have for someone who’s starting their PhD now?
Basic life priorities go first, and research goes after.
Have you ever been emotional over an experiment/simulation? Why?
Regularly upon failures with regular things which I expected to work well. The reason is a full mismatch between my expectations and reality. That hurts…
Who/What has been your biggest influence/motivation?
All the people I have met during my PhD influenced me or motivated me in a certain way and I cannot highlight the biggest.
Where are you going next? What will you do there?
I am definitely going to playa Arrabassada in the short term, however I don’t have any long-term plans arranged at the moment.
If you were a piece of lab equipment, what would you be?
CombiFlash NextGen 300+
