The new academic year has begun at the Tashkent Branch of the Russian National Nuclear Research University (MEPhI). This is the first international branch of Rosatom’s partner university. Its primary mission is to train highly qualified engineering and technical personnel for the development of Uzbekistan’s nuclear industry.
Students of the MEPhI branch in Uzbekistan’s capital Tashkent major in four disciplines: Nuclear Power Engineering and Thermal Physics, Nuclear Physics and Technology, Electrical Engineering and Technology, and Thermal Engineering and Technology.
In the summer of 2025, the Tashkent Branch of MEPhI graduated students for the third time. Forty-four fresh graduates successfully defended their theses. The final papers covered a wide range of topics, from nuclear technology to thermal and hydropower engineering and renewable energy sources. Members of the examination committee noted that the quality of the theses was high, with some focused on practical applications in the country’s energy sector. Fifteen out of 44 papers were written in cooperation with business and research organizations, including UzEnergoEngeneering, the Nuclear Physics Institute of the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Uzbekistan, and the National Electric Grid of Uzbekistan.
Moscow experts praised the students’ efforts and the growing quality of education. “The most important thing is not what is written in the explanatory note or on the slides, but how well the student understands what he or she has done. This becomes evident from the answers to the commission’s questions during the thesis defense—they reveal the depth of immersion in the subject,” said Evgeny Soldatov, Associate Professor at the MEPhI Department of Elementary Particle Physics (Moscow).
“Most students received good and excellent grades, and many are recommended to continue their studies in master’s programs. Members of the examination commission, including guest experts in various fields, noted the thorough elaboration of the topics and profound training in mathematics and physics,” said Yuri Maslov, Acting Director of the MEPhI branch in Tashkent.
According to Yuri Maslov, particular attention was drawn to the theses related to the design, modernization, and operation of nuclear power plants, including reactors planned for construction in Uzbekistan. Some students presented new reactor designs based on advanced Generation III+ and even Generation IV prototypes. Among these were gas-cooled designs, which might be relevant for Uzbekistan in the future.
One of the students who demonstrated strong performance was Eduard Shin. He developed a scheme for connecting a small modular nuclear power plant (330 MW) to Uzbekistan’s national grid. His paper was based on results from a two-month pre-graduation internship.
“For two months, I worked at UzEnergoEngeneering. I participated in developing connection schemes, selecting equipment, and using professional software. From day one, I was placed in conditions close to real-world engineering work. At first, it was challenging due to the sharp transition from theory to practice, but that was precisely my main insight. The key is not to fear the workload, to dive in, try things out, and ask questions. This is not just about defending a thesis—it is already a step into the profession, into real life,” Shin said.
Many students plan to continue their education in master’s programs. Since the branch in Tashkent was established, 161 people have earned bachelor’s degrees. This year, 28 graduates are completing their master’s programs, while 26 continue their studies. This trend demonstrates a stable link between foundational training and the scientific continuation of the educational program.
According to the branch management, some of this year’s graduates have already received job offers. Many of the final papers have become part of real-life projects and national priorities in power engineering and nuclear research.
Uzbekistan’s Agency for Nuclear Energy Development (Uzatom) is forming a talent pool among graduates of the MEPhI Branch in Tashkent. Each year, the agency conducts interviews with branch graduates, bachelors and masters. During these interviews, young professionals talk about the knowledge they acquired, their research projects, career interests, and where they would like to begin their careers.
Managers of Uzatom and energy companies provide feedback and discuss prospects for further professional development in Uzbekistan, including within the framework of the nuclear power plant construction project. Based on these interviews, parties sign employment protocols.
The graduates who successfully passed the interview have already been hired by several industry organizations, including Uzatom and the NPP Construction Directorate.
Photo by: Tashkent Branch of MEPhI
