Lobachevsky University cooperates not only with universities and gymnasiums in Serbia. Among our partners is the Serbian company NIS-Gazpromneft, one of the largest in South-Eastern Europe. The company is engaged in the extraction and processing of oil and gas, the sale of petroleum products and the implementation of energy projects.
NIS-Gazpromneft has the Energy of Knowledge project. The goal of the project is high-quality training of specialists, support for science and specialized education. The project provides for a scholarship program.
Filip Nikolic and Iliya Marjanovic, students of the University of Lobachevsky Faculty of Chemistry (training in chemistry), graduates of the gymnasium in Aleksinac (Serbia), became the winners of the NIS-Gazpromneft scholarship within the framework of the Energy of Knowledge project. We spoke with Philip and Iliya to find out more about the scholarship.
How did it all start, how did you get a scholarship?Filip: We were students in a bilingual Russian-Serbian math class at the gymnasium in Aleksinac. At that time, our gymnasium cooperated with the NIS-Gazpromneft company within the Energy of Knowledge project. Now we are in the third year of the Faculty of Chemistry at Lobachevsky University. We were invited to two interviews, after which we were informed that we met the criteria required for the scholarship.
What expenses are covered by the scholarship?Ilya: The scholarship covers two air tickets from Nizhny Novgorod to Belgrade and back every year, reimbursement of expenses for living in a hostel, payment of medical insurance. In addition, a certain amount is paid monthly.
What do you need to do to get a scholarship?
Filip: I think NIS-Gazpromneft evaluates the abilities and qualities of candidates necessary to complete the task. It is important to be socially active and participate in various events. Of course, in addition to this, it is necessary to regularly attend classes at the university and successfully pass exams.
Have you had an internship at NIS-Gazpromneft ? Participated in other projects of the company?Ilya: So far, we have not been on an internship at the company. It is scheduled for this summer when we return to Serbia.
Filip: I participated in the Russian language olympiads organized by NIS-Gazpromneft . I showed good results on them.
Why did you choose chemistry? Do you plan to specialize in the Department of Petroleum Chemistry and Petrochemical Synthesis?Iliya: I enrolled in chemistry, because since school I loved this subject more than others. Chemistry was better for me than any other discipline. In addition, I participated in a couple of Olympiads in chemistry, and wrote my final thesis on this subject. I plan to choose the Department of Petroleum Chemistry and Petrochemical Synthesis, as it was the most interesting for me from the very beginning and attracted me more than others. I think I can prove myself in the petrochemical industry.
Philip: I developed a love for chemistry when I was in elementary school. I knew that I would go down this path. I also plan to specialize in this department. Chemistry of petroleum and petrochemical synthesis is the closest thing to what I would like to do. I think, as a specialist, I will do work that requires daily advanced training. Today it is necessary to keep up with the times. Almost every day, new research around the world gives us more information, which means we need to keep up with it.
What are your plans for the future? Are you considering NIS-Gazpromneft as a future employer?Iliya: Of course! I hope that NIS-Gazpromneft will be my employer. If it will be possible, I will go to work in this company.
Philip: I plan to deepen my knowledge in the field of petroleum chemistry and chemistry in general. At the moment, I need to show all my qualities and successfully complete my studies at the university. You can think about employment later. But I would love to work for a company like NIS-Gazpromneft
