The First PhD Degree of Samara University Has Been Awarded

Doctoral student Padma Bolla defended her thesis for the international degree of PhD. She has become the first scientist to obtain an international degree at Samara University. The work is devoted to solving the urgent problem of developing multi-frequency navigation receivers, allowing to increase the reliability and accuracy of positioning.

Samara National Research University and Tampere University of Technology (Finland) signed an agreement on a joint programme of double doctoral (PhD) diplomas in the field of GNSS Technology in 2018. The first scientist to obtain an international PhD Degree of Samara University as part of a new double-degree scientific and educational programme has become Padma Bolla from India.

Padma Bolla took the most part of the training at Samara University. The studies were conducted at Samara University, as well as at Tampere University of Technology (Finland). The first supervisor of the PhD student was Professor Kai Borre. Under his leadership, in 2016, Padma Bolla began working in the scientific laboratory of GNSS receivers  at  Samara University. Later, Dean of  Faculty of Electronics and Instrument Engineering at Samara University Ilya Kudryavtsev took over the leadership of the doctoral programme. Under the terms of the agreement, the doctoral student should have two academic supervisors, one from each university. Professor Dr. Elena-Simona Lohan became the supervisor from Tampere University of Technology (Finland).

The PhD-dissertation public defense took place in Finland. From Samara University, the defense was attended by Professor Igor Belokonov – as the opponent, and Associate Professor Ilya Kudryavtsev –  as the co-supervisor of the doctoral student. For detailed information on the procedure of the defense, read the article "Padma Bolla became the first owner of the dual PhD of Samara University and the University of Tampere".

"The defense of our own PhD degree is in many respects an important stage for us in terms of recognition of our level of training of scientific specialists by the international community, that is, the education obtained at Samara University meets European standards, —  said Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs Andrey Gavrilov. – The implementation of PhD doctoral training in the double degree format allows solving several problems. On the one hand, it provides a more objective assessment of the results and the level of research carried out by the scientists from different countries and universities. On the other hand, it expands cooperation with foreign universities and creates conditions for the exchange of experience and work in the leading scientific laboratories of the world".

According to the Vice-Rector, foreign citizens are primarily interested in the obtaining of a PhD degree now. At the moment, four more young scientists from abroad are studying within PhD programmes at Samara University.

"The regulation of the PhD-doctoral studies at Samara University emphasizes that this is almost an exclusive preparation, it is extremely personalized –  it cannot be otherwise, because we deal with advanced scientific research, – the Vice-Rector explained. – For several years, the supervisor is building an individual learning path, supported by laboratory, information and infrastructure support of the university, for the doctoral student. And this work allows us to transmit high-quality Russian education abroad".
Russian young scientists also seek to obtain this degree, as a rule, in parallel with training in the postgraduate school. The fact is that a PhD degree gives them the opportunity to work in international scientific collaborations or build a career in foreign universities, conduct advanced research in corporate research centres.

Four young scientists who have received this degree in foreign universities already work at Samara University: Irina Belyaeva (2016), Salimzhan Gafurov and Evgeniy Aryshenskiy (2017), Dmitriy Kornilin (2018). Four more are working on a thesis and are preparing for the defense.