Published on: 2026-09-21
Source: Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
On September 21, 2026, the president of the National Research Center “Kurchatov Institute”, Mikhail Valentinovich Kovalchuk, celebrates his anniversary. The prominent scientist in the field of X-ray physics, crystallography, and nanodiagnostics, Doctor of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, professor, and corresponding member of the Russian Academy of Sciences, turns 80 years old.
Mikhail Kovalchuk was born in Leningrad and graduated from the Physics Faculty of Leningrad State University. From 1998 to 2013, he headed the A. V. Shubnikov Institute of Crystallography of the Russian Academy of Sciences. During his leadership, a modern scientific research infrastructure was created at the institute, providing extensive opportunities for conducting unique experiments. In 2016, on M. V. Kovalchuk’s initiative, the Federal Research Center “Crystallography and Photonics” was established on the basis of the Institute of Crystallography.
As early as the 1980s, M. V. Kovalchuk began conducting experiments with synchrotron radiation. The experience gained on foreign installations was implemented by him in Russia when creating experimental stations for the Zelenograd and Kurchatov synchrotrons. In 1999, on the initiative of Academician E. P. Velikhov, Mikhail Kovalchuk was appointed director-organizer of the Kurchatov Synchrotron Radiation Center.
The commissioning in 1999 of the first specialized synchrotron radiation source “KISI-Kurchatov” marked the start of the implementation of the concept proposed by Mikhail Kovalchuk for the formation and development of a national network of experimental installations of the “megascience” class.
From 2005 to 2015, Mikhail Kovalchuk held the position of director of the NRC “Kurchatov Institute”; he is currently its president.
The activities of Mikhail Valentinovich Kovalchuk are so multifaceted that it seems incredible how one person can possess such a volume of diverse interests and knowledge, generate so many ideas and plans, and solve such a number of global tasks. He generously shares all his developments and implemented concepts with colleagues, young scientists, and students, inspiring them to bold decisions and new discoveries.
Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University has had a long-standing fruitful collaboration with Mikhail Kovalchuk. Mikhail Valentinovich is the Chairman of the SPbPU Supervisory Board, Honorary Doctor university. As a prominent scientist, leader, and person with an active life position, he contributes to strengthening the Polytech’s standing, supports its scientific schools, paying special attention to promising youth. Mikhail Kovalchuk is one of Polytech’s benefactors, participating in the establishment of the St. Petersburg Polytechnic University’s endowment fund. The President of the NRC “Kurchatov Institute” regularly speaks before students and faculty with popular science lectures. Each such meeting is an opportunity to hear a unique story about the development of domestic science and technology, new advanced research, and to receive expert forecasts. The lecture topics cover a wide range of Mikhail Kovalchuk’s scientific interests: synchrotron-neutron research, nature-like technologies, biotechnology, development of the Arctic zone, nuclear energy for space, safe development of nuclear medicine, and much more.
M. V. Kovalchuk is the chairman of the National Committee of Crystallographers of Russia, the head of the interdepartmental working group on the direction “Priority and Interdisciplinary Scientific Research” of the Council under the President of the Russian Federation for Science and Education. In 2025, M. V. Kovalchuk was appointed deputy chairman of the Maritime Collegium of the Russian Federation. He is also entrusted with the overall leadership of research projects at the Military Innovative Technopolis “ERA” of the Ministry of Defense of Russia. In 2026, Mikhail Kovalchuk was elected president of the Union for the Development of Russian Science Cities.
Mikhail Kovalchuk’s areas of interest also include humanitarian issues. Thus, the president of the NRC “Kurchatov Institute” initiated the development of a new interdisciplinary field — historical materials science, based on the use of natural science methods to study cultural heritage objects in collaboration with leading humanitarian institutes and museums of the country.
Thanks to the assistance of M. V. Kovalchuk, the cultural and educational sites of the A. P. Alexandrov House of Scientists in Moscow and the memorial dacha of I. V. Kurchatov in Crimea have been revived.
M. V. Kovalchuk is a well-known popularizer of science in Russia, chief editor of the journals “Crystallography” of the Russian Academy of Sciences, “Russian Nanotechnologies,” and “Bulletin of the Military Innovative Technopolis ‘ERA’.” His authorial programs “Stories from the Future with Mikhail Kovalchuk” on the Fifth Channel and “The Picture of the World with Mikhail Kovalchuk” on the “Russia-K” TV channel present the main scientific innovations, atomic energy, genetic engineering, development of information technologies, evolution of light sources, and much more in an accessible form.
Mikhail Valentinovich Kovalchuk is a full cavalier of the Order “For Merit to the Fatherland,” a laureate of the Government of the Russian Federation awards in the fields of science and technology and education. In August 2026, for special merits in the development of domestic science and many years of fruitful work, the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin awarded Mikhail Kovalchuk the title of Hero of Labor.
Rector of SPbPU Andrey Rudskoy: Dear Mikhail Valentinovich! The Polytechnic University values its many years of fruitful cooperation with you. We highly appreciate your constant attention to the life of the university, your sincere interest in its development, and your effective support.
For many years, you have dedicated yourself to serving the Fatherland and today rightly enjoy recognition as an outstanding scientist and talented organizer. Just one of the vivid examples of your extensive activity is the launch of the “Tokamak T-15MD” installation at the NRC “Kurchatov Institute,” which brings nuclear fusion research in Russia to a fundamentally new level and strengthens our country’s position in the international project to create the experimental fusion reactor ITER. Largely thanks to your active and consistent work from 2005 to 2020, Russia’s role in major international scientific projects has increased.
The scale of your scientific, organizational, and socially significant initiatives inspires sincere admiration. Numerous state awards and prizes testify to your significant contribution to the development of the country.
On behalf of the staff of the Polytechnic University, I warmly congratulate you on your anniversary! I wish you robust health, spirited vigor, inexhaustible energy, many long and active years, well-being, the warmth of close people, and reliable support from friends. May there be many new ideas, important discoveries, bright events, and outstanding achievements ahead.
Please note; This information is raw content obtained directly from the information source. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.