From Central Asia to GUGC: Academic mission leads to PhD research stay

Serik is a doctoral researcher at Satbayev University and affiliated with the Institute of Nuclear Physics in Almaty. Her stay at GUGC follows a visit by a UGent delegation in autumn 2025, organised through the Eureast Platform. During that visit, Philippe M. Heynderickx, Professor of Environmental Sciences at the Center for Green Chemistry and Environmental BioTechnology (GREAT) connected with her research group led by Professor Daulbayev, which led to this internship.

Since 1 March, Aigerim has been working at GUGC on the photocatalytic degradation of antibiotics in water. The topic is gaining importance as pharmaceutical residues are increasingly found in water systems, calling for more sustainable treatment methods.

As part of her work, Serik is testing the breakdown of antibiotics such as ciprofloxacin and sulfamethoxazole. At the same time, she is getting familiar with advanced analytical techniques and reaction kinetics. “This internship provides me with new knowledge, practical experience, and a broader scientific perspective,” she says.

The collaboration shows how international missions can grow into longer-term academic partnerships. The academic mission to Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, co-organised within an economic mission by Flanders Investment and Trade, is part of a broader strategy to build new connections in regions with strong potential in higher education and research. Serik’s internship is a concrete example of how these efforts can lead to collaboration on the ground - and could open the door to future joint research and PhD trajectories. 

Read more about the academic mission to Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. 

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