Biography

Education

1978 – honors degree in metal physics and metallurgy from the Physics and Mechanics Department, Leningrad Polytechnical Institute;

1981 – PhD in solid-state physics, Leningrad Polytechnical Institute;

1989 – DSc in solid-state physics from the Institute of Strength Physics and Materials Science, Russian Academy of Sciences, Tomsk.

Advanced training

2021 – Physical Foundations of Materials Science (Togliatti State University);

2018 – Modeling and Numerical Analysis of the Crystallization Conditions and Technologies through Electrodeposition of Specific Nano-Objects (Togliatti State University).

Professional activity

• present – member of ITMO University’s Academic Council;
• present – member of ITMO University’s Science and Technology Council;
• 2021-present – head of the the Research Center for Advanced Functional Materials and Laser Communication Systems;
• 2019-present – chair of ITMO University’s Academic Degree Councils (Laser Physics, Condensed State Physics, Semiconductor Physics);
• 2018-present – leading professor (full-time), ITMO University;
• 2018-present – head of the Solid-State Theory Sector (part-time), Ioffe Institute; 
• 2016-2021 – head of the International Scientific Center of Functional Materials and Devices, ITMO University;
• 2013-2016 – head of the Advanced LED Materials and Devices Laboratory, ITMO University;
• 2012-2018 – professor and head of department, ITMO University;
• 2009-2014 – head of the research department at the company Optogan in St. Petersburg;
• 2013-2017 – head of the Nanocatalysts and Functional Materials Laboratory, Togliatti State University; 
• 2010-2014 – professor of physics of nanostructures at the Institute of Physics, University of Tartu (Estonia);
• 1998-2002 – visiting professor at Freiberg University of Mining and Technology (Germany);
• 1995-2012 – visiting professor at the University of California (Santa Barbara, the US);
• 1995-2006 – invited researcher at TU Dresden (Germany); 
• 1993-1994 – researcher at Michigan Technological University (the US);
• 1991-1992 – researcher at Max Planck Institute for Metals Research (Stuttgart, Germany);
• 1981–2018 – junior researcher, researcher, senior research associate, senior researcher, chief research associate, head of the Solid-State Theory Sector at Ioffe Institute;

Professional interests

Micro- and nanomechanics of disclinations and dislocations, physical and mechanical properties of amorphous, nanostructure, and nanocomposite materials, and electronic and optoelectronic materials and devices. 

Awards

2019-2021 – leader of the Russian Science Foundation project No. 19-19-00617 “Theory of structural defects in nanoobjects and nanomaterials;”

2014-2016 – winner of the Russian Science Foundation competition “Fundamental and exploratory studies by existing research teams” at ITMO University with the project “Scientific background of the fabrication of wide bandgap semiconductor materials with low defect density”;

2013-2017 – leader of the project No. 14.В25.31.0011  “Development of physical and chemical foundation for the technology of innovative nanocatalysts based on base metals” at Togliatti State University (the Decree No. 220 by the Russian Government);

2008 – certificate of honor from the Russian Academy of Sciences;

2008 – Marie Curie Senior Fellowship Award (Brussels, the EU);

2006 – Award for the best research project at Ioffe Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences (St. Petersburg, Russia);

2006 – Erasmus Mundus Fellowship Award (Brussels, the EU);

2004 –  Alexander von Humboldt Continuation Award (Bonn, Germany);

2000 –  Mercator Professorship Award of the German Research Foundation (Bonn, Germany);

1998-2002 – project coordinator at Volkswagen Foundation (research project No. 05019225) (Hannover, Germany);

1994-1995 – project coordinator at the International Foundation for Science (projects No. R51000, R513000 and SDM000) (Washington, the US);

1993-1994 – coordinator for INTAS projects (INTAS- 93-3213 and INTAS-94-4380), (Brussels, the EU);

1993 – principal investigator for the National Research Council CAST Program, (Washington, the US);

1991-1992 – Alexander von Humboldt Fellowship (Bonn, Germany).

Other professional activities

Alexey Romanov is a member of the editorial boards of the following journals:

• Materials Physics and Mechanics;
• Journal of Mechanical Behaviour of Materials;
• Reviews on Advanced Materials Science (editor-in-chief in 2017-2018);
• Deformation and Destruction of Materials;
• ITMO Bulletin;
• Vector of Science;
• Reviews on Advanced Materials and Technologies (editor-in-chief since 2019).

Hobbies

Music (blues and rock), painting, and volleyball.