The outstanding young materials scientist Artem Oganov has been appointed as a member of the Clarivate Academic Advisory Board.

Artem R. Oganov, a distinguished scientist in the fields of computational materials science and crystallography, was officially appointed as a member of the Academic Committee of CORE Academy—International Academy of Science and Humanities, effective June 2025.

(Professor Artem Oganov is a formal member (Fellow) of the Natural Sciences Division of CORE Academy. At his own request and with his consent, the Division and the Secretariat have nominated Professor Skoron as a candidate for the Academic Committee in 2025.)

The members of the CORE Academy Academic Committee are distinguished scholars who have achieved remarkable academic accomplishments and earned high reputations in their respective fields. They serve as strategic advisors responsible for nominating and electing Fellowship members, providing guidance and support for the scientific and academic development of the Academy and its affiliated institutions, and maintaining the Academy’s highest academic standards.

Born in 1975 in what was then Soviet Ukraine, he graduated with honors in 1997 from Moscow State University with a degree in Crystallography and Crystal Chemistry. He then went on to pursue doctoral studies at University College London in the UK and earned his PhD in Crystallography in 2002. From 2003 to 2008, he served as a senior scientist at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich (ETH Zurich), where he also completed his habilitation—a qualification equivalent to a doctoral degree. During this period, he received the ETH Latsis Prize (2006) and the Medal of the European Mineralogical Union (2007).

In 2008, Oganov embarked on his academic career in the United States, serving as a professor of Earth and Computational Sciences at Stony Brook University (2008–2017). In 2013, he received the “Megagrant” grant from the Russian government and established a laboratory at the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology. Starting in 2015, he has been a professor at the Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology (Skoltech), while also deepening his research collaboration with China—founding the International Center for Materials Discovery at Northwestern Polytechnical University and receiving the 2019 “Chinese Government Friendship Award” (the highest honor conferred by China on foreign experts).

He was elected a Fellow of the Academia Europaea in 2017. In 2020, he simultaneously became a Fellow of the American Physical Society (APS) and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry (FRSC). From 2016 to 2017, he was consecutively recognized as a Highly Cited Researcher in the fields of chemistry and physics in Russia. In 2022, he was included on Clarivate’s “Highly Cited Researchers” list (h-index 96, with over 41,000 citations on Google Scholar). In 2024, he was elected Distinguished Professor at the Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology.

Oganov’s research, centered on “computational materials discovery,” pioneered the development of the USPEX algorithm—short for Universal Structure Predictor: Evolutionary Crystallography. This method, based on evolutionary algorithms, predicts crystal structures from first-principles calculations and is now used by over 10,000 researchers worldwide, driving a series of groundbreaking discoveries:

Material Breakthrough Under Extreme Conditions: Predicting the stability of the post-perovskite phase of MgSiO₃ is reshaping the scientific community’s understanding of Earth’s mantle structure; discovering ultra-hard γ-boron, transparent insulating sodium phases, and novel carbon allotropes challenges conventional chemical theories.

“Prohibited” compound Theoretical breakthrough Break: Reveals the stability of compounds such as Na₃Cl and Na₂He under high pressure, challenging conventional rules of chemical bonding; predicts the hydrous compound Mg₂SiO₅H₂, offering a new hypothesis for the origin of Earth’s hydrosphere.

High-Temperature Superconductivity and Planetary Science: Pioneering the discovery of high-temperature superconducting hydrides such as ThH₁₀ and YH₆, thereby setting a new record for superconducting transition temperatures; and demonstrating through the study of extinct minerals that Earth’s oceans had already formed just 150 million years after the planet’s inception.

In addition, the new scale he proposed for high-pressure electronegativity and chemical hardness provides a theoretical framework for explaining anomalous bonding phenomena. The USPEX algorithm he developed has also been applied across disciplines to protein structure prediction; research in 2023 showed that it can optimize the conformation of amino acid sequences via evolutionary algorithms, thereby advancing the field of biophysics.

     _{A paper published in 2022 in Physical Review Letters, by studying extinct minerals, sheds light on the origin of Earth’s oceans and ultimately demonstrates that oceans had already formed 150 million years after Earth’s formation.}

_{In a 2022 study published in PNAS, the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States, Oganov and his research colleagues redefined the concept of electronegativity to explain chemical phenomena under both ambient and high pressures.}

He is also deeply involved in science communication and public affairs: In 2011, he was named by Forbes as one of the “50 Russians Who Conquered the World”; in 2012 and 2015, he served as the protagonist in the documentaries “The Color of Crystal” and “Made in Russia,” respectively, supporting the production of science documentaries; and in 2019, as a key figure in the celebration of the 150th anniversary of Mendeleev’s Periodic Table, he appeared on screen to promote the spirit of science. In addition, he serves as the chairman of the jury for Russia’s “VYZOV” Future Technology Awards, driving the development and recognition mechanisms in the fields of basic science and engineering innovation.

Oganov joined the International Academy of Sciences and Humanities and was appointed as a member of its Academic Committee, emphasizing that “science should be free from politics, and knowledge belongs to humanity.” During his visit to the CORE Science Center in Xinjiang, he pointed out that the global scientific community today faces the challenge of politicization—some journals now require the removal of information about collaborations with Russian institutions, numerous Russian scholars have been barred from participating in scientific conferences, and academic exchanges have become entangled in geopolitical conflicts. Citing cases such as Harvard University Professor Charles M. Lieber and National Academy of Engineering member Chen Gang, he warned of the damage that accusations of “politicizing science” can inflict on global academic exchange and cooperation.

Oganov called for the establishment of a science and research platform that transcends politics, arguing that scientists have a responsibility to help prevent wars.

From predicting crystal structures to launching global scientific collaboration initiatives, Oganov’s career has consistently been guided by two main threads: unraveling the mysteries of matter through the USPEX algorithm and breaking down knowledge barriers via cross-cultural cooperation. As he puts it, “The ultimate goal of science is to understand the world, and understanding begins with openness and dialogue.”

Professor Oganov’s appointment to the Academic Committee not only highlights his scientific excellence but also underscores his longstanding commitment to international academic exchange and interdisciplinary exploration. His leadership in the fields of computational modeling, high-pressure chemistry, and materials design aligns closely with the College’s mission to foster excellence across disciplinary boundaries. Beyond his scientific achievements, Professor Oganov has made significant contributions to global academic collaboration—as an editor, researcher, and initiator, he has actively participated in numerous international initiatives and scientific cooperation projects. He has been elected as a member of several prestigious international scientific organizations, including the European Academy of Sciences, the Royal Society of the UK, and the American Physical Society, further demonstrating his dedication to advancing knowledge through global dialogue and mutual learning.

We extend our heartfelt congratulations and a warm welcome to Professor Artem R. Oganov. We look forward to his contributions, along with those of the other members of the Academic Committee, bringing profound insights, leadership, and a spirit of collaboration to CORE College. We remain steadfast in our mission: to uphold the highest standards of academic excellence, promote interdisciplinary research and knowledge exchange, and foster a global community of scholars committed to the pursuit of knowledge, the enhancement of mutual trust, and the service of the public interest across cultural, institutional, and geographical boundaries.