Biography

Valery N. Khabashesku received his doctoral Candidate (Ph.D) degree in 1980 and professorial Doctor of Science (Chemistry) degree in 1998 from the Zelinsky Institute of Organic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, in Moscow. He was a visiting scientist or visiting professor with the US National Academy of Science at Texas, Colorado, Los Angeles, Berkley and Rice universities, and invited lecturer at various international symposia, workshops and industry meetings. In 2001 he became a Laureate of State Prize of Russian Federation in science and technology, the highest nation’s civilian honor awarded by President of Russia. Currently he holds a Faculty Fellow position in Chemistry Department and he is also a Rice Quantum Institute fellow and faculty member of Richard E. Smalley Institute of Nanoscale Science and Technology at Rice University. His research interests include materials chemistry and nanoscience, physical organic chemistry of group 14 reactive intermediates, chemical modification and characterization of carbon nanotubes, fullerenes, nanodiamonds and other carbon and heterocarbon nanostructures for bio-medical and engineering applications, design and processing of polymer nanocomposites, fibers, coatings and lubricants, high pressure synthesis of new materials.