Yuriy M. Kazakov, Doctor of Technical Sciences, was appointed as an acting rector of KNRTU. The order on his appointment was signed on May 27 by Valery Falkov, Minister of Science and Higher Education of Russia. A ceremony of presenting the new head to the Academic Council of the university was held on June 1.

During the meeting, Alexey Pesoshin, Prime Minister of the Republic of Tatarstan, emphasized that Kazakov's work is closely connected with the university: for 10 years he worked at the Nizhnekamsk Chemical and Technological Institute of KNRTU, then – at KNRTU itself, along with holding positions in the system of PJSC SIBUR Holding.

"We have high expectations for Yuriy Mikhailovich, who has extensive experience in both education and practical activities in the petrochemical industry," said Alexey Pesoshin. Speaking about the tasks facing the university's management at this stage, the Prime Minister pointed out the need to maintain the accumulated potential, continue to develop cooperation with innovative enterprises and improve the quality of chemical specialists training.

Speaking to the staff, Yuriy Kazakov said, "This is the highest honor for me and, at the same time, a huge responsibility. I know how the industry works and what requirements are placed on science and education." He mentioned the stages of his work and scientific activity and expressed his respect that he would devote his scientific and management experience to the development of his home university.

— Such values as mutual respect, partnership and interaction are important for me. I see several key tasks: improving the quality of education, developing science in cooperation with industry enterprises, strengthening the staff and building clear, transparent development processes so that they will work for the faculty. I am sure that we will have a good, professional team that we will be able to restore the greatness of KNRTU as it was during the times of Petor A. Kirpichnikov and bring a lot of benefits to the industry, the Republic of Tatarstan and the whole country, —concluded Yuriy Kazakov.

Yuriy M. Kazakov was born on May 21, 1976 in the village of Betki, Rybnoslobodskiy District, TASSR. In 1998, he graduated from the Faculty of Polymer of our university with a degree in "Technology of Processing Plastic Materials and Elastomers", then for 10 years he worked in the Nizhnekamsk Branch Office (NCTI) of KSTU, first as an Assistant of the Department, then as a Senior Teacher and Associate Professor.

In 2003, at KSTU, Yuriy Kazakov defended his thesis for the degree of Candidate of Technical Sciences ("Production and Research of Dynamic Thermoplastic Elastomers Based on Tire Devulcanizate /SKI-3/ Polypropylene", scientific supervisor — Svetoslav Wolfson, Doctor of Technical Sciences, Professor), and in 2019, also at KNRTU, he defended his doctoral dissertation ("High-Tech Impact-Resistant Composite Materials Based on Polypropylene with Carbonchain Elastomers Obtained by Reaction Compounding for Innovative Products in the Automotive Industry").

Since 2008 he had been working in the system of SIBUR Holding: at the company's corporate research center in Tomsk (NIOST LLC), holding the positions of Leading Researcher of the Polymer Composite Materials Laboratory, Head of the Rubber Synthesis Laboratory, Head of the Plastics Synthesis Laboratory; from 2011 — Director of Science and Technology; from 2014 to 2019 — General Director of NIOST LLC. Since 2019 - Head of the Technological Expertise Service of SIBUR LLC (Moscow).

He is a specialist in the field of chemistry and technology of compositions based on polypropylene, author of about 100 scientific papers, including 3 monographs and 8 patents. Yuriy M. Kazakov is married and has two sons.