PhD Degree Awarded to KazNU Doctoral Student within the Framework of International Scientific Collaboration

Diana Manapkyzy is a doctoral student at Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology, Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, enrolled in the 8D05104 "Genetics" educational program (2020–2023). In 2021, as a winner of the “Abai-Vern” scholarship program, Diana was enrolled to the University Paris-Saclay and awarded a two-year scholarship. During this period, she conducted research at the Laboratory of Molecular Genetics, Institute of Biology and Biotechnology Problems, as well as at the Mechanisms of DNA Repair and Carcinogenesis Laboratory, Gustave Roussy Cancer Institute, where she studied the role of human thymine DNA glycosylase (TDG) in maintaining genome stability and epigenetic regulation.

On December 19, 2024, Diana successfully defended her doctoral dissertation at the Gustave Roussy Institute, and on June 27, 2025, she was officially awarded the PhD degree at the University of Paris-Saclay graduation ceremony.

Her scientific advisors were Associate Professor Sabira Myktybekkyzy Taipakova, leading researcher at the Institute of Biology and Biotechnology Problems and the Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics at KazNU, and Professor Dr. Murat Kalievich Saparbayev, head of the Mechanisms of DNA Repair and Carcinogenesis Laboratory UMR 9019 at the Gustave Roussy Institute.

The team of the Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics sincerely congratulates Diana and her supervisors on this significant achievement and wishes them continued success and new scientific discoveries! This accomplishment stands as a vivid example of international collaboration and scientific continuity.