“I am willing to play a proactive role in China-Russia Scientific Research Exchanges”—Exclusive Interview with Dr. Konstantin Chingin, the awardee of 2018 Chinese Government Friendship Award

By Jessica Xu

Professor Konstantin Chingin is engaged in the research of direct mass spectrum analysis in terms of basic theories,instrument development and applications and has achieved plenty of original results. He has done a lot in the fields of scientific research, platform construction, communication and exchanges and international cooperation. Considering the development advantages of East China University of Technology, Professor Konstantin Chingin advocated and promoted the cooperation between the university “111 base”and foreign universities and research institutes. He particularly contributed a lot to the multidisciplinary exchanges and cooperation with the Russian government agencies such as the building of Mass Spectrum and Instrumentation Research and Development Center of East China University of Technology in the Federal Ministry of Health in Russia.

Professor Konstantin Chingin masters four languages: Russia,English, German and Chinese. He is rather good at playing Gobang with a couple of first prizes in three Youth World Championships, three European Youth World Championships,two Russian Gobang Championships and two Gobang Team World Championships (Russian) and a second prize in the Singles World Championships.

Jessica Xu: Dr. Konstantin Chingin, first of all would you please explain a little bit about your academic background?

Kongstantin Chingin: I have been a researcher for a decade.I came to China in March 2013 and have been working as a professor in East China University of Technology. I am working in the Laboratory of Mass Spectrum and Instrumentation in Jiangxi Province, and engaged in research of direct mass spectrum analysis in terms of basic theories, instrument development and applications. Mass spectrum analysis and instrumentation are used in medicine to treat cancer.Specifically, my work is to conduct molecular biological sample analysis. In order to ensure accuracy, I have done more than 1000 sample analysis since 2013.

Jessica Xu: From the information in your CV, we know that you had your undergraduate and graduate studies in Russia,Switzerland, USA and Sweden. It seems that you only came to China for the purpose of work. How did you know about China before you came to China?

Kongstantin Chingin: I had long been interested in Chinese language and Chinese culture before I came to work in China.And I quite understand that Russia and China have a long history of friendship. In the bottom of my heart, I am longing for China and the life in China. After I settled down here, I started to learn Chinese by myself. It was an enjoyable process as my learning was not only driven by the need of survival in China but also by my inner passion about the language. With a good command of Chinese language, I find it easier and more comfortable for me to work, live and make friends in China.

Jessica Xu: Congratulations! You are speaking quite good Chinese. Also, why did you choose to work in East China University of Technology in the year of 2013? What’s the duration of your working contract?

Kongstantin Chingin: It is also a coincidence that I came to work in East China University of Technology. One of the most important reasons is I happen to know a friend who are working in the university as the vice-president. His name is Huanwen Chen. He is a great scientist and a man of few words. But he has a vision for the development of mass spectrum analysis in China.He is very enthusiastic about my research area and appreciates my academic performance and potential. We share the expectations and visions for future scientific research in the field.Personally I really appreciate his working attitude, enthusiasm and ability. Therefore, I happily accepted his offer and agreed to work in the university. Currently, I am also tutoring undergraduate and graduate students. It’s part of my work. It has been proved that my decision to work here is right. In the past five years, my research work has been given great support from the university and they always made me only focused on my work and never interrupted me with any irrelevance. I enjoy the relaxed research environment here. I am very grateful to all.It has been my fifth year in the mass spectrum laboratory. Since the year of 2013, I have signed the 3-year working contract twice.I am very satisfied with the cooperation with Chinese scholars in work. When the expiration of the contract comes next year, I will definitely consider renewing it, with the hope of doing more to help China and Russia carry out scientific research exchanges in the particular field.

Born in Russia in 1983, Konstantin Chingin is a scientist in analytical chemistry. He successively got his master's degree in Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Russia and a doctorate in chemical and applied biology in the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich. After the postdoctoral research in the Department of Chemistry at Stanford University in the United States, he worked as a researcher at the Karolinska Institute,Sweden. Since 2013, he has been a full-time professor in East China University of Technology and engaged in mass spectrum in the Key Laboratory of Mass Spectrum and Instrumentation in Jiang Xi Province. He was awarded the Lushan Friendship Award by Jiang Xi Provincial People's Government in 2015 and the Important Contribution Award in China-Russia Cooperation by the Federal Ministry of Health of Russia in 2016, and the Chinese Government Friendship Award by the Central Government in 2018.

Jessica Xu: Could you please talk about Russia-China cooperation in mass spectrum analysis? What about your role in the process?

Kongstantin Chingin: In 2017, the Mass Spectrum and Instrumentation Subject Innovation and Intelligence Introduction Base of East China University of Technology was successfully selected into the Higher Education Subject Innovation and Intelligence Introduction Program ( 111 Program for short).It is part of the international mass spectrum analysis. China is already undertaking systematic research in this regard,and has introduced three foreign experts in the Base. In the process, China has conducted good cooperation with Russian counterparts. Our research findings are primarily hospital oriented. The base cooperates with hospitals in China and Russia, especially with maternity departments. The purpose of our research is to help doctors to accurately judge the operation.With the help of our scientific research results being turned into medical instruments, the objectivity and accuracy in the operation process can be guaranteed rather than just rely on the experience and subjective judgments of individual doctors.Russian President Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin once visited our cooperative hospital in Russia. The two governments attach great importance to the Moscow Research Center. According to the bilateral cooperation agreements between the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) and the Russian Foundation for Basic Research (RFBR), the two sides will jointly fund China-Russia cooperation and exchange programs in 2018.Personally, I want to play an active role in scientific research exchanges between China and Russia. In this process, I set myself three tasks. Firstly, make complex samples analysis and publish academic papers; Secondly, efforts should be made to put scientific research achievements into the market (hospitals)and transform them into medical products. I will be involved in the negotiation with delegations to discuss. Thirdly, do statistical analysis of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). In the research,TCM is to be proved in a statistics way. It will be a long process,and it should be done step by step, but I will keep working on it.

Jessica Xu: In 2018, you were awarded the Chinese Government Friendship Award. Can you share with us your true feelings at the moment?

Kongstantin Chingin: I am not a star. I’m happy to get the award and to see the work recognized as important by others.

Jessica Xu: When it comes to honor, you are so calm and modest. Your answer to the question is so short and brief!Indifference to fame and wealth is also your special charm as a scientist. In life, what a kind of person you are, and do you have any hobbies? What is your dream in your life?

Kongstantin Chingin: Currently, I am regarded as a scientist.But I do have great interest and passion in novel writing. I adore the literature works of Aleksandr Sergeyevich Pushkin. Writing academic paper in English is my habit, and wring novels in Russian is my wish. My biggest hobby is playing Gobang. I joined the Gobang club. I am not a professional, and it is known that the Gobang champions are all Chinese. However, I also participated in many related activities. The best result was the second place in 2007 Gobang World Championships. Meantime,I won the first place in the Gobang Team World Championships,the Russian Gobang Championship, the European Youth World Championships, etc. Speaking of the future, I dream of being a film director. I love Hong Kong movies very much.