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Academic Research at HSE University: Opportunities and Experiences
HSE University holds the status of a National Research University, a prestigious title given to a limited number of universities in Russia. As such, it has a strong commitment to training students to conduct academic research starting from the first year of bachelor’s studies. The university rewards academic research and creates an environment where students can participate in research competitions and work in research centres.

'Our Discoveries Are Based on New Approaches to Explaining Social Phenomena'
Lawyer Pavel Grigorev is interested in global legal issues, particularly whether it will be possible in the future to completely eliminate government interference in society's affairs. In this interview with the HSE Young Scientists project, he discusses the lawmaking potential of his PhD dissertation, medieval criminal law provisions stipulated in Russkaya Pravda, and his international internship in India.

Pokémon, ARPANET, and the Mysterious East: Science Battles between Student Organisations at HSE
A special session of HSE Science Battles has taken place at the HSE Cultural Centre. This time, the speakers represented their student organisations and scientific fields. The evening brought together ideas about the future—from metaverses and deciphering ancient languages to neuromodular chips and the prospects of social sciences.

Z-Flipons: How Specific DNA Regions Help Regulate Gene Function
Researchers at HSE University and InsideOutBio have applied machine learning to identify the location and functions of mirror-twisted DNA structures, known as Z-flipons, in human and mouse genomes. The scientists discovered which Z-DNA regions were conserved in both species throughout evolution and demonstrated for the first time that Z-DNA accelerates the process of creating RNA copies of genes. The findings will contribute to the development of new treatments for genetic diseases. The study has been published in Scientific Reports.

HSE Researchers Develop Python Library for Analysing Eye Movements
A research team at HSE University has developed EyeFeatures, a Python library for analysing and modelling eye movement data. This tool is designed to simplify the work of scientists and developers by enabling them to efficiently process complex data and create predictive models.

‘The Defence Was Both Interesting and Nerve-Wracking’
Ana Livia Araujo Esteves, from Brazil, lecturer at the HSE School of International Regional Studies, has recently defended her PhD at HSE University. In her interview with the HSE News Service, she talks about her research into Brazilian–Russian relations, the difficulties of the thesis defence process, and her further plans in academia.

Scientists Identify Fifteen Key Motives Driving Human Behaviour
Researchers at HSE University and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine have identified 15 key motives that drive human behaviour. By analysing people's views, preferences, and actions through an evolutionary lens, they demonstrated how these motives intertwine to shape habits and interpersonal relationships. The findings have been published in Personality and Individual Differences.

HSE Neurolinguists Create Russian Adaptation of Classic Verbal Memory Test
Researchers at the HSE Centre for Language and Brain and Psychiatric Hospital No. 1 Named after N.A. Alexeev have developed a Russian-language adaptation of the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test. This classic neuropsychological test evaluates various aspects of auditory verbal memory in adults and is widely used in both clinical diagnostics and research. The study findings have been published in The Clinical Neuropsychologist.

Mirror Laboratory of HSE and UTM Shares Its First Achievements
In autumn of 2024, a delegation from Malaysia, led by Minister of Higher Education Zambry bin Abdul Kadir, visited the HSE campus in St Petersburg. One of the key topics of discussion was the initial results of the mirror laboratory, a joint initiative between HSE University-St Petersburg and the University of Technology Malaysia (UTM).

Tickling the Nerves: Why Crime Content is Popular
Consumers of content about serial killers watch and read it to experience intense emotions that are often lacking in everyday life and to understand the reasons that drive people to commit crimes. However, such content does not contribute to increased aggression. These conclusions were drawn by sociologists from HSE University. The results of their study have been published in Crime, Media, Culture: An International Journal.