Native name מיכאל זיניגרד Citizenship Israeli | Name Michael Zinigrad Residence Israel | |
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Institutions Ariel University,
Urals Technical University Education Dr.Sc. Physical chemistry (1982);
Ph.D. Metallurgy of non-ferrous, noble and rare metals (1972);
M.Sc. Metallurgical engineer (1968) Thesis Kinetics and mechanism of the interaction of sulfid-metal and oxide melts (1982) Known for Mathematical modeling and simulation of metallurgical processes at high temperatures;
Being the Rector of Ariel University Alma mater National Metallurgical Academy of Ukraine, Russian Academy of Sciences Fields Physical Chemistry, Metallurgy | ||
Michael Zinigrad, (Hebrew: מיכאל זיניגרד, Russian: Михаил Зиниград; born 1945) is an Israeli chemist specializing in materials science, materials engineering and nanotechnology. He is a professor of physical chemistry at the Ariel University, and is mostly known for his works on modeling and simulation of metallurgical processes at high temperatures. Zinigrad founded the Materials Research Center at the Ariel University, was the first dean of its Natural Science Faculty from 1995 to 2008, and since 2008 serves as the Rector of the University.
Biography
Michael Zinigrad was born 1945 in Altai Krai, Russia, where his parents escaped from Ukraine after the outbreak of the Second World War. He was only two months old when his family returned to Ukraine. The Zinigrad family has lost many of its members murdered during the Holocaust by the Nazis and their collaborators. Michael was named after his cousin that was one of the victims.
As a boy and a young man Michael lived and studied in Ukraine. He has recalled that his father was the director of a factory in the small town of Zvenyhorodka, Cherkasy region, and this allowed him to be employed as a turner during the summer school holidays. Young Michael attended the school in Yerky. He dreamed of being a journalist, but later, under the influence of two teachers, he grew fond of physics and chemistry. After graduating from high school he has decided to be engaged in both areas and to study physical chemistry.
In 1963 Zinigrad enrolled in the Dnepropetrovsk Metallurgical Institute where he completed his M.Sc. in physical and chemical studies of metallurgical processes in 1968. His master's degree thesis was devoted to synthesis of some solid solutions. While still a student, he married. His wife Ella Zinigrad, being then a student, would later receive a Ph.D. in electrochemistry.
From Ukraine Michael Zinigrad moved to Sverdlovsk (now Yekaterinburg), Ural region, Russia, where he started postgraduate studies at the Ural Scientific Center of the USSR Academy of Sciences. He received his Ph.D. from the Institute of High Temperature Electrochemistry of the Academy in 1972 after the approval of his doctoral dissertation entitled "Kinetic analysis of sulphide sulphur oxidation by slags" by the Higher Attestation Commission. In 1982 Zinigrad obtained the post-doctoral degree Dr.Sc. in physical chemistry from the Institute of Metallurgy of the Academy.
Zinigrad was appointed as Assistant at Ural State Technical University (formerly known as Ural Polytechnic Institute) in Sverdlovsk in 1972, promoted to Associated Professor in 1976, and Full Professor in 1983. He held a chair at the University between 1988 and 1991.
In 1992 Zinigrad repatriated to Israel. On arriving he wanted to promote a few projects, but quite soon he was invited to teach physical chemistry at the Ariel College. There were only about 200 students in the College at that time, but in a short time the small college evolved into a real university with six faculties that teach thousands of students. Zinigrad has said that this occurred due to the efforts of a group of "not quite normal people who wanted to create a new university".
Since 1993 Michael Zinigrad is a Full professor at Ariel University (primarily Ariel College, later Ariel University Center of Samaria and now Ariel University). Professor Zinigrad took part in establishing the Faculty of Natural Sciences at the University and served as its first dean from 1995 to 2008. He has founded the Materials Research Center, which includes his Advanced Metal Materials Laboratory, and is the head of the Center since 1999. Professor Zinigrad serves as the Rector of Ariel University from October 2008.
Professor Zinigrad is initiator and chairman of the conference on Mathematical Modeling and Computer Simulation of Metal Technologies (MMT) which is held since 2000. Michael Zinigrad is the author of over 200 scientific papers, 6 patents, 22 textbooks. Since 2008 he is a member of Technological Incubators Committee administrated by the Chief Scientist and appointed by the Ministry of Economy (former Ministry of Industry and Trade). He also heads the Committee for scientific cooperation between Israel and Russia.
Michael and Ella Zinigrad live in Israel. They have two sons.