SFedU Launches “Digital Photosynthesis” as AI Turns Data Into Scientific Momentum
At Southern Federal University, 25% of life sciences projects already rely on artificial intelligence, positioning AI as a catalyst for change across the university’s research and education system.
AI Learns to Study Life
This is not about showcase experiments. AI is being embedded directly into day-to-day research workflows – large-scale data analysis, modeling, and pattern discovery. For the university, this marks a shift from fragmented initiatives to a systemic approach in which digital tools move from novelty to routine infrastructure for science.
“We try to make science aspirational, because people come for a name, for a five-star lab, for an ambitious, sometimes even unrealized dream,” said Inna Shevchenko, rector of Southern Federal University. Today, a five-star laboratory almost always includes AI. At the university, a significant share of life sciences research projects is now carried out with AI support.
Academic Culture Is Changing
Alongside research projects, the university is rolling out an education track focused on AI. Courses are designed not only for students but also for faculty – a clear signal that digital skills are not treated as “youth-only” competencies.
AI is seen primarily as a way to reduce researchers’ workload by automating repetitive tasks and freeing up time for analysis, hypothesis building, and interpretation. Over time, this approach is reshaping the culture of academic work itself.
How AI Entered Russian Universities
Digital education in Russia has developed gradually. The Ministry of Digital Development, Communications, and Mass Media compiled a list of universities responsible for training key AI specialists. The list includes ITMO University, Innopolis University, Southern Federal University, Ural Federal University, RUDN University, and others – more than 20 institutions in total. Training programs are delivered with participation from major Russian telecom and IT companies such as VK, Rostelecom, and Sber.
In parallel, large universities launched specialized programs. HSE University integrated AI and data analytics into practice-oriented master’s degrees. Several institutions created dedicated faculties and laboratories in partnership with IT companies. ITMO secured its position as a leading center for machine learning and AI engineering. Against this backdrop, Southern Federal University is part of a nationwide trend, with a distinctive focus on applied life sciences.
Rebuilding University Science
“We have chosen our way deliberately, but we will never replace humans. Our task is to teach people how to use artificial intelligence correctly,” said Inna Shevchenko. The university is moving discussions about AI out of the conceptual realm and into everyday practice. Integrating algorithms into research and education expands scientific capabilities and makes academic work more precise and dynamic. At the same time, automation is not about replacing researchers – it removes routine tasks and preserves space for ideas, analysis, and unconventional thinking.
AI training programs for students and faculty are designed with the long term in mind. They help create an environment in which digital skills become a natural part of the academic profession rather than an optional add-on. In the coming years, the number of AI-enabled projects is expected to grow – first in life sciences, then in engineering and applied fields.
Already, 25% of life sciences projects use AI and machine learning. Southern Federal University is also among 15 universities participating in a federal productivity improvement initiative, with results planned by September 2026. By the end of the decade, the university may establish itself as a regional center of expertise in AI-driven research, including the launch of stand-alone education programs with demand well beyond Russia.
