Degrees

• D.Sc. (Geology and Mineralogy), Moscow Geological Prospecting Institute, 2000. Dissertation: Geology and Metallogeny of the Basite-Ultrabasite Formations of the Aldan Shield
• Ph.D. (Geology and Mineralogy), Irkutsk Polytechnic University, 1996. Dissertation: Geology and Metallogeny of the Basite-Ultrabasite Associations of the Sutama Block, the Aldan Shield
• M.S. (Mining Geology), Yakutsk State University, 1982

Research Interests

• Regional geology and metallogeny of north-eastern Russia
• Endogenous and exogenous processes in the evolution of landforms
• Petrography, lithology and mineralogy of sedimentary, igneous and metamorphic formations
• Petrophysical characteristics of rocks

Current Project

• SB RAS Basic Research Project, 2021-2025: The Thermal Field and Permafrost in Northeastern Russia: Controls and Dynamics (Participant)

Selected Past Projects

• SB RAS Interdisciplinary Integrated Project II.1 (ID: 0380-2018-0008), 2018-2020: Reconstructing the Late Pleistocene and Holocene Permafrost and Subsurface Temperature in the Vilyui Basin – Block 2. Current Subsurface Temperature Distribution and Permafrost in the Vilyui Basin (Principal Investigator)
• SB RAS Basic Research Project VIII. 77.2.3, 2013-2016. Subsurface Temperature Field and Permafrost Evolution in Northern Asia. Block 1. Understanding the Development of Subsurface Temperature Fields and Permafrost in Major Tectonic Structures of the Siberian Platform (Co-Investigator)
• RFBR Project 13-05-00875 A. Transformation of the Subsurface Temperature Field and Permafrost in Structures of the Aldan-Stanovoy Shield (Co-Investigator)
• Geothermal Study of Permafrost in the Kystyktakh Area and Development of a Geocryological Database. Contract Project (Co-Investigator)
• Geothermal Database of the Yenisey-Khatanga Trough. Contract Project (Co-Investigator)
• Thermal Properties of Rocks from the Maya and Nyurba Diamond Pipes, Contract Project (Investigator)
• Landscape-Based Systematization of Permafrost and Climate Data for the Kara Sea Coastal and Offshore Areas Obtained During the 1978-1981 Kara Expedition (Principal Investigator)
• RAS Department of Earth Sciences Program No. ONZ-11.7, 2009-2012. Geotemperature Field and Permafrost Dynamics in Northern Eurasia. Evaluation of Current Rates of Permafrost Dynamics in the Continental and Shelf Areas of Northern Eurasia. Part 1. The Geotemperature Field and Assessment of Current Cryogenic Processes in the North Eurasian Permafrost Region (Co-Investigator)
• Core Project VII.63.2.3, 2009-2012. Geothermophysical and Geochemical Fields in North Asian Permafrost: Dynamics and Prediction of Future Changes (Co-Investigator)
• RAS Department of Earth Sciences Program No. ONZ-7. Physical Fields and Inner Structure of the Earth. Project 2. Permafrost and Geothermal Atlas of Siberia and Far East Co-Investigator)

Field Work

• 1983-2017 – southern Verkhoyansk Mountains - Instructor, Director, and now Research Advisor of the Tompo Field Camp
• 2005 – Murun Massif, south-western part of the Aldan Shield – exploration for gold
• 1991-1993, 2004 – Olondo greenstone belt in the Olekma Megablock of the Aldan Shield – exploration for platinoids
• 1983 – Burpala Massif in the Ungra watershed along the Chulman Thrust Fault, Aldan Shield
• 1980-87 – Sutama Block of the Aldan Shield – exploration for and discovery of a series of iron ore deposits (Olimpiiskoe, Levoberezhnoe, Khuduchinskoe, Verkhne-Khuduchinskoe, Molodezhnoe, Gidatskoe, and Yagindia)
• 1979 – Bilekchan Fault, Dzhugdzhur Massif

Teaching and Supervision Activities

Dr. Zhizhin was Teaching Assistant (1982-1991), Senior Lecturer (1991-1996), Associate Professor (1996-2001) and Professor (since 2001) at the Yakutsk State University (now the North-Eastern Federal University). From 1997 to 2011, he ran the Department of Regional Geology and Geoinformatics established in 1997 on his initiative. During his career at YSU, Dr. Zhizhin served as a research advisor and an examination committee member for graduate degrees. Five Ph.D. students have successfully completed their degrees under his supervision.

Memberships and Committee Activity

• Member, Russian Engineers Association
• Member, Dissertation Council D 003.025.01, Melnikov Permafrost Institute

Patents/Licences

• Zhelezniak M.N., Zhizhin V.I., Shipitsina L.I., Sivtsev D.I., Misailov I.E., Rybchak A.A., Zavadsky F.R. The Geocryological Database of the Aldan Shield, Siberian Craton. Rospatent Registration Certificate No. 2016620539 of April 27, 2016.
• Zhelezniak M.N., Zhizhin V.I., Shipitsina L.I., Sivtsev D.I., Semenov V.P. The Geocryological Database of the Vilyui Basin. Rospatent Registration Certificate No. 2016620833 of June 21, 2016.