Alexandre Sobolev

Dr. Alexandre Sobolev serves as an Honorary Research Fellow at the School of Molecular Sciences, The University of Western Australia (UWA). With a physics undergraduate background from Russia, he specialized in chemical crystallography during twenty years as Senior Research Scientist at Moscow's L. Ya. Karpov Physico-Chemical Research Institute. Since 1992, he has contributed to UWA's research ecosystem, initially developing a specialized low-temperature X-ray diffractometer under an ARC grant for electron density studies.

His research addresses critical challenges in structural characterization of complex supramolecular systems:

• Self-assembled Host-Guest macromolecular complexes with hundreds of non-hydrogen atoms
• Charge density analysis of crystals exhibiting molecular disorder and high solvent content
• Advanced X-ray structure analysis for problematic crystals bridging small-molecule and protein crystallography
• Crystal chemistry of supramolecular compounds requiring specialized experimental strategies

Recent publications demonstrate consistent focus on supramolecular chemistry, particularly calixarenes, metal-organic frameworks, and fullerene complexes. His work leverages Hirshfeld surface analysis and crystal engineering principles to solve structures where conventional methods fail due to crystal imperfections.

Dr. Sobolev actively consults UWA's Chemistry Discipline on structural analysis suitability and interpretation while teaching crystallography to PhD students and advanced undergraduates. His research utilizes the Centre for Microscopy, Characterisation & Analysis, operating Oxford Diffraction Gemini and Xcalibur S equipment for high-precision X-ray diffraction studies.