Alexander Khlunov was born in Moscow, graduated from the National Research Nuclear University (the former Moscow Engineering Physics Institute, MEPhI) in 1981, and later received his PhD in Physics and Mathematics. Until 2004 he held different positions in MEPhI, the Russian Institute of Strategic Research, Permanent Mission of the Russian Federation to the United Nations, and in the Embassy of the Russian Federation in the United States. In 2004-2005, he worked as Aide to the Minister of Education and Science (MES) of the Russian Federation. In 2005, he was appointed Director-General of the MES Department for State Science, Technology and Innovation Policy, and in 2008, Deputy Minister of Education and Science of the Russian Federation. From 2010 to 2012 he worked as Director-General of the Department for Science, High Technologies and Education at the Government of the Russian Federation, and in 2012-2013, as the Head of Division on Science and Education Policy at the Russian President’s Executive Office. In December 2013, he was appointed the Director General of the Russian Science Foundation by a decree of the Russian President.