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Introducing the 12 winners of the first edition of the Secundus programme
Among this year's winners of the university's Secundus competition, twelve people who are the best in particular scientific disciplines were particularly recognised. What do they do and what are their most important papers published to date?
The Secundus programme is one of the many activities undertaken to improve scientific excellence at WUST. The winners’ list comprises a hundred young scientists, who in 2019 were under 40 years old, without a post-doctoral degree, and boasting the highest number of points for the papers published.
- We are very keen to promote and appreciate scientists - says Professor Arkadiusz Wójs, WUST rector. - That is why we are successively launching motivational programmes: for the best publishers, for the young, in a moment we will announce another programme promoting participation in research projects and grants, and we will also establish a Centre of Scientific Excellence for outstanding researchers in their disciplines.
Twelve people representing individual scientific disciplines were awarded for their merit.
ARCHITECTURE AND URBAN PLANNING
Aleksandra Brzozowska-Jawornicka, PhD, Eng, Arch.
AUTOMATION, ELECTRONICS, AND ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING
Łukasz Sterczewski, PhD, Eng.Faculty of Electronics
TECHNICAL INFORMATICS AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS
Piotr Syga, PhD, Eng.Faculty of Fundamental Problems of Technology
BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING
Monika Danielewska, PhD, Eng.Faculty of Fundamental Problems of Technology
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING
Grzegorz Pasternak, PhD, Eng.
Faculty of Chemistry
– I conduct research focusing on the development of the technology of bioelectrochemical systems. These are devices in which the key role is played by micro-organisms that produce electricity as a by-product of metabolism. My work is aimed at the simultaneous acquisition of other valuable products of metabolism in energy self-sufficient processes – explains Grzegorz Pasternak, PhD, Eng.
Most important papers:- Pasternak G., Greenman J., Ieropoulos I., Self-powered, autonomous Biological Oxygen Demand biosensor for online water quality monitoring. Sensors and Actuators. B, Chemical. 2017, vol. 244, s. 815-822. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.snb.2017.01.019
- Pasternak G., Greenman J., Ieropoulos I., Dynamic evolution of anodic biofilm when maturing under different external resistive loads in microbial fuel cells. Electrochemical perspective. Journal of power sources, 2018, 400, 392-401. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jpowsour.2018.08.031
- Pasternak G., Askitosari T. D., Rosenbaum M. A., Biosurfactants and synthetic surfactants in bioelectrochemical systems: a mini-review. Frontiers in Microbiology, 2020, 11, 358. https://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2020.00358
CIVIL ENGINEERING AND TRANSPORT
Olga Szyłko-Bigus, PhD, Eng.
Faculty of Civil Engineering
- My work concerns the analysis of vibrations of various models of beams (single and multi-span beams) caused by moving loads. In my research, I take into account the deterministic and stochastic nature of load and construction parameters – says the winner.
Most important papers:
- Śniady P., Misiurek K., Szyłko-Bigus O., Idzikowski R., Vibrations of the Euler-Bernoulli beam under a moving force based on various versions of gradient nonlocal elasticity theory: applications in nanomechanics, Studia Geotechnica et Mechanica 2020; 1-13. https://doi.org/10.2478/sgem-2019-0049
- Szyłko-Bigus O., Śniady P., Zakęś F., Application of Volterra integral equations in the dynamics of a multi-span Rayleigh beam subjected to a moving load, Mechanical Systems and Signal Processing 2019; 121: 777-790. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ymssp.2018.11.056
- Szyłko-Bigus O., Śniady P., Dynamic response of a Timoshenko beam to a continuous distributed moving load, Structural Engineering and Mechanics 2015; 54; 4: 771-792. https://dx.doi.org/10.12989/sem.2015.54.4.771
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
Andrzej Żak, PhD, Eng.
Faculty of Mechanical Engineering
– My work concerns electron microscopy, and I specialize in in-situ methods - building dedicated apparatus to perform experiments directly during electron observations. My current project is a multi-faceted modification of a transmission electron microscope for the observation of light-induced phenomena in hydrated biological and photoactive materials.
When pursuing it, I made unique accessories that make it possible to achieve unprecedented results – some of them waiting for a patent to be granted – says Andrzej Żak, PhD, Eng. – I’m also using this opportunity to make electronic microscopy methods available to our university’s community, and my dream is to create a university-wide microscopy laboratory where scientists from various backgrounds could use of top-notch equipment, following the example of the best universities in the world – he adds.
Most important papers:- Żak A. M., Dańczak A., Dudziński W., Low temperature martensite relaxation in Co-Ni-Ga shape memory alloy monocrystal revealed using in situ cooling transmission electron microscopy and low rate calorimetry, Acta Crystallographica Section B, 2020, B76. https://doi.org/10.1107/S2052520620006794.
- Żak A. M., Dudziński W., Microstructural and in situ Lorentz TEM domain characterization of as-quenched and ?’-precipitated Co49Ni30Ga21 monocrystal. Crystals. 2020, vol. 10, nr 3, art. 153, s. 1-18. https://doi.org/10.3390/cryst10030153.
- Żak A.M., Łaszcz A., Hasiak M., Gerstein G., Maier H.J., Dudziński W., Ion polishing as a method of imaging the magnetic structures in CoNiGa monocrystal. Results in Physics. 2018, vol. 10, s. 277-280. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rinp.2018.06.020.
ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING, MINING, AND POWER ENGINEERING
Michał Czerep, MSc, Eng.
Faculty of Mechanical and Power Engineering
– In my research work, I deal with the processing and conversion of conventional fuels, secondary raw materials, and waste for their use in the energy sector – explains the scientist. – I research the processes of co-firing of biomass with other fuels while maintaining the highest possible environmental standards. I take part in scientific research and industrial projects aimed at increasing energy efficiency of processes including drying, torification, and combustion, as well as energy management using waste heat sources – he adds.
Most important papers:- Pawlak-Kruczek H., Niedźwiecki Ł., Ostrycharczyk M. J., Czerep M. J., Plutecki Z.*, Potential and methods for increasing the flexibility and efficiency of the lignite fired power unit, using integrated lignite drying. Energy. 2019, vol. 181, s. 1142-1151. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2019.06.026
- Ostrycharczyk M. J., Krochmalny K. K., Czerep M. J., Pawlak-Kruczek H., Zgóra J. M., Examinations of the sulfur emission from pulverized lignite fuel, under pyrolysis and oxy-fuel combustion condition. Fuel (Guildford). 2019, vol. 241, s. 579-584. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.fuel.2018.11.110
- Pawlak-Kruczek H., Czerep M. J., Niedźwiecki Ł., Karampinis E.*, Violidakis I.*, Avagianos I.*, Grammelis P.*, Drying of lignite of various origins in a pilot scale toroidal fluidized bed dryer using low quality heat. Energies [Dokument elektroniczny]. 2019, vol. 12, nr 7, art. 1191, s. 1-22. https://dx.doi.org/10.3390/en12071191
MATHEMATICS
Dawid Huczek, PhD, Eng.
Department of Mathematics at the Faculty of Mathematics
– I deal with symbolic systems, entropy, and coding, i.e. I study the statistical properties of long strings/tables of symbols found in fields of science such as computer science and genetics. I check the possibilities of using them for optimal coding of “analogue” phenomena – says the winner.
Most important papers:- Downarowicz T., Huczek D., Zhang G., Tilings of amenable groups, Journal für die reine und angewandte Mathematik, Volume 2019: Issue 747. https://doi.org/10.1515/crelle-2016-0025.
- Frej B., Huczek D., Minimal models for actions of amenable groups. Groups Geom. Dyn. 11 (2017), 567-583. https://dx.doi.org/10.4171/GGD/408.
- Huczek D., Zero-dimensional extensions of amenable group actions, Studia Mathematica 256 (2021), 121-145 MSC: Primary 37A35; Secondary 37B40. https://dx.doi.org/10.4064/sm190203-5-11.
CHEMICAL SCIENCES
Rafał Petrus, PhD
Faculty of Chemistry
– My scientific interests relate to inorganic, coordination, structural, materials, polymers chemistry and catalysis – explains Rafał Petrus, PhD. – I study the possibilities of obtaining new, structurally defined complex metal compounds. Their applications include the use as molecular precursors for obtaining heterometallic ceramic materials and as initiators or catalysts in synthesis reactions of biodegradable aliphatic polyesters and organic compounds of industrial importance – he adds.
Most important papers:- Petrus R., Bykowski D., Sobota P., Solvothermal alcoholysis routes for recycling polylactide waste as lactic acid esters. ACS Catal. 2016, 6, 5222-5235. https://dx.doi.org/10.1021/acscatal.6b01009
- Petrus R., Sobota P., Magnesium and zinc alkoxides and aryloxides supported by commercially available ligands as promoters of chemical transformations of lactic acid derivatives to industrially important fine chemicals. Coord. Chem. Rev. 2019, 396, 72-88. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ccr.2019.06.002
- Petrus R., Sobota P., A new, simple, and efficient strategy for the preparation of active antifungal biodegradable materials via ring-opening polymerization of L-lactide with zinc aryloxides. Dalton Trans. 2019, 48, 8193-8208. https://dx.doi.org/10.1039/c9dt00627c
PHYSICAL SCIENCESMichał Baranowski, PhD, Eng.
Faculty of Fundamental Problems of Technology
– Currently, my scientific work focuses on two groups of semiconductors: transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) and metal-halide perovskites. I devote my attention to the study of the fundamental optical properties of these materials, and in particular, to the extremely interesting exciton physics, which in many respects differs from that of other, more “standard” semiconductors – explains Michał Baranowski, PhD, Eng.
Most important papers:- Baranowski M., Surrente A.*, Maude D.K.*, Ballottin M. V.*, Mitioglu A. A.*, Christianen P. C. M. *, Kung Y.-C.*, Dumcenco D.*, Kis A.*, Płochocka P.*, Dark excitons and the elusive valley polarization in transition metal dichalcogenides. 2D Materials. 2017, vol. 4, nr 2, art. 025016, s. 1-9. https://doi.org/10.1088/2053-1583/aa58a0
- Baranowski M., Surrente A.*, Kłopotowski Ł.*, Urban J. M.*, Zhang N.*, Maude D. K.*, Wiwatowski K.*, Maćkowski S.*, Kung Y.-C.*, Dumcenco D.*, Kis A.*, Płochocka P.*, Probing the interlayer exciton physics in a MoS2/MoSe2/MoS2 van der Waals heterostructure. Nano Letters. 2017, vol. 17, nr 10, s. 6360-6365. https://dx.doi.org/10.1021/acs.nanolett.7b03184
- Baranowski M., Zelewski S. J., Kepenekian M.*, Traoré B.*, Urban J. M.*, Surrente A.*, Galkowski K.*, Maude D. K.*, Kuc A.*, Booker E. P.*, Kudrawiec R., Stranks S. D.*, Płochocka P. ,Phase-transition-induced carrier mass enhancement in 2D ruddlesden–popper perovskites. ACS Energy Letters. 2019, vol. 4, nr 10, s. 2386-2392. https://dx.doi.org/10.1021/acsenergylett.9b01435
MANAGEMENT AND QUALITY SCIENCES
Yash Chawla, PhD
Faculty of Computer Science and Management
– Within Management and Quality Sciences, my area of interest lies in Innovation Management and Marketing Management. Primarily, in these fields, I work on large scale surveys covering topics such as Innovative products in Energy Markets, Consumer Awareness and Acceptance of Innovation, Education for Sustainable Development, Circular Economy and, Marketing and Communication Channels, especially Social Media.