Affiliation: Warsaw University of Technology
Keywords: Nanomaterials, Nanocomposites, 2D materials, Graphene, MXenes, Surface Engineering, Functional Hybrid Structures, Bioactivity, Photoactivity, Photocatalysis, Sensing, Energy
Full profile: Agnieszka holds a master’s degree in chemical technology. She received her Ph.D. in 2012 and her habilitation in 2018 as a young scientist in materials science, to finally become appointed as a university professor at the Warsaw University of Technology, Poland. She leads an interdisciplinary research group, ‘Bioactive nanomaterials’, at the Faculty of Materials Science and Engineering.
Agnieszka research is primarily centered on novel two-dimensional (2D) materials for multifunctional nanocomposite hybrid structures. Among my most recent investigations, Agnieszka engaged in bridging the gap in understanding their stimuli-responsiveness concerning their electronic, optical, and catalytic features. She also delves into 2D materials’ self-assembly processes in complex environments, emphasizing their cyto- and ecotoxicological effects observed at relevant exposures. Beyond her research endeavors, Agnieszka is actively championing the principles of ‘safe-by-design’ and ‘sustainable-by-design’ in developing advanced nanomaterials.
The cross-disciplinary nature of Agnieszka research reflects her background as a chemist, further knowledge achieved in materials engineering, and broad knowledge gained in collaboration, scientific visitations to fellow materials scientists, biotechnologists, and the MXene community. Her research group has published many high-tier articles and demonstrated proficiency in acquiring and executing third-party-funded projects funded by the National Science Centre (NCN), Excellence Initiative – Research University, and Horizon. Agnieszka also actively participates in European COST Action.
Agnieszka is also a spin-off company founder, shareholder, and CEO, which licenses patents for obtaining novel silver and copper nanoparticles, surface modified with aluminum nano-oxide and nano-silica. Her commercialization endeavors were awarded in 2021 by a Minister of Education and Science through an Award for industrial implementations.
She also actively participates in scientific associations, being a member of the Materials Research Society and the American Chemical Society, USA, the Council of the Faculty of Materials Engineering, and the Council of the Materials Engineering Discipline. At the turn of 2020/21, she became a member of the working group of policymakers for academic promotion criteria and researchers’ assessment. From 2022, she has been a member of the Council for Science, Higher Education, and Innovation within the National Development Council of the President of the Republic of Poland.
Agnieszka is also an expert in Polish and foreign institutions financing science, such as the European Research Council (ERC), Horizon 2020, the National Center for Research and Development (NCBR), the Polish National Agency for Academic Exchange (NAWA), as well as the Polish and Czech Fulbright foundations as part of the MoRePro program, Slovak Academy of Sciences. She has also been reviewing scientific articles submitted to high-tier JCR journals for many years.
Throughout her career, Agnieszka has actively advocated for the inclusion and advancement of women in these disciplines, recognizing the immense value they bring to research and innovation. As a YAE member, she amplifies the voice of women in science. She promotes initiatives encouraging their participation and leadership in this collective effort to create a more inclusive and vibrant scientific landscape.
All these make Agnieszka well-suited to provide specific guidance and mentorship in fostering evidence-based policy and play a valuable role in YAE towards supporting young scientists, especially in STEM. She strongly believes in the fresh perspective of young researchers and champions their involvement in shaping the future of research in the EU and transformative processes.