Available research topics
Department of Inorganic Chemistry, Analytical Chemistry and Electrochemistry (RCh-1)
Subject of research work
Description of the research work with contact details of the supervisor
Department of Organic Chemistry, Bioorganic Chemistry and Biotechnology (RCh-2)
Subject of research work
Description of the research work with contact details of the supervisor
Organophosphorus compounds in the synthesis of biologically important systems
Description: The work will concern the synthesis of building blocks based on the chemical properties of the phosphonium group and the modification of structures with documented biological activity using the obtained phosphorus-limited compounds.
Additional requirements: interest in organic chemistry, communication skills, willingness to work in a team - we will teach synthesis
Main supervisor of research work:
Associate Professor Dr. Jakub Adamek
Contact to the supervisor of research work:
Associate Professor Dr. Jakub Adamek : jakub.adamek@polsl.pl; tel. +48 32 237 1724
Department of Chemical Engineering and Process Design (RCh-3)
Subject of research work
Description of the research work with contact details of the supervisor
Application of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) in chemical engineering
Description: The aim of the project is to learn how to perform computer simulations using CFD.After achieving the appropriate skills, the team will perform a series of analyses of various unit processes. The project is international in nature. The project involves students from Shenyangh Ligong University (China).
Additional requirements: access to a computer on which ANSYS software can be installed.
Main supervisor of research work:
D.Sc.,PhD.,Eng. Marcin Lemanowicz
Contact to the supervisor of research work:
D.Sc.,PhD.,Eng. Marcin Lemanowicz: marcin.lemanowicz@polsl.pl, room 198/S
Department of Physical Chemistry and Technology of Polymers (RCh-4)
Subject of research work
Description of the research work with contact details of the supervisor
Synthesis and characterisation of drug carriers based on amphiphilic polymers based on ionic liquids.
Description: Synthesis of drug carriers based on amphiphilic choline-containing ionic liquid copolymers with different topologies, transporting biologically active compounds. Fundamental characterisation of the carriers based, inter alia, on 1H NMR analysis, FT-IR, measurements of wetting angles, study of self-organisation by determining the critical micellization concentration. Drug release studies by Uv-Vis method.
Additional requirements: Experience in laboratory work, past organic chemistry course, basic preparative knowledge, basic knowledge of polymer chemistry.
Supervisors of research work:
Main supervisor: prof. Dorota Neugebauer
Assistant supervisors: PhD Katarzyna Niesyto, MSc eng. Aleksy Mazur
Contact to the supervisor of research work:
prof. Dorota Neugebauer: dorota.neugebauer@polsl.pl. room 105/C, phone: +48 32 237 19 73
PhD Katarzyna Niesyto: katarzyna.niesyto@polsl.pl; lab. 210,213/C; phone: +48 32 237 19 81
MSc eng. Aleksy Mazur: aleksy.mazur@polsl.pl; lab. 16 (during renovation of lab. 210,213/C); phone: +48 32 237 19 81
Design of collagen carriers for a multifunctional drug combination in brain tumour therapy
Description: The main objective of the project, i.e. the development of a controlled drug release system for regional chemotherapy of glioma, will be achieved through the following specific objectives:
1. To obtain collagen particles with a defined diameter and degree of cross-linking by electrospraying.
2. Use of collagen as a carrier for combinations of anti-cancer, neuroprotective and anti-edema drugs.
3. Physico-chemical and microscopic characterisation of the obtained carriers (FTIR, Raman spectroscopy, SEM microscopy).
4. In vitro study of drug release kinetics by HPLC.
First and second year undergraduate students welcome.
Supervisors of research work:
Main supervisor: prof. Katarzyna Krukiewicz
Assistant supervisor: MSc eng. Szymon Smołka
Contact to the supervisor of research work:
prof. Katarzyna Krukiewicz: kkrukiewicz@polsl.pl, 307/CNT
Synthesis of new semiconducting organic compounds for infrared light detector technology
Description: The subject of this work is the preparation and physicochemical characterisation of new organic dyes, adapted for operation in hybrid silicon-dye photodetectors operating in the near-infrared range. Due to the design of such a photoactive heterojunction, organic compounds with low electron affinity, the value of which can be modified by chemical functionalisation of the dye molecule, are of interest. A class of dyes with promising electron-acceptance properties are indigo derivatives, whose benzene ring can be substituted with a variety of functional groups, changing the electron structure of the molecule. The research topic includes the chemical synthesis of various indigo derivatives, additionally modified to improve their solubility in traditional organic solvents, and detailed studies of the electrochemical and spectroelectrochemical properties, aiming at the determination of the electronic structure scheme of the obtained compounds.
The tasks of the student involved in the topic will include carrying out, under the supervision of a scientific supervisor, synthetic work aimed at obtaining the assumed chemical compounds of the indigo family. After obtaining, purifying and determining the chemical structure by instrumental techniques, the student will also participate in electrochemical and spectroelectrochemical studies of the compounds obtained, which will enable him/her to learn selected methods of instrumental analysis of the physicochemical properties of organic compounds. This topic should be of interest to those interested in practical work in an organic chemistry laboratory, and in gaining a deeper understanding of the properties of the compounds obtained with their participation.
Main supervisor of research work:
prof. Wojciech Domagała
Contact to the supervisor of research work:
prof. Wojciech Domagała: wojciech.domagala@polsl.pl; room 111/C
π-electron interactions in symmetric and asymmetric model donor-acceptor systems with varying electron affinity
Description: The objects of this research are organic compounds built from electron-donor and electron-acceptor fragments linked by a delocalised π-conjugated bond. Such compounds reveal interesting semiconducting properties related to their electron structure, allowing relatively easy oxidation or reduction. These processes lead to coloured ion-hydride forms endowed with magnetic properties. Physico-chemical investigations using electrochemical and spectroscopic techniques make it possible to elucidate the relationship between the chemical structure and the electronic structure of such chemical combinations. The compounds considered are currently being recognised as photoactive materials in devices such as organic light-emitting diodes and polymeric photovoltaic cells.
After initial training and working under the guidance of a subject tutor, the student's tasks will include the study of model compounds by electrochemical and spectroelectrochemical techniques, followed by the processing and mathematical analysis of the results obtained. The subject should be of interest to those who enjoy working with instrumental measuring apparatus, combined with processing of the obtained results using specialised mathematical and graphical programmes, and who find themselves in iterative work consisting of deciding on further research steps on the basis of the results of successive experiments.
Supervisors of research work:
Main supervisor: prof. Wojciech Domagała
Assistant supervisor: MSc Andualem Tullu
Contact to the supervisor of research work:
prof. Wojciech Domagała: wojciech.domagala@polsl.pl; room 111/C
Soluble polymers with tailored break of π-conjugated bond as solution-processable materials with tuneable conductive properties
Description: A special feature of organic compounds with an extended π bonding system is their ability to undergo electron transfer (redox) reactions, corresponding to possible electron transitions taking place between energy levels in electrically charged and inert compounds, which, in turn, depend on their chemical structure and the conjugation length of the π-conjugated bond. For large macromolecular π-conjugated systems, the way to exercise control over both variables is to select small-molecule π-conjugated units, having the desired electrical properties, and copolymerise them with saturated spacers to obtain macromolecules equipped with regular π-unsaturated bond breaks. Functionalisation of the spacers themselves opens additional possibilities for shaping the properties of those copolymers, including their solubility or amorphousness, providing tools for tailoring their macroscopic physicochemical features, which, in turn, are important from the point of view of processing them into ordered thin-film structures used as active layers in electrochromic devices, like electrochromic filters, electroluminescent cells or diodes and photovoltaic cells.
Research tasks of the student involved in this topic will involve laboratory organic synthesis of target π-conjugated structures equipped with selected saturated spacers. Work will be carried out in direct cooperation with the doctoral student scientific assistant. This research topic should appeal to all interested in synthesis of organic compounds and their subsequent chemical modification on a preparative laboratory scale.
Supervisors of research work:
Main supervisor: prof. Wojciech Domagała
Assistant supervisor: MSc Paulos Fufa
Contact to the supervisor of research work:
prof. Wojciech Domagała: wojciech.domagala@polsl.pl; room 111/C
Modification of electrodes with 1H- and 1H,3H-perimidine compounds
Description: The modified electrodes are used as components of devices such as (electro)chemical sensors, bio-sensors, fuel cells, heterogeneous catalysts, capacitors, touch screens, etc. The work plans to deposit new compounds from the 1H- and 1H,3H-perimidine group on glassy carbon and metallic electrodes and to first verify properties such as: the presence of reversible redox centres, the presence of coordination bonds with electrode atoms, mechanical properties, hydrophilicity, porosity, resistance to atmospheric agents and to propose potential application directions.
Additional requirements: interview with the candidate
Main supervisor of research work:
prof. Małgorzata Czichy
Contact to the supervisor of research work:
prof. Małgorzata Czichy: malgorzata.czichy@polsl.pl
Preparation and characterisation of polymeric drug carriers from branched sebacic acid copolyanhydrides.
Description: The aim of this study is to obtain and characterise polymeric carriers, in the form of micelles and microspheres. The carriers will be prepared from sebacic acid copolyanhydrides and a poly(ethylene glycol) multicarboxyl derivative. The particles obtained will be tested for their suitability as carriers of respiratory anticancer drugs.
Topic addressed to 2 persons
Main supervisor of research work:
PhD Daria Niewolik
Contact to the supervisor of research work:
PhD Daria Niewolik: daria.niewolik@polsl.pl; lab. 12/C
Degradation study of betulin diglutarate copolymers.
Description: The aim of the work is to investigate the rate and degradation products of betulin diglutarate copolyanhydrides. The work will consist of several steps:
1) preparation of polymers by polycondensation in the bulk;
2) characterisation of the polymers obtained;
3) study of hydrolytic degradation and stability in air;
4) study of degradation products.
Main supervisor of research work:
PhD Daria Niewolik
Contact to the supervisor of research work:
PhD Daria Niewolik: daria.niewolik@polsl.pl; lab. 12/C
Determination of redox potentials of selected doped organic semiconductors
Description: The research will determine the oxidation and reduction potentials of redox reactions for selected coordination and organic compounds. The research aims to select compounds with reversible redox systems to be tested as dopants for new organic semiconductors. The primary research technique will be cyclic voltammetry.
Additional requirements: willingness to work in a laboratory
Supervisors of research work:
Main supervisor: prof. Przemysław Ledwoń
Assistant supervisor: MSc Ammara Aslam
Contact to the supervisor of research work:
prof. Przemysław Ledwoń: przemyslaw.ledwon@polsl.pl; room 212/C
Department of Chemical Organic Technology and Petrochemistry (RCh-5)
Subject of research work
Description of the research work with contact details of the supervisor
Synthesis of fluoroorganic compounds for medical diagnostic applications using 19F nuclear resonance
Description: The work will focus on the synthesis of fluoroorganic compounds that, when introduced into an organism, can provide information about phenomena at the molecular level, such as pH or enzymatic activity. Particular attention will be given to compounds in the polymer and molecular switch group. [(2023) ACS Sensors, 8 (5), pp. 1971-1979. (2022) Macromolecular Chemistry and Physics, 223 (14), art. no. 2200027
Additional requirements: interview with the candidate
Main supervisor of research work:
prof. Tomasz Krawczyk
Contact to the supervisor of research work:
prof. Tomasz Krawczyk: tomasz.krawczyk@polsl.pl
