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
Application of electrodialysis for purification and separation of copolymers of poly(meth)acrylic acid and its salts
Description: Experimental work involving the synthesis of copolymers of poly(meth)acrylic acid and its salts, followed by the development of a method for purifying and separating the obtained products using electrodialysis and bipolar membrane electrodialysis.
Main supervisor of the research work:
Andrzej Milewski, PhD, Eng.
Contact details for the research supervisor:
Andrzej Milewski, PhD, Eng.: andrzej.milewski@polsl.pl
Development of a polymer matrix capable of selective sorption of lithium ions
Description: Exploratory research focused on the synthesis of a polymer matrix modified with manganese oxides capable of selective sorption of lithium ions.
Main supervisor of the research work:
Andrzej Milewski, PhD, Eng.
Contact details of the research supervisor:
Andrzej Milewski, PhD, Eng.: andrzej.milewski@polsl.pl
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
Department of Chemical Engineering and Process Design (RCh-3)
Subject of research work
Description of the research work with contact details of the supervisor
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
Biodegradable chitosan films with waste fillers: the effect of waste type on mechanical properties, barrier properties, and biodegradation
Description: The project aims to develop and compare biodegradable chitosan films with the addition of four types of waste-derived fillers: eggshells, rice husks, coffee waste, and brewery waste. The goal is to assess the impact of the type of filler on the mechanical, barrier, and optical properties of the film, as well as its biodegradation rate.
In this work, students will learn how to prepare biopolymer composites with the addition of waste materials, as well as how to apply material characterization methods such as tensile strength, water vapor permeability, microscopic analysis, and biodegradation tests. The results of the project will identify the most promising waste materials for the production of biodegradable films used in food packaging, which is important from the point of view of the circular economy.
Supervisors of research work:
Main supervisor: prof. Gabriela Dudek
Assistant supervisor: MSc eng. Paweł Grzybek
Contact to the supervisor of research work:
prof. Gabriela Dudek: gabriela.maria.dudek@polsl.pl
Sustainable cellulose films: the effect of solvent, chitosan/PCL coating, and bioactive additives on mechanical, barrier, and biological properties
Description: The project aims to develop and compare biodegradable cellulose films obtained using two types of environmentally friendly solvents: deep eutectic solvents (DES) and ionic liquids (IL). The goal is to assess the impact of the type of solvent, additional coating (chitosan or PCL), and bioactive extracts on the mechanical, barrier, and optical properties, as well as the biological functionality of the film, including
its antibacterial and antioxidant properties.
In this work, the student will learn how to prepare cellulose films using a regenerative method, apply modification coatings and add bioactive extracts, as well as use material characterization methods such as tensile strength, water vapor and gas permeability, SEM microscopy, FTIR, and biodegradation and biological tests. The results will indicate the most promising solvent-coating-bioactive additive combinations
for use in active food packaging.
Supervisors of research work:
Main supervisor: prof. Gabriela Dudek
Assistant supervisor: MSc eng. Paweł Grzybek
Contact to the supervisor of research work:
prof. Gabriela Dudek: gabriela.maria.dudek@polsl.pl
Development of materials made of sodium alginate with the addition of alginate hydrogels to improve hydrophilic properties
Description: The aim of the work is to improve the hydrophilic properties of biodegradable materials made of sodium alginate by introducing an additive in the form of hydrogels.They will be obtained by the solution casting method and then analyzed for hydrophilicity, mechanical properties and water vapor barrier properties. The evaluation will include the measurement of the wetting angle, strength tests (tensile, elastic) and water vapor permeability coefficient. The results will allow to determine the potential of these materials as biodegradable alternatives to conventional plastics in the packaging and food industry.
Supervisors of research work:
Main supervisor: prof. Gabriela Dudek
Assistant supervisor: MSc eng. Justyna Jakubska
Contact to the supervisor of research work:
prof. Gabriela Dudek: gabriela.maria.dudek@polsl.pl
Membrane-based production of anhydrous bioethanol – fuels of the future: Preparation and characterization of magnetic membranes prepared in an external magnetic field in the process of pervaporative ethanol dehydration
Description: The topic of the thesis responds to the growing importance of bioethanol as a fuel component in the European Union, supporting the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. The research will focus on the development of polymer magnetic membranes used for pervaporative dehydration of ethanol, a key process for applications in the transport industry. The membranes will be prepared in the presence of an external magnetic field, which will allow for the modification of their structure and properties. The thesis will include the preparation of magnetic membranes, their use in pervaporation processes and a comprehensive characterization and analysis of the effect of the applied magnetic field on the efficiency of the process.
Supervisors of research work:
Main supervisor: prof. Gabriela Dudek
Assistant supervisor: MSc eng. Łukasz Jakubski
Contact to the supervisor of research work:
prof. Gabriela Dudek: gabriela.maria.dudek@polsl.pl
Synthesis of hybrid materials using the Suzuki reaction: combining conductive polymers with inorganic nanoparticles
Description: The project focuses on the use of the Suzuki coupling reaction as an effective method for synthesizing hybrid materials. The aim is to obtain structures containing conductive polymers, such as polythiophene and polyfluorene derivatives, in combination with inorganic nanoparticles (e.g., WO3). Such materials exhibit unique electrical, optical, and mechanical properties that can be used in electronics, photonics, and sensors. The Suzuki reaction allows for precise control of the chemical structure and functionalization of hybrid components.
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
Synthesis of New Organic Semiconductor Compounds for Infrared Light Detector Technology
Description: The subject of the work is the preparation and physicochemical characterization of new organic dyes, adapted to work in hybrid silicon-dye photodetectors, operating in the near infrared range. Due to the construction of such a photoactive heterojunction, the object of interest are organic compounds with low electron affinity, the value of which can be modified by chemical functionalization of the dye molecule. A class of dyes with promising electron-acceptor properties are indigo derivatives, whose benzene ring can be substituted with various functional groups, changing the electronic 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 electrochemical and spectroelectrochemical properties, aimed at determining the electronic structure scheme of the obtained compounds. The tasks of the student involved in the topic will include conducting, under the supervision of a scientific supervisor, synthetic work aimed at obtaining the assumed chemical compounds from the indigo family. After obtaining, purifying and determining the chemical structure using instrumental techniques, the student will also participate in electrochemical and spectroelectrochemical studies of the obtained compounds, which will allow him to learn selected methods of instrumental analysis of the physicochemical properties of organic compounds. This topic should interest people interested in practical work in an organic chemistry laboratory, and in deeper understanding of the properties of compounds obtained with their participation.
Supervisors of research work:
Main supervisor: Prof. Wojciech Domagała
Assistant supervisor: MSc eng. Szymon Brzoza
Contact to the supervisor of research work:
Prof. Wojciech Domagała: wojciech.domagala@polsl.pl; room 111c/C; phone: 32 237 1305
π-electron interactions in symmetric and asymmetric model donor-acceptor systems with different electron affinities
Description: The object of the research are organic compounds built from electron-donating and electron-accepting fragments, connected by a delocalized π-conjugated bond. Such compounds reveal interesting semiconductor properties related to their electronic structure, which allows for relatively easy oxidation or reduction. These processes lead to obtaining colored ion-radical forms, endowed with magnetic properties. Physicochemical studies using electrochemical and spectroscopic techniques allow for explaining the relationship between the chemical structure and the electronic structure of such chemical compounds. The compounds under consideration are currently recognized as photoelectroactive materials in devices such as organic electroluminescent diodes and polymer photovoltaic cells. After initial training and work under the supervision of a scientific supervisor, the student's tasks will include research on model compounds using electrochemical and spectroelectrochemical techniques, and then processing and mathematical analysis of the obtained results. This topic should be of interest to people who enjoy working with instrumental measurement equipment, combined with the processing of obtained results using specialist mathematical and graphic programs, and who are comfortable with iterative work, which involves making decisions about further research steps based on the results of consecutively conducted 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 111c/C; phone: 32 237 1305
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 eng. Szymon Brzoza
Contact to the supervisor of research work:
Prof. Wojciech Domagała: wojciech.domagala@polsl.pl; room 111c/C; phone: 32 237 1305
Synthesis and luminescent properties of platinum(II) complexes
Description: The research project will focus on the synthesis of heterocyclic ligands using catalytic coupling reactions, mainly Suzuki, using basic Schlenk techniques, and the production of final platinum(II) complexes in the Organic and Nanohybrid Electronics Center laboratory in the CNT building. The main objective is to obtain dinuclear complexes with luminescence in the red and near-infrared range. This is a rewarding task, as these complexes are often strongly colored and attractive in appearance. There is a great deal of freedom and the possibility of purchasing reagents depending on the suggestions and interests of the student.
Additional requirements: understanding the basic principles of working in an organic chemistry laboratory, and therefore interested students should have already completed laboratory classes in organic chemistry.
Supervisor of research work:
PhD eng. Piotr Pander
Research group: Centre for Organic and Nanohybrid Electronics(CONE)
Contact to the supervisor of research work:
PhD eng. Piotr Pander: piotr.pander@polsl.pl
Electrochemical, spectroscopic, and spectroelectrochemical studies in the evaluation of the organic properties of electroactive materials in terms of their potential application in (opto)electronics.
Description: Currently, optoelectronics and electronics are two very dynamically developing fields of science. Optoelectronic devices such as light-emitting diodes, photovoltaic cells, as well as electrochromic and fluoroelectrochromic panels are extremely popular. However, classic designs based on inorganic materials have many disadvantages, including, above all, the cost and weight of the final device. The use of organic electroactive materials allows for a reduction in size and weight and increases the flexibility of the final systems.
The proposed research topic covers the electrochemical and spectroscopic (including UV-Vis and fluorescence) characteristics of new organic electroactive materials, and at a later stage of the work, their spectroelectrochemical characteristics (including UV-Vis and EPR). The research aims to identify the relevant properties of the materials under study. This will allow for a preliminary assessment of their potential application in organic optoelectronic devices.
This work will allow students to familiarize themselves with various techniques used in the analysis of the properties of new organic materials in research laboratories.
Additional requirements: willingness to work in a laboratory and learn new research techniques
Supervisor of research work:
PhD eng. Sandra Pluczyk-Małek
Research group: Centre for Organic and Nanohybrid Electronics(CONE)
Contact to the supervisor of research work:
PhD eng. Sandra Pluczyk-Małek: sandra.pluczyk-malek@polsl.pl
Department of Chemical Organic Technology and Petrochemistry (RCh-5)
Subject of research work
Description of the research work with contact details of the supervisor
Other research units
Subject of research work
Description of the research work with contact details of the supervisor
Design and fabrication of multilayer human skin scaffolds using Melt Electrowriting (MEW) technology.
Description: The skin is the largest and one of the most complex organs of the human body. It plays a key protective role – it forms a physical and biological barrier that protects the body against mechanical injuries, infections, water loss, and environmental factors. Despite the skin's ability to regenerate, extensive defects caused by severe burns, injuries, or congenital defects remain a serious clinical challenge. Currently available therapies, such as autologous and allogeneic transplants, commercial skin substitutes, and in vitro models, are still unable to accurately replicate the complex, three-layer architecture and functionality of natural human skin. Their limited integration with the patient's tissues and inability to fully reproduce physiological properties result in low treatment efficacy and a high risk of complications.
The imperfections of current solutions are the starting point and motivation for our team's research project, which aims to develop advanced, personalized models of human skin that faithfully reproduce its three-layer structure: the epidermis, dermis, and subcutaneous tissue. The key assumption of the project is the functional integration of state-of-the-art biomanufacturing technologies, including melt electrowriting (MEW), volumetric bioprinting (VBP), and microfluidic platforms. The use of these methods will enable precise mapping of the skin's microarchitecture and control of the mechanical, biological, and physicochemical properties of the structures obtained.
The student carrying out the project will join an interdisciplinary research team working on biomanufacturing, tissue engineering, and the creation of new biomaterials. As part of their work, they will be involved in the development of printed structures—scaffolds dedicated to skin cell culture—using MEW technology.
The student's main tasks will include:
1. Designing and manufacturing MEW scaffolds – developing and testing new geometries and print patterns to achieve the desired porosity, stiffness, and fiber orientation.
2. Selecting and optimizing materials for printing.
3. Optimizing printing process parameters – analyzing the impact of tension, printing speed, temperature, and fiber diameter on the quality of structures.
4. Functional integration of print layers – development of methods for permanent and stable bonding of different layers (epidermis, dermis, subcutaneous tissue) in order to obtain structures imitating the complex architecture of the skin.
Project financed by the FNP scientific project – scholarship provided
Additional requirements:Master's degree student; knowledge of polymer synthesis, materials engineering, and additive manufacturing techniques is welcome
Unit and research team: Centre of Biotechnology; Biofabrication and Bio-instructive Materials
Supervisor of research work:
Prof. Małgorzata Włodarczyk-Biegun
Contact to the supervisor of research work:
Prof. Małgorzata Włodarczyk-Biegun: malgorzata.wlodarczyk-biegun@polsl.pl; room 2.11/CB
Volumetric bioprinting (VBP) of three-layer skin models: development and optimisation of bioactive inks.
Description:The skin is the largest and one of the most complex organs of the human body. It plays a key protective role – it forms a physical and biological barrier that protects the body against mechanical injuries, infections, water loss, and environmental factors. Despite the skin's ability to regenerate, extensive defects caused by severe burns, injuries, or congenital defects remain a serious clinical challenge. Currently available therapies, such as autologous and allogeneic transplants, commercial skin substitutes, and in vitro models, are still unable to accurately replicate the complex, three-layer architecture and functionality of natural human skin. Their limited integration with the patient's tissues and inability to fully reproduce physiological properties result in low treatment efficacy and a high risk of complications.
The imperfections of current solutions are the starting point and motivation for our team's research project, which aims to develop advanced, personalized models of human skin that faithfully reproduce its three-layer structure: the epidermis, dermis, and subcutaneous tissue. The key assumption of the project is the functional integration of state-of-the-art biomanufacturing technologies, including melt electrowriting (MEW), volumetric bioprinting (VBP), and microfluidic platforms. The use of these methods will enable precise mapping of the skin's microarchitecture and control of the mechanical, biological, and physicochemical properties of the structures obtained.
The student carrying out the project will join an interdisciplinary research team working on biomanufacturing, tissue engineering, and the creation of new biomaterials. Effective skin modeling requires the recreation not only of its layered architecture, but also of spatial gradients in biological composition (growth factors, cell type) and mechanics (stiffness). Volumetric Bioprinting (VBP) offers fast printing of three-dimensional, high-resolution hydrogel structures, but requires precise optimization: hydrogel formulation (biopolymer, photoinitiator, bioactive factors, cells) and light parameters (dose, time, exposure profile) to achieve the desired gradients and high cell survival. As part of their work, the student will be involved in the aforementioned optimisation of materials and printing parameters, as well as in the process of combining bioinks to obtain structures with separate layers and gradient structures.
The student's main tasks will include:
1. Selection and optimization of materials for volumetric printing (light dose, exposure time, projection profile).
2. Design and production of prints with different material compositions.
3. Optionally, preliminary integration of cells into printed constructs.
4. Preparation of prototypes of 3-layer structures and gradient biotissue structures.
Project financed by the FNP scientific project – scholarship provided
Additional requirements: Master's degree student; knowledge of polymer synthesis, materials engineering, and additive manufacturing techniques is welcome; knowledge of hydrogel biochemistry and the basics of photochemistry (photoinitiators)
Unit and research team: Centre of Biotechnology; Biofabrication and Bio-instructive Materials
Supervisor of research work:
Prof. Małgorzata Włodarczyk-Biegun
Contact to the supervisor of research work:
Prof. Małgorzata Włodarczyk-Biegun: malgorzata.wlodarczyk-biegun@polsl.pl; room 2.11/CB
