LAB members

Grzegorz Litwinienko, Prof.

Our beloved director!
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Room: 133A

Wojciech Danowski, PhD, Eng.

Wojciech Danowski was born in Białystok, Poland in 1990. He received his Eng. (2013) and MSc (2014) degrees from the Warsaw University of Technology. Later, in 2019, he defended his PhD thesis entitled: "Confined Molecular Machines and Switches" under the supervision of Prof. Ben L. Feringa (laureate of the Nobel Prize in Chemistry) at Rijksuniversiteit Groningen (The Netherlands). From 2021 to 2024, he completed a postdoctoral internship at the Institut de Science et Ingénierie Supramoléculaires at the Université de Strasbourg (France) under the supervision of Prof. Paolo Samori. During this time, he implemented a project financed by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions program - Individual Fellowships entitled: "LA2DCOFS - Light-Addressable 2D Covalent-Organic Framework Semiconductors”. In 2024, he moved to the University of Warsaw to implement his own project in the area of switches, molecular machines, and porous materials: "Porous Organic Crystals in the Spotlight – Development and Applications," financed by the NAWA program Polish Returns 2023.

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Room: 132-1

Grzegorz Szczepaniak, PhD

Grzegorz combines the fields of organic chemistry, photochemistry, and polymer chemistry to develop new synthetic methodologies for materials science. In 2019, he completed his Ph.D. studies at the University of Warsaw under the supervision of Prof. Karol Grela. His work focused on the design of new metal scavengers for the removal of residual ruthenium complexes from reaction mixtures after olefin metathesis. In 2018, he moved to Carnegie Mellon University as a postdoctoral fellow to work with Prof. Krzysztof Matyjaszewski, where he developed new catalysts, monomers, and methods for atom transfer radical polymerization. In 2023, with the support of the Polish National Agency for Academic Exchange (NAWA) under the Polish Returns Program, he returned to the University of Warsaw. He is currently establishing his research group focusing on advanced methods in catalysis and polymer chemistry.

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Room: 129

Martyna Cybularczyk-Cecotka, PhD

Postdoctoral researcher at dr Grzegorz Szczepaniak Subgroup

Martyna Cybularczyk-Cecotka was born in Warsaw in 1988. She has received her BSc (2010) and MSc (2012) degrees from the University of Warsaw. Later, in 2018, she defended her PhD thesis entitled: "Synthesis and structure of dialkylindium alkoxides and aryloxides stabilised by strong Lewis bases and their catalytic properties in polymerization of cyclic esthers" under the supervision of prof. Tomasz Bauer and Paweł Horeglad, PhD Eng. Shortly after, she changed the working environment to an industrial one for few months. In 2019 she came back to science and started her first postdoctoral research in the Maciej Giedyk, PhD, group to investigate photocatalytic reactions in aqueous medium. In 2022 she moved to University of Warsaw to work with prof. Grzegorz Litwinienko on synthesis of flavonols derivatives. In 2023 she started work with dr Grzegorz Szczepaniak on methodology of photoinduced ATRP.

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Room: 132-1

Jakub Cędrowski, PhD, Eng.

Postdoctoral Researcher at Prof. Grzegorz Litwinienko Group

Jakub Cędrowski was born in Warsaw, in 1985. He received his MSc degree at the University of Warsaw, Faculty of Chemistry, and subsequently, he received BE degree at the Warsaw University of Technology, Faculty of Chemistry. He defended his MSc thesis entitled “Anticancer activity of square planar palladium(II) complexes” under the supervision of PhD Hanna Wilczura-Wachnik in 2011 and defended his BE thesis entitled “Studies on linear and star-shaped heterocyclic oligomers” under a supervision of Prof. Małgorzata Zagórska in 2017. In 2011 he joined our research group. His scientific interests focus on chemistry of free radicals and antioxidants with particular emphasis on research in the field of chemical kinetics and reaction mechanisms. In 2023, he defended his PhD thesis, under the supervision of Prof. Grzegorz Litwinienko. The project concerned on the role of microenvironment on antioxidant mechanism of action of naturally-occurring isothiocyanates, widely distributed in cruciferous vegetables.

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Room: 131

Hanna-Wilczura Wachnik, PhD

Assistant Professor at Prof. Grzegorz Litwinienko Group

Hanna Wilczura-Wachnik was born in Warsaw in 1953. She has received her MSc (1977) degrees from the University of Warsaw. Later, in 1992, she defended her PhD thesis entitled: "The Enthalpy of Mixing in Associated Binary Systems of Pyridine and its Methyl Derivatives + n-Alkanes" under the supervision of prof. Teresa Kasprzycka- Guttman. For her postdoctoral research she moved to the prof. Alexander Van Hook group to investigate LLE equilibria in polymer solutions – in theory and experimentally. In the period 2000-2009 she was invited for short-term internships in Department of Chemistry, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Department of Chemistry, Syleyman Demirel University, Turkey, Isparta, Department of Physics and Chemistry Syddansk Universitet, Odense, Denmark. Since 2010 she has been involved in research on colloids, microemulsions, micellar phase and problem of interactions and transition of biologically active molecules between through membranes. Since 2010, she has been researching colloids, microemulsions, micellar phase, and phenomena occurring during the interfacial migration of biologically active molecules (e.g antioxidants) as well as interactions of these molecules with structures modelling natural membranes.

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Room: 114A

Adrian Konopko, PhD

Adrian Konopko was born in Dabrowa Bialostocka in 1993. He has received his BSc (2016) and MSc (2018) degrees from the University of Bialystok and University of Warsaw. Later, in 2023, he defended his PhD thesis entitled: Antioxidant and anti-senescence properties of compounds containing nitroxyl and phenolic functional groups – studies in chemical and biological model systems; under the supervision of prof. Grzegorz Litwinienko (UW) and prof. Anna Bielak-Zmijewska (PAS). Konopko has led the way in the design and synthesis of novel hybrid compounds with antioxidant and antisenescence properties.

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Room: 132-1

Agnieszka Krogul-Sobczak, PhD

Assistant Professor at Prof. Grzegorz Litwinienko Group

Agnieszka Krogul-Sobczak has received her MSc (2007) degree from the University of Warsaw. Later, in 2012, she defended her PhD thesis entitled: " Physical and chemical properties and catalytic and cytotoxic activity of the palladium complexes with pyridine derivatives " under the supervision of prof. Grzegorz Litwinienko. For her postdoctoral research she moved to the prof. Armando Pombeiro group (in Instituto Superior Tecnico in Lisbon) to investigate catalytic activation of alkanes and carbon dioxide. Then, she came back to University of Warsaw to continue work in prof. Grzegorz Litwinienko group, where she focuses, among others, on catalysts and processes for life sciences applications. Her mission is to design and develop processes and catalysts for the synthesis of add-value compounds in agreement with sustainable chemistry. The development of more ecologically friendly and economic catalytic processes for manufacturing of bulk and fine chemicals is a one of challenges for modern chemistry.

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Room: 112

Piotr Piotrowski, PhD

Assistant Professor at Prof. Grzegorz Litwinienko Group

Piotr Piotrowski was born in Ostrołęka in 1986. He has received his MSc degree from the University of Warsaw, Faculty of Chemistry in 2010. His MSc thesis entitled “Synthesis and studies of antioxidant properties of selected fullerene C60 derivatives” was made under the supervision of prof. Grzegorz Litwinienko. In 2015 he defended his PhD thesis entitled “Synthesis of sulfur C60 fullerene derivatives in order to obtain gold based nanomaterials” under the supervision of prof. Andrzej Kaim. His scientific interests are focused on functionalization of fullerenes, including higher fullerenes and endohedral metallofullerenes. His goals are design and synthesis of novel fullerene derivatives with potential catalytic properties or interesting biological activity.

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Room: 131

Artur Gajda, tech.

Room: 130

Jakub Piątkowski, MSc

PhD candidate at dr Grzegorz Szczepaniak Group
Jakub Piątkowski was born in Działdowo, in 1997. He received his BSc and MSc degrees at the University of Warsaw, Inter-Faculty Individual Studies in Mathematics and Natural Sciences (MISMaP), Faculty of Chemistry (both with honours). In 2021 he defended his MSc thesis titled “Synthesis and Assessment of Activated Olefin Metathesis Ruthenium Catalyst Bearing a Sildenafil-Type Sulphonamide Electron Withdrawing Group” under the supervision of prof. Karol Grela. Then, he moved to France and joined Gregory Nocton’s group at Ecole Polytechnique, where he worked on organolanthanide complexes with aromatic ligands. After a short experience in Nocton’s group, he moved to the industrial sector and held a position as medicinal chemist at Celon Pharma, where he conducted research in the development of new innovative pharmaceutical products. He joined our research group in 2024. His scientific interests cover organometallic and coordination chemistry, organic synthesis, design of novel molecules for given applications and catalysis. His current PhD project, under the supervision of dr Grzegorz Szczepaniak, is focused on the development of well-controlled polymerization systems that operate under red/NIR light.

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Room: 129

Michał Żebrowski, MSc

PhD candidate at Prof. Grzegorz Litwinienko Group
Michał Żebrowski was born in Warsaw, in 1999. He received his Eng. and MSc degrees at the University of Warsaw, Faculty of Chemistry (both with honours). He joined our research group in 2021. In 2023 he defended his MSc thesis titled “Synthesis and study of antioxidant activity of polynoradrenaline nanoparticles” under the supervision of prof. Grzegorz Litwinienko. His scientific interests focus on organic synthesis and chemical kinetics with cell biology. His current PhD project is focused on the synthesis of N-containing antioxidants and studies of the mechanism of their action.

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Room: 133-A

Wojciech Witkowski, MSc

PhD candidate at Prof. Grzegorz Litwinienko Group
Wojciech Witkowski was born in Warsaw, in 1998. He received his BSc and MSc degrees at the University of Warsaw, Faculty of Chemistry (both with honours). In 2022 he defended his MSc thesis titled “The Use of Functional Tripodal Molecules in Molecular Recognition” under the supervision of dr. Krzysztof Ziach. In the same year he joined our research group. His scientific interests focus on organic synthesis and supramolecular chemistry. In his current PhD project, under the supervision of prof. Grzegorz Litwinienko, he is focusing on the synthesis of fluorescent probes for peroxyl radicals and sulfenic acids.

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Room: 133-A

Piotr Cieciórski, MSc

PhD candidate at Dr Wojciech Danowski Group
Piotr Ciecieciórski was born in Warsaw, in 1993. He received his BSc and MSc degree at the University of Warsaw, Faculty of Chemistry. In 2020 he defended his MSc thesis with honours entitled “Application of new acrylic and methacrylic acid derivatives containing azobenzene moiety in the preparation of photosensitive and narrow-dispersed polymers” under the supervision of dr hab. Elżbieta Megiel. In 2022 he joined our research group. His scientific interests focus on polymer chemistry (ATRP, ROMP), molecular fotoswitches, stimuli-responsive polymers, especially light-responsive polymers and self-assembly of block copolymers. In his current PhD project, under the supervision of prof. Grzegorz Litwinienko and dr inż. Wojciech Danowski, he is focusing on wavelength-orthogonal systems based on amphiphilic block copolymers for membranes construction.

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Room: 132-1

Simon Lukato, MSc

PhD candidate at Prof. Grzegorz Litwinienko Group
Simon Lukato was born in Masaka in Uganda. He received a BSc (with honours) and MSc degree at the Makerere University (Uganda). In 2020, he defended his MSc thesis entitled “Supported Silver and Copper Catalysts for Selective Oxidation of Alcohols using Molecular Oxygen as Oxidant” under the supervision of Dr Emmanuel Tebandeke (Makerere University) Prof. Ola F. Wendt (Lund University - Sweden) and Dr Gabriel N. Kasozi (Makerere University). In 2021, he joined the Faculty of Chemistry to work on his PhD. His scientific interests focus on green chemistry and sustainable catalysis guided utilization of CO2, valorisation of waste and low grade chemicals for sustainable chemical production and environmental protection and remediation. In his current PhD project, under the supervision of prof. Litwinienko, Dr Michał Wojcik and Dr Agnieszka Krogul-Sobczak, he is focusing on the synthesis of nanoclusters encapsulated in porous stable metal organic frameworks for efficient direct carboxylation of selected alcohols particularly glycerol and primary propargylic alcohols with CO2 to form cyclic carbonates of high value.

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Room: 114B

Jarosław Kusio, MSc

PhD candidate at Prof. Grzegorz Litwinienko Group
Jarosław Kusio was born in Radom, Poland, in 1993. He received his BSc (2015) and MSc (2017) degree at the University of Warsaw, Faculty of Chemistry. He defended with Suma Cum Laude his MSc thesis entitled “Studies of physicochemical and antioxidant properties of gold and selenium nanoparticles functionalized with tocopherol analogue” under the supervision of prof. Grzegorz Litwinienko in 2014. In the same year he joined our research group. His scientific interests focus on detection methods for oxidative stress mediators, especially reactive oxygen species (ROS), with particular emphasis on research in the field of fluorescent, molecular probes. In his current PhD project, under the supervision of prof. Grzegorz Litwinienko, he is focusing on synthesis of fluorescent probes for peroxyl radicals as a potential markers of oxidative stress in lipid membranes.

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Room: 133-A

Paweł Przybylski, MSc

PhD candidate at Prof. Grzegorz Litwinienko Group
Paweł Przybylski was born in Chełm, in 1995. He received his BSc and MSc degree at the University of Warsaw, Faculty of Chemistry. He defended with Suma Cum Laude his MSc thesis entitled “High-pressure mediated enantioselective addition of diethyl malonate to β,β-disubstituted aromatic enones” under the supervision of dr hab. Piotr Kwiatkowski in 2019. In the same year he joined our research group. His interests combine research from the frontiers of physical chemistry, organic chemistry, radical chemistry, chemical kinetics with cell biology. Some of the substances he studies have cytotoxic activity, which is beneficial in anticancer therapies, but antioxidant activity is also important to his project in research and therapies for cell aging and prevention of mitochondrial peroxidation. In his current PhD project, under the supervision of prof. Grzegorz Litwinienko. The project subject is Physico-chemical principles of antioxidant action: from solvent effect and mechanistic studies to interfacial phenomena in biologically relevant systems.

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Room: 133-B