Diploma Theses Conducted in Collaboration within the ENHANCE Alliance | Gdańsk University of Technology

Anna Banaś, PhD at the Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering, specializes in dynamic measurements of bridges and footbridges—focusing on both ambient and forced vibrations. Her current research centers on the development and implementation of algorithms for structural identification based on vibration data. Additionally, her interests include modeling the phenomenon of Human–Structure Interaction (HSI). These research activities captured the attention of Prof. Maria Gabriella Mulas from Politecnico di Milano.

As a result of this collaboration, Anna Banaś’s research results inspired master's theses undertaken by students from Politecnico di Milano, which, like Gdańsk University of Technology, is a member of the ENHANCE alliance.

The first student Anna Banaś, PhD collaborated with was Marrone Nuncio, who analyzed data collected by her during dynamic testing of a pedestrian footbridge over Trasa Uniwersytecka (the University Route) in Bydgoszcz. The second student, Aleksander Nariswari, conducted an analysis of the arch-type steel footbridge over the Kolibkowski Stream in Gdynia.

Both theses contributed valuable insights for further studies on the influence of users on structural behavior and represent a significant contribution to the advancement of modern methods for assessing the safety and user comfort of lightweight bridge structures. In both cases, Anna Banaś, PhD co-supervised the master’s theses, meeting with the students online to review their progress and provide academic guidance during the process of writing the theses.

"This type of collaboration offers multifaceted benefits—not only for the students, who work under the guidance of two supervisors, but also for the researchers themselves. It is a valuable teaching experience and a chance to establish new academic contacts. We all learn from each other and observe differing academic working styles. For me, it was a very enriching experience that I hope to repeat. I was particularly pleased to personally attend the thesis defense of Aleksander Nariswari. In Italy, such events are treated with great reverence, resembling our doctoral defenses in terms of ceremony. Families and friends attend, and the occasion is widely celebrated," said Anna Banaś, PhD.

"The ENHANCE Alliance provides numerous opportunities for collaboration across multiple levels. Thesis projects supervised by researchers from different universities are a prime example of how internationalization can yield tangible benefits for both students and academic mentors," emphasized Justyna Szostak, PhD, university professor, Rector's Plenipotentiary for International Educational Programs, and coordinator of educational initiatives for the Alliance at Gdańsk University of Technology. "I encourage our academic staff to remain open to such initiatives, which foster lasting academic partnerships and enrich both teaching and research competencies. Support for such involvement is further strengthened by the Rector’s decision, which allows teaching hours associated with international thesis supervision to be counted toward academic staff’s teaching load, with the approval of the appropriate dean. Additionally, faculty members engaged in joint thesis supervision within the ENHANCE alliance may receive supplementary remuneration funded by the ENHANCIUM IDUB program."