The Most Talented Young Scientists in Poland Selected. Four Laureates from Gdańsk Tech
Three young researchers and a PhD student from Gdańsk Tech were among the laureates of the 34th edition of the competition under the START program of the Foundation for Polish Science, which honors outstanding representatives of the young generation of researchers.
Three young researchers and a PhD student from Gdańsk Tech were among the laureates of the 34th edition of the competition under the START program of the Foundation for Polish Science, which honors outstanding representatives of the young generation of researchers.
START FNP is the oldest scholarship program in Poland. The Foundation for Polish Science awards 100 of the best scientists under 30 years old, representing all fields of science. Laureates receive a total scholarship of PLN 30,000. Among this year's scholarship recipients from Gdańsk Tech were: Dr Eng. Patryk Błaszczak from the Faculty of Electronics, Telecommunications and Informatics, Dr Eng. Adam Olszewski from the Faculty of Chemistry, Dr Eng. Aleksandra Mirowska from the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Ship Technology, as well as doctoral student M.Sc. Eng. Chen Xiu from the Faculty of Management and Economics.
Dr Eng. Patryk Błaszczak, Department of Functional Materials, Faculty of Electronics, Telecommunications and Informatics, materials engineering
He is an assistant professor at the Department of Functional Materials Engineering at the Faculty of Electronics, Telecommunications and Informatics. His scientific activity focuses on the development of advanced materials and technologies for oxide fuel cells and high-temperature electrolyzers (SOFC/SOEC), used among others for hydrogen production and CO2 conversion. He defended his doctoral thesis titled “Nanostructured ceramic-bimetallic materials for efficient energy conversion” in 2026.
In his research, he was the first in the scientific literature to demonstrate that modification of the widely used Ni–YSZ cermet with nanoparticles of transition metals such as Mn, Co, Cu, and Fe leads to a significant increase in the electrochemical activity of electrolyzers, enabling almost a twofold increase in current density compared to unmodified materials. He also developed an innovative liquid-phase impregnation method using ß-cyclodextrin, allowing uniform distribution of nanoparticles without the use of toxic reagents. The proposed solutions are inexpensive, scalable, and compatible with existing SOC technologies.
The results of his research have been published exclusively in reputable journals (including Applied Energy and International Journal of Hydrogen Energy), and experiments were conducted in many national and international research centers: SOLARIS National Synchrotron Radiation Centre, Elettra Sincrotrone Trieste, and European Synchrotron Radiation Facility. He gained experience in large-scale fuel cell testing during an eight-month stay at the VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland in Helsinki as a laureate of the NAWA Bekker program. His scientific output includes 20 publications, and his current Hirsch index according to the Web of Science database is 12.
M.Sc. Eng. Chen Xiu, Doctoral School at Gdańsk Tech, Department of Management Engineering and Quality, Faculty of Management and Economics, management and quality sciences
She is a doctoral student at the Doctoral School at Gdańsk Tech, scientifically affiliated with the Faculty of Management and Economics, conducting research under the supervision of Dr hab. Eng. Anna Lis, Prof. of Gdańsk Tech.
M.Sc. Eng. Chen Xiu’s research focuses on energy transformation, renewable energy development, and cluster management in the energy sector. The innovative nature of her work lies in the development of management solutions for regions with concentrated energy industries, with particular emphasis on the synergistic development of various energy sources, resource circulation, and environmental pressure reduction.
She is a member of two EU COST Action research networks dedicated to energy development and renewable energy clusters. Her research combines perspectives from energy studies, regional development, and management sciences, contributing to interdisciplinary discussions on sustainable industrial transformation and the future of energy systems.
In 2024, she received an award for young scientists granted by the Polish Academy of Sciences in Gdańsk. It is worth noting that she is the only laureate of the START scholarship from the Foundation for Polish Science this year in the field of management and quality sciences.
Dr Eng. Aleksandra Mirowska, Department of Machine Technology and Production Automation, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Ship Technology, mechanical engineering
She works as an assistant professor at the Department of Machine Technology and Production Automation at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Ship Technology. She prepared her doctoral thesis on friction stir welding under the supervision of Prof. dr hab. Eng. Marek Szkodo and defended it with distinction in 2023.
Her current research focuses on developing measurement procedures for advanced surface topographies arising both in manufacturing processes and as a result of degradation and wear. In her studies, she also analyzes the impact of surface topography on the functional properties of materials.
She leads the MINIATURA project funded by the National Science Centre titled “Assessment of corrosion resistance of aluminum alloys with complex surface topography using geometric surface structure parameter analysis.”
She gained experience during numerous international trips, including a six-month internship at KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm and a two-month internship in Iran at Tarbiat Modares University of Technology. Her scientific output includes 40 publications, and her current Hirsch index according to the Web of Science database is 14.
Dr Eng. Adam Olszewski, Department of Polymer Technology, Faculty of Chemistry, materials engineering
He is a graduate of the Doctoral School at Gdańsk Tech and currently conducts research as a PostDoc at the West Pomeranian University of Technology. He prepared his doctoral thesis on the thermochemical liquefaction of biomass and production of low-emission polymer materials under the supervision of Dr hab. Eng. Łukasz Piszczyk and defended it with distinction in 2025.
His scientific interests cover broadly understood plastic technology, particularly polymer material design, property modification, and processing. In his research work, he combines an engineering approach with a sustainable development perspective, focusing on materials with reduced environmental and human health impact as well as on managing difficult waste streams.
He is a co-author of 23 scientific articles indexed in the Scopus database, 2 chapters in monographs, and patent applications. His current Hirsch index is 11.
He gained experience, among others, as a project manager of the NCN Preludium project and as a participant in research and development projects. He has extensive experience in preparing national and international projects, including M ERA NET, international bilateral projects, and Horizon Europe.
For years, he has also been involved in the activities of the young scientists community. He was chairman of the NCN Offer Team in the National Representation of Doctoral Students (KRD) and a board member of the Agreement of Doctoral Students of Technical Universities (PDUT).
START scholarships will be officially awarded on June 13 at the Royal Castle on Wawel Hill in Kraków.