Kacper Rozner Leszczyński — Photo: Katarzyna Górowicz-Maćkiewicz

Young researchers at the UWr – Kacper Rosner-Leszczyński

At the University of Wrocław, we are exceptionally appreciative not only of finalists and laureates of Olympiads and candidates who have passed their school-leaving exams, but above all of those who want to develop their interests and become ‘Young Researchers’.

Get to know Kacper Rosner-Leszczyński, a student of history.

He found out about the Young Researcher programme thanks to social media at the University of Wrocław. – I was immediately interested in it – says Kacper, a student of history. – As part of the grant, I was offered financial support for foreign trips, and at that time I was accepted to a conference organised in the United States, and I was very happy about it, but also worried at the same time, because it was a big expense for a student’s pocket. And I think that if it wasn’t for the Young Researcher, I wouldn’t have been able to fly overseas.

Kacper has already received a grant from the Young Researcher programme twice. Once for a trip to a foreign scientific conference, and the second time as support to cover the costs of his stay at the Historical Research Centre of the Polish Academy of Sciences in Berlin.

– The trip to Germany was extremely fruitful and allowed me to expand my network of contacts – says Kacper. – I discussed my research project, reached out to literature that is not available in Poland, but above all I had a great time, which I remember very fondly.

Both trips allowed the young researcher to better understand how the world of science works. – I think that anyone who is serious about undertaking research or who is tying their future to the University should take advantage of the opportunities offered by this programme.

‘The Young Researcher’ also contributed to my chances of success when applying for funding for a scientific project in one of the ministerial competitions. – The reviewer pointed out that I had been successful in this programme and this was reflected in the score awarded to me.

Kacper Rosner-Leszczyński is currently working on several projects. What they all have in common is a geographical criterion. – I am interested in the so-called Recovered Territories, i.e. the areas annexed to Poland after 1945 – he explains. – I look at them from many angles, often in a rather unobvious way. My supervisor prof. Grzegorz Strauchold and dr Karolina Ćwiek-Rogalska from the Institute of Slavic Studies of the Polish Academy of Sciences, my mentor and mentee, have sensitised me to this.

Why did he choose UWr?

The University of Wrocław is primarily made up of people. – I knew that our academic staff is made up of people who are committed both academically and socially, and who are willing to help and cooperate – says Kacper. – I was not disappointed. I received a lot of support from the lecturers. The fact that the University of Wrocław is recognised internationally and is a leading Polish university also made a difference to me.

Kacper intends to associate his future with UWr. – My next step after my master’s degree will be a PhD – Kacper announces. – And thanks to the ‘Young Researcher’, I will be able to finance my next ideas, which I planned to realise after defending my Master’s thesis.

He therefore plans to continue the study.

Kacper Rosner-Leszczyński is also the winner of this year’s Student Nobel Prize, an award given by students for students, a competition organised by the NZS.

The distinctions he received during his studies made him realise that what he was doing made more sense. – Thus, I have to fulfil my responsibilities to the best of my ability – to share the results of my research, to popularise it and, above all, to help others achieve their own successes – says Kacper.

Read more about the scholarship programme here: https://uwr.edu.pl/mlody-badacz-czyli-stypendia-dla-najlepszych/