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Festival of Young Researchers at the University of Wrocław

On Tuesday, 24 June, we celebrated the successes of young researchers and their academic supervisors at the University of Wrocław in the grand Aula Leopoldina. The event honoured those involved in the “Young Researcher 2023–2025” programme, part of the Initiative for Excellence – Research University (IDUB).

It was a moment to recognise and appreciate the achievements of students and doctoral candidates who were awarded grants enabling them to participate in prestigious scientific events across the globe.

The ceremony opened with speeches by dr hab. Patrycja Matusz, prof. UWr, Vice-Rector for Internationalisation and Rector’s Plenipotentiary for the IDUB project, as well as prof. Elżbieta Skibińska-Cieńska, Chair of the Young Researcher Grants Committee. Representing the honoured students and doctoral candidates, Kacper Rosner-Leszczyński and Wojciech Milczarski also took the floor.

The “Young Researcher 2023–2025” grants are one of the flagship initiatives of the University of Wrocław, implemented as part of IDUB. This programme is dedicated to a new generation of scholars and holds particular importance within the IDUB framework as a tool for strategic support in academic development, internationalisation, and mobility of students and doctoral candidates. It plays a key role in the University’s global engagement, enabling young researchers to visit leading scientific institutions worldwide and take part in international projects and conferences. It offers them the chance to develop essential skills in a global academic environment – a crucial asset for their future careers.

– Since its inception, two full editions have been completed, and the third is now nearing its end. In the first edition, 55 grants were awarded, followed by 187 in the second – stated prof. Patrycja Matusz.

In the current third edition, 161 grants have been awarded so far, with another 68 applications pending evaluation, due to conclude by 15 July. A clear upward trend is evident – reflecting both a growing interest in this form of support among young researchers, and their increasing readiness to present their work internationally, thanks to the dedication and guidance of their academic mentors. The competition format itself is particularly commendable, as it familiarises young scholars early on with the culture of applying for funding and healthy competition.

– They learn not only how to plan and describe research projects, but also how to justify their significance, objectives, and budget – precisely the competencies required in an academic career – said Prof. Matusz. –This experience will surely help them secure future research grants and strengthen their standing in the academic community.

Over the past three years, the University of Wrocław has allocated 5 million PLN to this programme. And this is not the end! We are pleased to announce a new edition for the 2025/2026 academic year, backed by a record level of funding to continue this impactful initiative.

The programme’s outcomes are impressive – awardees from the first two editions have undertaken mobility stays in 68 countries. So far, 121 students and 282 doctoral candidates have received grants, demonstrating a strong demand for support at this crucial stage of academic development.

– We are truly proud of the success of our awardees – emphasised prof. Elżbieta Skibińska-Cieńska.

Among these successes:

• Individual awards at international conferences
• Top placements in global research competitions
• Scholarships from renowned institutions
• Postdoctoral placements obtained through mobility
• Acquisition of prestigious grants (e.g. Preludium, Pearls of Science)
• Authorship and co-authorship of publications in top-tier journals, often in collaboration with international scholars

Many of these collaborations have led to long-term institutional partnerships between the University of Wrocław and leading research centres worldwide. But perhaps most importantly, the programme fosters personal growth, fresh perspectives, and lasting inspiration, as stressed by the recognised students and doctoral candidates.

The “Young Researcher” programme is much more than financial support. It is a strategic investment by the University in the intellectual and academic potential of its young scholars. It creates space for research skill development, international collaboration, and knowledge exchange – an invaluable foundation for a successful academic career. It also fosters a strong, supportive academic community, forming the cornerstone of the University’s future success both nationally and internationally.

“Thanks to initiatives like this, the University of Wrocław not only fulfils its mission as a research institution but also shapes new generations of distinguished scholars who will proudly represent our University and Poland on the world stage.”

Here are the distinguished awardees of the “Young Researcher 2023–2025” programme under the IDUB initiative:

Patrycja Zbieralska (Faculty of Biological Sciences)
A third-year doctoral student at the Doctoral College of the Faculty of Biological Sciences. Multiple-time recipient of the Rector’s scholarship for the best students, admitted as a member of the prestigious European Association for Forensic Entomology (EAFE), winner of first place in the best scientific poster competition at the 8th Conference of Young Forensic Chemists, and co-author of numerous scientific publications. Her supervisor and academic mentor is prof. dr hab. inż. Marcin Kadej.

Agata Budzyńska (Faculty of Biotechnology)
Second-year student of the long-cycle master’s programme in the prestigious field of Medical Molecular Biotechnology. Recipient of the Young Researcher scholarship for achieving the highest recruitment score (first on the ranking list); awarded a scholarship by the Marshal of the Lubelskie Voivodeship under the “Lubelskie Supports the Gifted” initiative; actively involved in delivering workshops for secondary school pupils in Lower Silesia; co-organiser of the international student conference BioLOCK 2024 at the Faculty of Biotechnology. Her supervisor and academic mentor is dr Justyna Ciuraszkiewicz.

Kacper Rosner-Leszczyński (Faculty of Historical and Pedagogical Sciences)
Currently a first-year doctoral student at the Doctoral College of the Faculty of Historical and Pedagogical Sciences. As a student of history: recipient of the Minister of Education and Science Scholarship (2023) and the Minister of Science Scholarship (2024) for significant academic achievements; two-time recipient of the Young Researcher grant with the highest evaluation score; member of the Polish Society for the History of Medical Sciences; winner of the prestigious Student Nobel Award in the Social Sciences category; recipient of the “Pearls of Science” grant from the Ministry of Science and Higher Education. His supervisor and academic mentor is prof. dr hab. Grzegorz Strauchold.

Wojciech Milczarski (Faculty of Languages, Literatures and Cultures)
Fourth-year doctoral student at the Doctoral College of Linguistics and Literary Studies. Co-author of numerous publications in prestigious, high-impact journals (often as first author); two-time recipient of the Young Researcher grant with the highest evaluation score; honourable mention in the scholarship competition of the Wrocław Academic Centre; awarded the Jan Mozrzymas Scholarship for outstanding doctoral students in interdisciplinary research; recipient of the Santander Award for scientific and social-organisational activity; winner of the Excellence in Students Research Award. Chair of the Doctoral Council of the University of Wrocław and member of the Board of the National Association of Doctoral Students for the 2025 term. His supervisor is dr hab. Krzysztof Migdalski, prof. UWr, Head of the Department of English and Comparative Linguistics, and his academic mentor is dr hab. Michał Białek, prof. UWr, Head of the Department of Management Psychology.

Klaudia Szczerba (Faculty of Chemistry)
Third-year doctoral student at the Doctoral College of the Faculty of Chemistry. Two-time recipient of the Young Researcher grant with the highest evaluation score; co-author of numerous publications in prestigious, high-impact journals; recipient of the Short-Term Scientific Mission COST Action 18202 grant; awarded the Piotr Ludwik Sosabowski Scholarship for the best doctoral students of the Faculty of Chemistry. Her supervisor and academic mentor is prof. dr hab. Elżbieta Gumienna-Kontecka.

Jakub Zając (Faculty of Biological Sciences)
Currently a first-year doctoral candidate at the Doctoral College of Biological Sciences. As a biology student, he received the Rector’s Scholarship for outstanding academic achievements; winner of the award for best scientific debut in organismal biology, granted by the Committee of Organismal Biology of the Polish Academy of Sciences for the 2024–2027 term. His supervisor and academic mentor is dr hab. Lucyna Hałupka, prof. UWr.

Kinga Garstka-Litwin (Faculty of Chemistry)
Co-author of numerous publications in prestigious, high-impact journals (often as first author); recipient of the Short-Term Scientific Mission COST Action 18202 grant; awarded prizes for best scientific poster at the international conference ISMEC2022 in Valencia and for the most interesting oral presentation at the WrocChem2023 conference. Recipient of the prestigious Fernando Pulidori Award, one of the highest honours for young scientists in the field of bioorganic chemistry. Her supervisor and academic mentor is prof. dr hab. inż. Magdalena Rowińska-Żyrek.

Maciej Korpalski (Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science)
Third-year doctoral student at the Doctoral College of Mathematics. Co-author of scientific publications in international journals; collaborates with internationally recognised experts in mathematics at academic centres in Warsaw and Spain (University of Murcia); recipient of the Hugo Steinhaus Scholarship, awarded by the Wrocław Academic Centre. His supervisor and academic mentor is prof. dr hab. Grzegorz Plebanek.

Kinga Szydełko (Faculty of Chemistry)
Third-year doctoral student at the Doctoral College of the Faculty of Chemistry. Co-author of a publication in a prestigious international journal; recipient of the individual First Prize for the best poster presentation at the ISMSC 2025 international conference in Kyoto, Japan. Her supervisor and academic mentor is prof. dr hab. Piotr Chmielewski.

Szymon Kaczmarczyk (Faculty of Physics and Astronomy)
First-year student of the second-cycle Physics degree. As an undergraduate, co-authored (as first author) a publication in a high-impact journal in collaboration with his supervisor, dr hab. Maciej Matyka, prof. UWr. The results of the paper were highly praised by Princeton University in the USA. Winner of the prestigious Student Poster Award at the international InterPore 2025 conference (awarded to a maximum of two students globally across undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral levels). His supervisor and academic mentor is dr hab. Maciej Matyka, prof. UWr.

Laura Słocka (Faculty of Law, Administration and Economics)
Second-year doctoral student at the Doctoral College of Legal Sciences. She has authored several academic publications, including chapters in monographs. A four-time recipient of the Rector’s Scholarship for outstanding academic achievements; invited to deliver guest lectures (including for the AGH University of Krakow and Kozminski University in Warsaw); the implementation of her “Young Researcher” grant led to a fruitful collaboration with two institutes of the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile, which will contribute to establishing permanent institutional cooperation at the international level. Her supervisor and academic mentor is prof. dr hab. Jacek Gołaczyński.

Jakub Leś (Faculty of Law, Administration and Economics)
Third-year student of the integrated Master’s degree programme in Law. Two-time recipient of the “Young Researcher” grant with the highest competition score; two-time recipient of the Rector’s Scholarship for academic achievements; second-place winner and recipient of the award for best memorial in the national rounds of the Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition 2024, organised by White & Case LLP; winner of the 18th national tax law competition “EYe on Tax” organised by EY; finalist in the 21st edition of the national “Student Negotiation Tournament” organised by the “Negotiator” Scientific Society of the Warsaw School of Economics. His supervisor and academic mentor is dr hab. Artur Kozłowski, prof. UWr.

Bartosz Jakub Rusin (Faculty of Physics and Astronomy)
Currently a first-year doctoral student at the Doctoral College of Physics and Astronomy. As a physics student: two-time recipient of the “Young Researcher” grant with the highest competition score; recipient of the Rector’s Scholarship for outstanding academic achievements; finalist of the 2024 nationwide “Student Nobel” competition in the Physics and Astronomy category; recipient of a grant under the “Pearls of Science” programme funded by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education. His supervisor and academic mentor is dr hab. Rafał Idczak, prof. UWr.

Juliusz Mroziński (Faculty of Law, Administration and Economics)
Second-year doctoral student at the Doctoral College of Legal Sciences. Co-author of numerous prestigious publications; four-time recipient of the Rector’s Scholarship for outstanding academic achievements; three-time recipient of the “Young Researcher” grant with the highest competition score. His supervisor and academic mentor is prof. dr hab. Mariusz Jabłoński.

Ewelina Tomczyk (Faculty of Law, Administration and Economics)
Second-year doctoral student at the Doctoral College of Legal Sciences and the Doctoral College of Economics and Finance. She has published widely in reputable academic journals; awarded third place in the competition for the best Master’s thesis at the Faculty of Law, Administration and Economics; winner of the Santander Award for scientific activity; two-time recipient of the Rector’s Scholarship for outstanding academic achievements. Her supervisor and academic mentor is prof. dr hab. Łukasz Błaszczak.

Karolina Wojtczak (Faculty of Languages, Literatures and Cultures)
Fourth-year doctoral student at the Doctoral College of Linguistics and Literary Studies. She has numerous publications in recognised international journals; her research stay at the University of Paris and archival research at the National Library in Paris led to the recognition of her research quality by globally renowned discourse analysis expert Prof. Patricia von Münchow, resulting in an international research collaboration. Her supervisor and academic mentor is prof. Dr hab. Elżbieta Biardzka.

Marianna Weronika Siatkowska (Faculty of Historical and Pedagogical Sciences)
Second-year doctoral student at the Doctoral College of Archaeology, Art and Culture. Her achievements include academic publications in national journals; member of Working Group 2 in the COST Action “EarlyMuse”; recipient of the Jerzy Grotowski Scholarship in the field of art; laureate of multiple awards for artistic achievements. Her academic supervisor is prof. dr hab. Remigiusz Pośpiech, with dr Grzegorz Joachimiak as auxiliary supervisor.

Adrianna Sowińska (Faculty of Languages, Literatures and Cultures)
Second-year doctoral student at the Doctoral College of Communication and Media Studies. Her achievements include publications in both national and international academic journals; her interdisciplinary research has been recognised by an international community of scholars specialising in film and mass media studies. Her supervisor and academic mentor is dr hab. Katarzyna Biernacka-Licznar, prof. UWr.

Kajetan Paszek (Faculty of Biotechnology)
Second-year student of the integrated Master’s degree programme in Medical Molecular Biotechnology, a prestigious field of study. Achievements: recipient of the “Young Researcher” Scholarship for highest admissions score; two-time recipient of the Silesian “Investing in Talents” scholarship; represented the University of Wrocław at the Science Festival in Trieste in 2024. His supervisor and academic mentor is dr Justyna Ciuraszkiewicz.

Kacper Prokop (Faculty of Chemistry)
Third-year doctoral student at the Doctoral College; conducting an implementation PhD in cooperation between the Faculty of Chemistry at UWr and Łukasiewicz – PORT Polish Centre for Technology Development. Achievements: co-author of numerous publications in prestigious, highly-rated journals (often as first author); two-time recipient of the “Young Researcher” grant with the highest competition score; recipient of the Minister of Science and Higher Education Scholarship for significant academic achievements; recipient of the Rector’s Scholarship for academic excellence and the Sosabowski Scholarship for scientific achievements; ARQUS Student Ambassador within the ARQUS European University Alliance; recipient of the PRELUDIUM grant funded by the National Science Centre. His supervisor and academic mentor is dr hab. Małgorzata Guzik, prof. UWr.

Michał Stefańczyk (Faculty of Historical and Pedagogical Sciences)

Currently an Assistant Professor at the Being Human Excellence Incubator. He received the “Young Researcher” grant while a doctoral student at the Doctoral College of Psychology. Achievements (as a doctoral student): co-author of numerous publications in prestigious, highly-ranked journals (often as first author); recipient of the first edition of the “Young Researcher” grant with the highest competition score; winner of the ministerial “Diamond Grant” for scientific research in 2019; recipient of the prestigious START 2023 scholarship awarded annually by the Foundation for Polish Science. His supervisor and academic mentor is dr hab. Agnieszka Sorokowska, prof. UWr.

Daria Wojtala (Faculty of Chemistry)

Fourth-year doctoral student at the Doctoral College of the Faculty of Chemistry. Two-time recipient of the “Young Researcher” grant with the highest competition score; winner of the individual “Young Scientists Award” at the 16th International Symposium on Applied Bioinorganic Chemistry in Greece; recipient of the PRELUDIUM grant funded by the National Science Centre; distinguished finalist of the 8th edition of the Young Talents competition in 2024 in the scientific success category; recipient of the Jan Mozrzymas Scholarship for interdisciplinary research. Her supervisor and academic mentor is dr hab. Urszula Komarnicka.

Congratulations to all the prize-winners and their academic supervisors! To the Ladies and Gentlemen Deans and all the guests, thank you for coming to the ceremony!

Below is a photo-report from the Gala: