Young researchers at the UWr – Karolina Pawlik
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’.
Karolina Pawlik learned about the ‘Young Researcher’ grant program from the UWr website, and became a participant in the program because of her desire to go to the ICCC24 (International Conference on Coordination Chemistry), which is being held in Fort Collins (Colorado, USA).
– Thanks to my participation in the program, I have gained a great opportunity to present the results of my research at a prestigious international scientific conference, which will potentially allow me to make new friends or interesting international collaborations, as well as expand my knowledge of coordination chemistry – says our young researcher.
She is a second-year PhD student in the Biological Inorganic Chemistry Group at the UWr Faculty of Chemistry. She is conducting her research under the supervision of prof. dr hab. Elżbieta Gumienna-Kontecka (supervisor) and dr inż. Małgorzata Ostrowska (associate supervisor).
– Working in such a dynamic team has allowed me to be involved in numerous scientific projects funded by the National Science Center and the European Union on such topics as peptide complexes of Mn (II) ions, clathrosondes, or siderophores; and to participate in numerous international trips – our doctoral student lists.
Participation in the projectCLATHROPROBES, 778245,Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions, Research and Innovation Staff Exchange H2020-MSCA-RISE-2017 allowed her to complete a month-long research internship at the Petru Poni Institute of Macromolecules, (Iassi, Ruminia), where, under the supervision of dr Sergiu Shova, she gained new skills in peptide crystallization.
– In addition, involvement in COST (European Cooperation in Science and Technology) actions allowed me to deepen my skills in NMR (Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy) at a school organized by CERN in Florence or a training course on NECTAR SciComm communications held in Sardinia, among others – she adds.
She presented the results of her research carried out within the framework of the NCN Sonata 17 project “Emerging from the shadow of iron – manganese as an important player in the competition between pathogen and host”, of which she is a contractor, at the ISABC23 – International Symposium on Applied Bioinorganic Chemistry international scientific conference in Ioannina, Greece, and the WrocChem2024 conference organized by the Wrocław Branch of the Polish Chemical Society.
Why did she choose our University? – Mainly because of the wide range of interesting majors – she reflects. – Since childhood I have been interested in natural sciences, and after graduating from high school I faced a tough choice – chemistry or biology? Not wanting to abandon any of these fields, however, leaning a bit more towards the chemical sciences, I decided on an interdisciplinary major I found in the UWr’s offer – medical chemistry – Karolina Pawlak explains.
What’s next?
– At this stage it’s hard to say, but I can reveal that I plan to apply for a grant under the NCN Prelude project, so it is not excluded that I will tie my career plans to the UWr.
Our doctoral student’s dream is to work as a scientist, so she is open to new challenges to further her knowledge in coordination chemistry.
Read more about the scholarship programme here: https://uwr.edu.pl/en/young-researcher-or-scholarships-for-the-best/
Read more about the grants here: Granty Młody Badacz – NABÓR TRWA – Uniwersytet Wrocławski (uwr.edu.pl)
Meet other young researchers and the researcher:
Complied by Katarzyna Górowicz-Maćkiewicz
