The Minister of Science and Higher Education has announced the list of recipients of ministerial scholarships for outstanding young scientists. Out of 1,711 applications, 228 researchers with the most exceptional achievements in scientific activity were selected. Three of the scholarship recipients - dr Karolina Pierzynowska, prof. UG, dr Agnieszka Kłosowska and dr hab. Marcin Rojszczak - are from the University of Gdańsk!
The Minister of Science and Higher Education's scholarships for outstanding young scientists are awarded for a period of three years. The applications were evaluated on the basis of their merits by a team of advisors responsible for assessing applications for scholarships awarded by the minister responsible for higher education and science to students and outstanding young scientists.
The evaluation was carried out taking into account the division into individual scientific and artistic disciplines (more information: Announcement of the results of the procedure for awarding scholarships of the Minister of Science and Higher Education for outstanding young scientists in 2025. (20th edition) - Ministry of Science and Higher Education - Gov.pl portal).
Dr hab. Karolina Pierzynowska, prof. UG, works at the Molecular Neurobiology Laboratory of the Faculty of Biology at the University of Gdańsk, where she conducts research on new therapies for neurodegenerative diseases, including Huntington's disease and Alzheimer's disease. Her research, both on cell and animal models, has demonstrated the high efficacy of genistein (a naturally occurring flavonoid) in treating these conditions by stimulating autophagic processes.
The standards for the use of non-targeted surveillance and the growing role of algorithmic tools for content surveillance and moderation are the main research focus of dr Marcin Rojszczak from the Department of Legal Informatics at the Faculty of Law and Administration at the University of Gdańsk.
‘Receiving a scholarship from the Ministry of Science and Higher Education is a great honour and motivation for me to continue my research,’ said dr. Marcin Rojszczak. ‘My research interests focus on the legal aspects of cybersecurity and digital market regulation, with a particular emphasis on electronic surveillance systems and the protection of fundamental rights. I have published in leading European legal journals, and the results of my research have been recognised by both national human rights bodies and EU institutions. The scholarship will allow me to develop interdisciplinary research projects that combine legal and technological perspectives in response to the challenges of digital transformation.'
The third scholarship recipient, dr Agnieszka Kłosowska, works at the Department of Protein Biochemistry of the Institute of Biotechnology at the University of Gdańsk, headed by Prof. Krzysztof Liberk, at the Intercollegiate Faculty of Biotechnology of the University of Gdańsk and the Medical University of Gdańsk. She conducts basic research on chaperone proteins, including heat shock proteins (Hsp proteins) and J-domain proteins (JDPs). In their latest research, the team dr Kłosowska is a part of analysed the multi-stage process of Hsp70 protein formation of complex structures on the surface of protein aggregates, with the participation of JDP proteins. Abnormal protein aggregation plays an important role in the mechanisms of neurodegenerative diseases, among other things.
Congratulations to all scholarship laureates!