Grants to scientists from the Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, in competition OPUS 28 and SONATA 20

27 05 2025

The Faculty of Biology at the University of Warsaw has won six OPUS 28 and seven SONATA 20 grants from programmes of the National Science Centre. Congratulations!

Positive funding decisions for projects in the OPUS 28 competition were obtained by:

Dr hab. Łucja Kowalewska – “From Nature to Biomimetics: Molecular Mechanisms of Diamond-Type Cubic Membrane Formation in Photosynthetic Organisms” – consortium with Jagiellonian University (leader: Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw), funding: 3,153,542 PLN,
Dr hab. Renata Welc-Falęciak – “Identification of Novel Borrelia miyamotoi Antigens and Their Role in Differential Diagnosis of Lyme Disease and Relapsing Fevers”, funding: 2,392,800 PLN,
Dr hab. inż. Robert Wojciech Mysłajek – “Wolf and Lynx at a Crossroads: Interactions of Large Carnivores with Transportation Infrastructure” – consortium with University of Gdańsk (leader: Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw), funding: 1,511,617 PLN,
Dr hab. Sabina Pierużek-Nowak – “Factors Shaping Large Carnivore Exposure to Health Threats Along an Urbanization Gradient” – consortium with John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin (leader: Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw), funding: 2,998,845 PLN,
Dr Przemysław Decewicz – “Floating Islands Based on (Bio)functionalized Mineral and Organic Adsorbents as a Nature-Inspired, Passive Purification System for the Removal of Pharmaceuticals from Urban Water Bodies” – consortium with AGH University of Science and Technology (leader: AGH, Prof. dr hab. Tomasz Piotr Bajda), funding: 3,864,960 PLN,
Dr Marcelina Zimny – “Taming the Primordial: Water, Landscape, and Human Impact in the Forest” – consortium with the Mammal Research Institute PAS and the Institute of Geography and Spatial Organization PAS (leader: IBS PAS, Dr hab. Tomasz Samojlik), funding: 2,924,281 PLN.

The winners in the SONATA 20 competition were:

Dr inż. Lidia Lipińska-Zubrycka – “Molecular Mechanisms of Cellular Quiescence: The Role of Uridylation and RNA Metabolism”, funding: 1,461,560 PLN,
Dr Ludwik Gąsiorowski – “Stem Cell Radiation Resistance from an Evolutionary Perspective”, funding: 2,278,000 PLN,
Dr Jakub Baczyński – “Meristem-Level Changes as Drivers of Evolutionary Innovations: Insights from the Study of Syncephalia in Asteraceae”, funding: 1,698,000 PLN,
Dr Monika Hejna – “Innovative Marine-Derived Substitutes with Anti-Inflammatory, Antioxidant, and Antibacterial Properties: Nutraceuticals as a Preventive Alternative in Commercial Animal Breeding Systems”, funding: 1,806,100 PLN,
Dr Adam Pyzik – “Exploring the Conifer-Specialized Microbiome of the Western Capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus): Implications for Animal Sciences and Biotechnological Approaches to Lignocellulose Biodegradation”, funding: 1,359,930 PLN,
Dr Klaudia Dębiec-Andrzejewska – “Bacterial Exopolymers (EPS) as a Survival Strategy in Stressful Environments and a Chance to Improve Soil Quality (hElPStress)” – consortium with the Institute of Soil Science and Plant Cultivation – State Research Institute and Maria Curie-Skłodowska University (leader: IUNG-PIB, Dr Karolina Furtak), funding: 1,560,807 PLN,
Dr hab. Anna Zawistowska-Deniziak – “A multi-antigen vaccine against Trichinella spiralis and Trichinella britovi – a novel approach to trichinellosis prevention” – in consortium with the Medical University of Warsaw (leader: WUM, Dr Anna Stachyra), funding: 1,213,160 PLN.