GROUP

LEADER

Paweł Borowiecki, PhD

  • Short Biography: born 15 August 1983 in Warsaw.
  • Career History: obtained his MSc (2010) in Biotechnology from the Faculty of Chemistry, Warsaw University of Technology (WUT) with Professor Jan Plenkiewicz (thesis title: 'Synthesis of Optically Active Ionic Liquids’); received his PhD degree (2016) in Biotechnology from the Faculty of Chemistry (WUT) with Professor Maria Bretner (thesis title: 'Application of Enzymatic Catalysis for the Preparation of Optically Active Secondary Alcohols as Precursors in the Synthesis of Heterocyclic Compounds with Potential Biological Properties’); employed in Department of Drug Technology and Biotechnology (Alma Mater, WUT) as an 'Independent Chemist’ (2010–2015); appointed Assistant Professor-lecturer (2016–until now) in Chair of Drug and Cosmetics Biotechnology at WUT; co-author of over 30 peer-reviewed scientific publications (h-index: 12), and 1 patent applications; over 10 years of expertise in the use of enzymes as biocatalysts for organic synthesis.
  • Fellowships: 4 months research fellowship (from 2009-03-03 to 2009-06-07) in Laboratoire de Chimie Bioorganique et Bioinorganique – LCBB at Universite PARIS-SUD 11 (Orsay, France) supervised by Professor Michel Therisod (project title: 'Synthesis and Evaluation of New Inhibitors of the Glycolytic Enzyme Enolase – D-2-Phosphoglycerate Enolase – as Potentially Efficient Chemotherapeutics Toward Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense and Trypanosoma brucei gambiense’).
  • Awards: (i) Laureate of the „Award of the Prime Minister of Poland for the Best Doctoral Dissertation in Chemistry in 2016” (Prime Minister Award for Ph.D. Thesis 2016); (ii) Scholarship holder of the System Project organized by the self-government of the Mazovian Voivodeship: „Development of Science – Scholarships and Accompanying Support for Masovian PhD students” implemented under the Human Capital Operational Program 2007–2013 co-funded by European Union; (iii) Nominated for the „Stanisław Biniecki Award” – Pharmaceutical Research Institute (2016)” in recognition of the extremely valuable scientific achievements in the field of medicinal chemistry and drug development; (iv) Awarded the „Individual Award of Degree I” of the Rector of the Warsaw University of Technology for scientific achievements in 2020-2021; (v) Awarded the „Individual Award of Degree I” of the Rector of the Warsaw University of Technology for scientific achievements in 2022-2023; (vi) Awarded the „Team Award of Degree I” of the Rector of the Warsaw University of Technology for scientific achievements in 2022-2023.
  • Research Interests: The use of enzymes and/or whole-cell biocatalysts (wild-type microorganisms and/or recombinant cells containing evo-enzymes) for the efficient synthesis of non-racemic compounds, especially useful as chiral building blocks for pharmaceuticals manufacturing; Screening and finding new applications for enzymes, mainly lipases and oxidoreductases for bioprocessing; Industrial microbiology & biotechnology; Application of molecular docking into modelling of enzyme-substrate interactions; Kinetics of enzymatic reactions; Design, synthesis, and evaluation of novel heterocyclic compounds as biologically active agents, mostly developed as inhibitors of metabolic enzymes responsible for the development of cancer.
  • Membership in international or national organizations and scientific societies: (i) An Affiliate Member of the Royal Society of Chemistry (Membership ID: 725445); (ii) An Affiliate Member of the European Society of Applied Biocatalysis (ESAB).
  • ORCID No.: 0000-0001-5355-7281
  • Scopus Author ID: 55354040300
  • Research Gate Account: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Pawel_Borowiecki
  • Mentor Professor: Prof. Jan Plenkiewicz
  • Former Supervisors: Prof. Jan Plenkiewicz, Prof. Maria Bretner, Prof. Michele Therisod, Dr Marcin Poterała
  • Unfulfilled Scientific Dream: working along with Prof. Ernest Alexander Sym (1893–1950), a world pioneer in research on enzymatic catalysis in non-aqueous systems and discoverer of the interfacial lipase activation

PhD STUDENTS

Beata Zdun, MSc

  • Short Biography: born 11 April 1995 in Bialystok.
  • Education history: In 2018, she received a BSc in Biotechnology at the University of Technology in Bialystok. Title of thesis: 'Physicochemical properties of 3d-metal complexes with selected heteroaromatic acids’. In 2019, she obtained a MSc in Biotechnology from the Chemical Faculty of the Warsaw University of Technology. Title of thesis: 'Chemoenzymatic synthesis of enantiomeric (R)-lisofylline’.
  • Research Interests: Synthetic organic chemistry methodology; Development of bioprocess for production of fine chemicals by enzymes; Expanding the range of novel applications for lipases and oxidoreductases; Chemoenzymatic syntheses of non-racemic APIs intermediates.
  • ORCID No.: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5545-4929

Aleksandra Rudzka, MSc

  • Short Biography: born 27 March 1997 in Wołomin
  • Education history: In 2020, she received a BSc in Biotechnology at the Warsaw University of Technology. Title of thesis: “Development of conditions for reduction of 1,4-benzodiazepine keto derivative using microorganisms”. In 2021, she obtained a MSc in Biotechnology from the Faculty of Chemistry, Warsaw University of Technology. Title of thesis: “Enzymatic deracemization of secondary alcohols catalyzed by (laccase/TEMPO)-ketoreductase system”.
  • Research Interests: Biocatalytic oxidation of alcohols; Stereoselective reduction of carbonyl compounds; Chemoenzymatic syntheses of non-racemic APIs intermediates.
  • ORCID No.: 0000-0003-0548-8124
  • Scopus Author ID: 57737530100
  • Research Gate Account: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Aleksandra-Rudzka

    Natalia Antos, M.Sc

    • Short Biography: born 4 April 1998 in Skierniewice, Poland. 
    • Education history: In 2022, she received a BSc in Biotechnology at the Warsaw University of Technology. Title of thesis: „Chemoenzymatic synthesis of optically active allenic alcohols with recombinant oxidoreductases”. Currently, working at MSc thesis entitled: „Synthesis of optically active alcohols with photochemical and biocatalytic redox reactions” 
    • Research Interests: Biocatalytic oxidation of alcohols; Stereoselective reduction of carbonyl compounds; Photo-biocatalytic cascades; Transaminases; Asymmetric reductive amination of ketones.

    CURRENT MEMBERS

    Aleksandra Madej, B.Sc

    • Short Biography: born 30 September 2001 in Tomaszów Mazowiecki, Poland.
    • Education history: In 2024, she graduated with honors and received a BSc in Biotechnology at the Warsaw University of Technology. Title of thesis: ‘Characterization of the recombinant hydrolase Lip316 from the strain Psychrobacter cryohalolentis 11E8b with regard to its potential use in biotransformation reactions’. Currently, working at MSc thesis entitled: ‘Photo-biochemical synthesis of optically active alcohols from carboxylic acids with the use of photocatalysts and recombinant alcohol dehydrogenases’.
    • Research Interests: Evolution of enzymes; Development of bioprocess for production of fine chemicals by enzymes; Expanding the range of novel applications for lipases and oxidoreductases.

    Julia Skrzypek

    • Short Biography: born 16 December 2002 in Warsaw.
    • Education history: Currently completing the last semester of a BCs in Chemical Technology at the Warsaw University of Technology and working on a thesis titled: „Photochemoenzymatic synthesis of enantiomerically pure alcohols using visible light and alcohol dehydrogenases”.
    • Research Interests: Stereoselective reduction of carbonyl compounds; Biocatalytic oxidation of alcohol; Photo-biocatalytic cascades.

    Patryk Świstak

    • Short Biography: born 16 March 2002 in Warsaw.
    • Education history: Completing the final semester of a BSc in Chemical Technology at the Warsaw University of Technology and working on a thesis titled: „Photochemoenzymatic Synthesis of Enantiomerically Pure Amines Using Visible Light and Recombinant ω-Transaminases„.
    • Research Interests: Stereoselective reduction of carbonyl compounds; Biocatalytic oxidation of amines.

    PAST STUDENTS

    We hereby want to thank our alumni and acknowledge their valuable contributions to the work of the Lab. Most of them are recognized as co-authors of our publications and they will be remembered at their best side. We are proud of our graduate students and want to wish them good luck in their professional carrier! A list of our former Bachelors’ and Masters’ Students is given below:

    • Sylwia Balter
    • Joanna Piłat
    • Patrycja Niemyńska
    • Katarzyna Kordowska
    • Marta Trzebińska
    • Magdalena Kurowska
    • Magdalena Lis
    • Daniel Paprocki
    • Mateusz Młynek
    • Marta Wiśniewska
    • Dariusz Wieczorkowski
    • Klaudia Stachnik (currently Dobrzyńska)
    • Natalia Popow
    • Beata Zdun
    • Natalia Telatycka
    • Patrycja Puk
    • Piotr Marcin Cieśla
    • Magdalena Wiklińska
    • Paulina Krystoszyk
    • Kristina Fateyeva

    FORMER MEMBERS

    • Mateusz Młynek, MSc
    • Alicja Mazurkiewicz, MSc

    COLLABORATORS

    A huge THANK YOU to our academic collaborations! 

    • Prof. Wolfgang Kroutil (Institute of Chemistry, University of Graz, NAWI Graz, BioTechMed Graz, Graz, Austria)
    • Prof. Maciej Szaleniec (Jerzy Haber Institute of Catalysis and Surface Chemistry, PAS, Cracow, Poland)
    • Prof. Monika Staniszewska (Centre for Advanced Materials and Technologies CEZAMAT, Warsaw, Poland)
    • Dr Jan Kutner (Laboratory for Structural and Biochemical Research, Biological and Chemical Research Centre of the University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland)

    … and our colleagues from Faculty of Chemistry at WUT:

    • Prof. Zbigniew Ochal (Laboratory of Organometallic and Materials Chemistry, Department of Catalysis and Organometallic Chemistry)
    • Prof. Maciej Dranka (Laboratory of Structural Research, Chair of Inorganic Chemistry)
    • Dr Patrycja Wińska (Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Chair of Drug and Cosmetics Biotechnology)
    • Dr Marcin Poterała (Laboratory of Stilbene Chemistry, Chair of Organic Chemistry)

     … and many other who were not mentioned above