Agata Kołodziejczyk | Microgravity Research | Best Paper Award

Published on by Applied Scientist

Dr. Agata Kołodziejczyk | Microgravity Research | Best Paper Award

AGH University of Kraków | Poland

Dr. Agata Maria Kołodziejczyk is a distinguished neurobiologist and space life sciences researcher whose interdisciplinary expertise integrates neurobiology, astrobiology, and space technology. She earned her Ph.D. in Neurobiology from the University of Stockholm and has since become a leading innovator in bioastronautics and analog space research. Currently, Dr. Agata Maria Kołodziejczyk leads the Bioastronautics Group–Habitat at the Faculty of Space Technologies, AGH University of Krakow, where she develops advanced laboratories focused on studying biological responses to microgravity, radiation, and other space-like conditions. Her research encompasses plant physiology under microgravity, microbial adaptation in stratospheric environments, the development of biomaterials such as bacterial cellulose for radiation shielding, and human physiological responses during simulated space missions. A recipient of the prestigious FNP Rojszczak Prize for combining biology with astronomy, she has also been recognized as a three-time first-prize winner in the Global Space Balloon Challenge for pioneering astrobiological experiments conducted in the stratosphere. Dr. Agata Maria Kołodziejczyk’s contributions include high-impact publications in Food Chemistry, Cellulose, Applied Sciences, and European Journal of Applied Physiology. Beyond academia, she is the founder and co-owner of the Analog Astronaut Training Center in Rzepiennik Strzyżewski—the first analog space base simulator in Poland—where she trains analog astronauts and space professionals. Through her visionary research and leadership, Dr. Agata Maria Kołodziejczyk is shaping the future of space biology, sustainable life-support systems, and human adaptation for long-duration missions beyond Earth.

Profiles: Google Scholar | Orcid | Scopus

Featured Publications

  • Markiewicz, M., Galanty, A., Kołodziejczyk, A. M., Żmudzki, P., Prochownik, E., Zagrodzki, P., & Paśko, P. (2025). Bioactive compounds accumulation in Brassica sprouts grown under microgravity and darkness: A novel approach to functional foods. Food Chemistry, 145324.

  • Markiewicz, M., Galanty, A., Prochownik, E., Kołodziejczyk, A. M., & Paśko, P. (2025). Innovative production of bioactive white clover sprouts under microgravity: Towards functional foods supporting prostate health. Applied Sciences, 15(21), 11668.

  • Kołodziejczyk, A. M., Lewandowski, M., Nawrot, A., & Sobota, I. (2025). Polar stations as testing platforms for space analogue simulations: Case study for Polish potential. Arctic, Antarctic, and Alpine Research, 57(1).

  • Kołodziejczyk, A. M., Silarski, M., Kaczmarek, M., Harasymczuk, M., Dziedzic-Kocurek, K., & Uhl, T. (2024). Shielding properties of the kombucha-derived bacterial cellulose. Cellulose, 32(12), 1–15.

  • Giacon, T. A., Mrakic-Sposta, S., Bosco, G., Vezzoli, A., Dellanoce, C., Campisi, M., Narici, M., Paganini, M., Foing, B., Martinelli, M., & Kołodziejczyk, A. M. (2024). Environmental study and stress-related biomarkers modifications in a crew during analog astronaut mission EMMPOL 6. European Journal of Applied Physiology, 124(10), 2231–2245.

 

Jacek Wilczyński | Posturology | Best Applied Science Award

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Prof. Jacek Wilczyński | Posturology | Best Applied Science Award

Jan Kochanowski University | Poland

Prof. Jacek Wilczyński is a prominent Polish scientist and academic recognized for his extensive research in posturology, physiotherapy, and corrective kinesiology. He serves as a Professor at the Jan Kochanowski University in Kielce, where he heads the Laboratory of Posturology within the Collegium Medicum. His distinguished academic journey includes a Master’s degree in Physical Education (1986), a Doctorate in Physical Culture Sciences (1997), a Habilitation (2010), and a Master’s in Physiotherapy (2012). Prof. Wilczyński’s research primarily explores posture defects, postural stability, balance and gait disorders, and the neurophysiological mechanisms involved in maintaining equilibrium. He investigates the complex interactions between vestibulospinal, vestibulo-optic, and vestibulo-oculomotor reflexes, as well as the autonomic nervous system’s role in children with scoliosis and postural abnormalities. His work also integrates spectral analysis of postural and cardiac responses, providing insights into the relationships between posture, stress resistance, and vagal tone. Author of more than 50 scientific works, including influential publications in Sensors, Journal of Clinical Medicine, and International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, Prof. Wilczyński employs advanced diagnostic technologies such as the Diers formetric III 4D system and Framiral Multitest Equilibre to analyze body alignment and stability. His innovative typology of body posture and evidence-based approaches have significantly influenced modern postural therapy, rehabilitation methods, and preventive health strategies, establishing him as a leading expert in the interdisciplinary field of postural and functional body assessment.

Profiles: Scopus | Orcid

Featured Publications

  • Wilczyński, J. (2025). Own typology of body posture based on research using the Diers Formetric III 4D system. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 14(2), 501.

  • Wilczyński, J., Habik Tatarowska, N., & Mierzwa-Molenda, M. (2023). Deficits of sensory integration and balance as well as scoliotic changes in young schoolgirls. Sensors, 23(3), 1172.

  • Wilczyński, J., Sowińska, A., & Mierzwa-Molenda, M. (2022). Physiotherapy as a specific and purposeful form of physical activity in children with idiopathic body asymmetry. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(22), 15008.

  • Wilczyński, J., Sobolewski, P., Zieliński, R., Kabała, M., & Lipińska-Stańczak, M. (2020). Body posture defects and body composition in school-age children. Children, 7(11), 204.

  • Wilczyński, J., Karolak, P., Janecka, S., Kabała, M., & Habik-Tatarowska, N. (2019). The relationship between the angle of curvature of the spine and SEMG amplitude of the erector spinae in young school-children. Applied Sciences, 9(15), 3115.*

Vladimir Chigrinov | Nanotechnology Innovations | Best Paper Award

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Prof. Dr. Vladimir Chigrinov | Nanotechnology Innovations | Best Paper Award

Hong Kong University of Science and Technology | Russia

Prof. Dr. Vladimir G. Chigrinov is a distinguished scientist and Professor Emeritus in the Department of Electronic and Computer Engineering at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST). Renowned worldwide for his groundbreaking contributions to liquid crystal science and electro-optical technology, he has played a pivotal role in advancing photoalignment, photopatterning, and ferroelectric liquid crystal (FLC) research. His pioneering work has led to the development of innovative liquid crystal display (LCD) configurations, optically rewritable electronic paper, and adaptive photonic devices. Prof. Dr. Chigrinov’s research spans electro-optical effects in liquid crystals, surface alignment mechanisms, and modeling and optimization of liquid crystal device performance, contributing fundamentally to both theory and application in display and photonic technologies. He has authored or co-authored over 470 scientific publications, with a remarkable 19,312 citations, an h-index of 63, and an i10-index of 298, reflecting his profound global research impact. His studies have enabled major advances in fast-switching display technologies, tunable optical systems, and energy-efficient photonic elements, effectively bridging the gap between fundamental physics and modern engineering applications. Through extensive international collaborations, Prof. Dr. Chigrinov continues to lead innovation in liquid crystal photonics, smart optical materials, and next-generation display technologies, cementing his reputation as one of the foremost authorities in liquid crystal physics and device engineering.

Profiles: Google Scholar | Scopus | Orcid

Featured Publications

  • Schadt, M., Schmitt, K., Kozinkov, V., & Chigrinov, V. G. (1992). Surface-induced parallel alignment of liquid crystals by linearly polymerized photopolymers. Japanese Journal of Applied Physics, 31(7 R), 2155–2164.

  • Blinov, L. M., & Chigrinov, V. G. (1994). Electrooptic effects in liquid crystal materials. Springer.

  • Chigrinov, V. G., Kozenkov, V. M., & Kwok, H.-S. (2008). Photoalignment of liquid crystalline materials: Physics and applications. Wiley.

  • Chigrinov, V. G. (1999). Liquid crystal devices: Physics and applications. Artech House.

  • Kiselev, A. D., Pozhidaev, E. P., & Chigrinov, V. G. (2019). Polarization gratings and electro-optics of deformed helix ferroelectric liquid crystals. Photonics Letters of Poland, 11(1), Article 182.

Fatemeh Rezaei | Agricultural Technology | Best Review Paper Award

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Assoc. Prof. Dr. Fatemeh Rezaei | Agricultural Technology | Best Review Paper Award

K. N. Toosi University of Technology | Iran

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Fatemeh Rezaei is an Associate Professor of Physics at K.N. Toosi University of Technology (KNTU), Iran, whose research centers on laser–plasma interactions, photonics, and biophotonics. Her primary focus lies in Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS), where she investigates the mechanisms of self-absorption, optically thick plasma formation, and plasma parameter determination through both experimental and computational approaches. She has developed advanced models and correction methods for plasma emission spectra and applied machine learning and deep learning algorithms to enhance the accuracy of LIBS-based elemental analysis. Dr. Rezaei’s interdisciplinary work extends to laser-assisted cancer therapy, integrating photothermal and photodynamic techniques with nanoparticles such as gold and curcumin–magnetic composites for effective tumor treatment. Her expertise also includes laser Doppler vibrometry, LIDAR systems, plasma diagnostics, and nano–bio laser interactions, bridging optical physics with biomedical and industrial applications. Through her extensive research and collaborations, Dr. Rezaei has made significant contributions to the advancement of laser spectroscopy, plasma science, and laser-based therapeutic technologies, with her findings published in leading international journals such as Spectrochimica Acta B, Scientific Reports, and Applied Optics.

Profile: Google Scholar

Featured Publications

  1. Rezaei, F., Cristoforetti, G., Tognoni, E., Legnaioli, S., Palleschi, V., & Safi, A. (2020). A review of the current analytical approaches for evaluating, compensating and exploiting self-absorption in Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy. Spectrochimica Acta Part B: Atomic Spectroscopy, 169, 105878.

  2. Ashkbar, A., Rezaei, F., Attari, F., & Ashkevarian, S. (2020). Treatment of breast cancer in vivo by dual photodynamic and photothermal approaches with the aid of curcumin photosensitizer and magnetic nanoparticles. Scientific Reports, 10(1), 21206.

  3. Rezaei, F., Karimi, P., & Tavassoli, S. H. (2014). Effect of self-absorption correction on LIBS measurements by calibration curve and artificial neural network. Applied Physics B, 114(4), 591–600.

  4. Safi, A., Tavassoli, S. H., Cristoforetti, G., Legnaioli, S., Palleschi, V., & Rezaei, F. (2019). Determination of excitation temperature in laser-induced plasmas using columnar density Saha-Boltzmann plot. Journal of Advanced Research, 18, 1–7.

  5. Aberkane, S. M., Safi, A., Botto, A., Campanella, B., Legnaioli, S., Poggialini, F., Rezaei, F., & Palleschi, V. (2020). Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy for determination of spectral fundamental parameters. Applied Sciences, 10(14), 4973.