On December 18, 2019, in the Senate room of the University of Gdańsk, the 50th defense of a doctoral dissertation carried out under supervision of prof. dr. hab. Grzegorz Węgrzyn took place.
The anniversary dissertation authored by Karolina Pierzynowska was entitled "Induction of autophagy as a mechanism of genistein action in the experimental therapy of neurodegenerative diseases". Dr Dorota Myślińska from the Department of Animal and Human Physiology of the Faculty of Biology, University of Gdańsk, was the auxiliary supervisor of this dissertation. This work was reviewed by prof. dr hab. Ewa Bartnik from the Institute of Genetics and Biotechnology, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, and by prof. dr hab. Jadwiga Jaruzelska from the Institute of Human Genetics of the Polish Academy of Sciences in Poznań.
As it was the 50th doctoral dissertation carried out under substantive supervision of prof. Węgrzyn, the defense took place in the presence of numerous guests, including the Dean of the Faculty of Biology - prof. Włodzimierz Meissner, Dean of the Faculty of Chemistry - prof. Mariusz Makowski, Dean of the Faculty of Mathematics, Physics and Computer Science - prof. Piotr Bojarski, Dean of the Faculty of Law and Administration - prof. Wojciech Zalewski, director of the University of Gdańsk Library, Grażyna Jaśkowiak, and prof. Janusz Limon (Medical University of Gdańsk). Prof. Krzysztof Bielawski, Vice-Rector for the Development and Cooperation with Business and Industry of our Alma Mater read a congratulatory letter addressed to prof. Węgrzyn sent by the Rector of the University of Gdańsk, prof. Jerzy Gwizdała.
Prof. Węgrzyn, despite his young age, has been a titular professor for over 21 years. He held numerous functions during his 32 years of work at the University of Gdańsk, from the position of the Vice-Dean of the Faculty of Biotechnology, through the position of the last Dean of the Faculty of Biology, Geography and Oceanology, to the position of the Vice-Rector for Research of our Alma Mater. He has frequently served as a member of the Central Commission for scientific degrees and titles, and currently heads the Council for Scientific Excellence. He has sat on numerous panels assessing research grant projects for KBN, MNiSW and NCN. He has a vast experience in conducting research projects, as he has managed 27 national and 11 international grants. Professor Węgrzyn has published about 400 scientific articles in the field of molecular biology, genetics, biochemistry and microbiology. His works have been cited 6100 times, and the Hirsch index of his works is 38! Prof. Węgrzyn has presented the results of his research at over 600 scientific conferences. Understandably, he is being elected to various prestigious bodies, such as the PAN or PAU. The results of his research have been awarded many prizes, including the prize of the Prime Minister, the Scholarship of the Foundation for Polish Science, the FNP professorship subsidy, and the Hevelius prize. Professor Węgrzyn serves as an editor in 6 JCR-listed journals, including Scientific Reports, he has reviewed over 550 scientific articles sent from all over the world, over 320 grant applications, and also served as a reviewer in 120 doctoral dissertations, almost 60 habilitation proceedings and a similar number of the title proceedings. As many as 11 of prof. Węgrzyn’s mentees have obtained a habilitation degree, of which 5 have also obtained an academic title of professor.
This is not the end, of course. Currently, Professor Węgrzyn has more doctoral students under his supervision who will soon defend their theses and join the group of doctors promoted by this professor.
Ad multos annos Professor!
