The City of Gdańsk Jan Uphagen Award for Young Scientists for 2025 has been presented. As was the case last year, the awards in both categories went to researchers from the University of Gdańsk! In the natural and exact sciences category, dr Estera Rintz from the Faculty of Biology was honoured, whilst in the humanities and social sciences category, dr Beata Chmiel from the Faculty of Economics received the award.

Since 2004, the City of Gdańsk has been awarding young scientists (aged 30 or under) who are students or graduates of Gdańsk’s higher education institutions for outstanding scientific achievements. Dr Estera Rintz was recognised for her contribution to research into the treatment of rare genetic diseases and childhood neurodegenerative diseases, primarily conditions from the mucopolysaccharidosis (MPS) group. Dr Beata Chmiel received the award for her research into the development of modern cities, in particular sustainable development, residents’ quality of life, and urban mobility.

The awards were traditionally presented by the Mayor of Gdańsk, Aleksandra Dulkiewicz, during a ceremony at the Uphagen House, which took place on 13 March this year.

- The female scientists being honoured today work in fields that have an extremely significant impact on the quality of everyday life - severe childhood genetic diseases for which there are still no effective treatments, and the development of modern cities with particular emphasis on sustainable development, quality of life and transport - said the Mayor (quoted from trojmiasto.pl).

The laudation for dr Estera Rintz was delivered by dr hab. Karolina Pierzynowska, prof. UG (who herself was a winner of the Jan Uphagen Award for 2019), whilst the laudation for dr Beata Chmiel was delivered by the Dean of the Faculty of Economics, dr Wojciech Bizon, prof. UG.

About the laureates

Dr Estera Rintz is an assistant professor at the Laboratory of Molecular Therapies, part of the Department of Molecular Biology at the Faculty of Biology, University of Gdańsk. She obtained her PhD in 2024 on the basis of her thesis ‘Molecular therapies in mouse models of metabolic diseases from the mucopolysaccharidosis group’, supervised by prof. Grzegorz Węgrzyn.

In 2025, she was included in the list of the 100 most talented young scientists published by the Foundation for Polish Science.

Her most significant scientific achievements include the discovery of the mechanism by which resveratrol (an organic compound of plant origin) in MPS IIIB, demonstrating links between autophagy disorders and the severity of the inflammatory response in the brains of MPS disease models, and developing innovative gene therapy strategies for MPS IVA, as well as creating a mouse model of MPS IVA along with a complete ex vivo therapy protocol based on the modification of haematopoietic stem cells.

She is currently working on the project 'Molecular pathogenesis and precision therapy with antisense oligonucleotides in type 6 myofibrillar myopathy associated with mutations in the BAG3 gene using mouse and cellular models', which received funding under the NSC OPUS 29 call.

Dr Beata Chmiel is an assistant professor at the Department of Logistics, Faculty of Economics, University of Gdańsk. She obtained her PhD in 2025 on the basis of her thesis ‘Sustainable urban development as a key factor in improving residents’ quality of life’, supervised by dr hab. Barbara Pawłowska, prof. UG, and dr Agnieszka Szmelter-Jarosz. In her thesis, she analysed the possibilities of applying the so-called ‘bagel economy’ model (previously used in Amsterdam) in Gdańsk, demonstrating, amongst other things, that public participation is a crucial element in the process of implementing sustainable development principles in cities and can determine the success of the measures undertaken.

In her research, dr Beata Chmiel focuses on the issues of sustainable development in modern cities, residents’ quality of life, urban mobility and participatory processes. She is the author and co-author of 44 academic publications.

You can read more about the awards on the Tricity website: Young female researchers honoured with awards - Science - Gdańsk, GDYNIA, SOPOT.