Prof. Urszula Stachewicz
Full Professor in Materials Science | Electrospun Fibers | Tissue Engineering | Energy & Water Harvesting

Welcome to my academic portfolio. I am a Full Professor at AGH University of Science and Technology in Kraków, Poland. My research integrates materials science, nanotechnology, and bioengineering, with a strong focus on electrospun polymer fibers for biomedical and environmental applications.

About Me

I currently lead the Electrospun Fibers Group at AGH University of Science and Technology. My academic journey spans leading research institutes across Europe including TU Delft, University of Cambridge, and Queen Mary University of London.

I received my PhD in 2010 from Delft University of Technology and my DSc (habilitation) in 2017 from AGH. In 2023, I was awarded the title of Full Professor by the President of the Republic of Poland.

Education:

  • DSc (Habilitation) – AGH University of Science and Technology, Kraków, Poland (2017)
    Dissertation: Analysis on various properties of polymeric nanofibres for application in nanotechnology and tissue engineering
  • PhD – Delft University of Technology, The Netherlands (2010)
    Dissertation: Analysis of electrospraying as an on-demand deposition method
  • MSc – AGH University of Science and Technology, Poland & University of Applied Sciences, Münster, Germany (2004)
    Thesis: Mechanical Mapping of Osteonal Compact Bone with Lamellar Resolution

Professional Links:
ORCID | Scopus | Google Scholar | LinkedIn

Research

Research Topics:

  • Electrospun polymer fibers
  • Bioinspired and biomimetic materials
  • Surface and mechanical properties at the nanoscale
  • Smart membranes for energy and water applications

Research Group: Electrospun Fibers Group
Currently supervising 5 PhD students and 7 postdocs

Research Positions and Experience:

  • Full Professor in Materials Science, AGH University of Science and Technology (2023–present)
    Group leader of the Electrospun Fibers Group. Chair of Electrospin2024 and ESEE2023 conferences.
  • University Professor (Prof. AGH), AGH University (2019–2022)
    Member of Material Science Discipline and the Faculty Collegium. Project leader of several grants, including ERC StG.
  • Associate Professor, AGH University (2017–2019)
    Faculty of Metals Engineering and Industrial Computer Science.
  • Research Fellow, University of Cambridge, UK (2018)
    Visiting scholar in the group of Dr. S. Kar-Narayan, working with triboelectric and ferroelectric polymers.
  • Assistant Professor (Adjunct), AGH University (2014–2017)
    International Centre of Electron Microscopy for Materials Science.
  • Postdoctoral Researcher, Queen Mary University of London (2013–2014)
    Working on wetting behavior of textiles and adhesion between bioglass and dentine for GSK.
  • Senior Researcher, Queen Mary University of London and Nanoforce Technology Ltd (2010–2013)
    Research on electrospun polymer fibers and composites, material characterization, client projects.
  • Postdoctoral Researcher, Nanoforce/QMUL (2009–2010)
    Project on novel armor materials sponsored by the UK Ministry of Defence.
  • PhD Researcher, TU Delft & Philips Research Eindhoven (2004–2009)
    Marie Curie Fellowship. Developed electrospraying techniques for controlled fluid deposition.
  • MSc Researcher, Max Planck Institute, Germany (2004)
    Developed 2D stiffness maps of osteonal bone structure using nanoindentation.

Key Projects:

Publications

Selected publications:

  1. Ribeiro, C., Palczynska, M., Stachewicz, U. „Piezoelectric response of PVDF-based scaffolds for biomedical applications: fabrication, characterization and cellular performance.” Biomedical Materials, 2025.
  2. Polak, R., Jarosz, M., Stachewicz, U. „Electrospun materials in nanomedicine: trends, challenges and future perspectives.” WIREs Nanomedicine and Nanobiotechnology, 2024.
  3. Parisi, J., Polak, R., Stachewicz, U. „Bioinspired water harvesting membranes using electrospun fibers with heterogeneous wetting.” Chemical Engineering Journal, 2024.
  4. Das, S., Palczynska, M., Stachewicz, U. „Flexible triboelectric nanogenerators with electrospun PVDF composites: performance and design strategies.” Materials Advances, 2025.
  5. Jarosz, M., Polak, R., Stachewicz, U. „Bioactivity of nanofibrous scaffolds functionalized with hydroxyapatite for bone regeneration.” Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Medicine, 2024.

See more on: Google Scholar

Talks & Conferences

Recent Invited Talks and Seminars:

  • Jilin University, China (2024) – Electrospun nanofibers for biomedical and environmental engineering
  • Jiangnan University, China (2024) – Functional materials inspired by nature for smart membranes
  • Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU), Seoul, Korea (2022) – Designing nanostructured polymer fibers for energy harvesting
  • Technion – Israel Institute of Technology (2022) – Interfacial phenomena and piezoelectricity in nanofiber systems
  • Silesian University of Technology, Poland (2022) – Electrohydrodynamic processes in polymer systems
  • Department of Materials Science and Metallurgy, University of Cambridge (2018) – Cell interactions with nanostructured surfaces
  • University College London, UK (2018) – Surface energy in polymer scaffolds
  • Institute of Fundamental Technological Research PAS, Warsaw (2016) – Wettability and adhesion in electrospun membranes
  • Jilin University, China (2024)
  • Jiangnan University, China (2024)
  • Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU), Seoul, Korea (2022)
  • Technion – Israel Institute of Technology (2022)
  • Silesian University of Technology, Poland (2022)
  • Department of Materials Science and Metallurgy, University of Cambridge (2018)
  • University College London, UK (2018)
  • Institute of Fundamental Technological Research PAS, Warsaw (2016)

Plenary and Keynote Lectures:

  • MAD-Nano24 Conference, Portugal (2024) – Nature-inspired surfaces for smart textiles and membranes
  • International Symposium on Advanced Bionics, Changchun, China (2024) – Piezoelectric materials for neural interface applications
  • 5th Int. Conference on Biomedical Polymers, Donghua University, China (2024) – Advances in electrospinning for biomedical implants
  • Electrospin2022, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (2022) – Electrospinning design strategies for biomimetic membranes
  • BIONECA International Conference, Prague (2021) – Nanofiber materials for cardiovascular regeneration
  • 7th European Symposium on Electrohydrodynamic Atomization and Electrospinning, The Netherlands (2024) – From electrospray to nanostructure assembly
  • XXXIV Jornadas Chilenas de Química, Chile (2024) – Electroactive polymers for sustainable applications
  • MAD-Nano24 Conference, Portugal (2024)
  • International Symposium on Advanced Bionics, Changchun, China (2024)
  • 5th Int. Conference on Biomedical Polymers, Donghua University, China (2024)
  • Electrospin2022, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (2022)
  • BIONECA International Conference, Prague (2021)
  • 7th European Symposium on Electrohydrodynamic Atomization and Electrospinning, The Netherlands (2024)
  • XXXIV Jornadas Chilenas de Química, Chile (2024)

Conference Highlights:

  • ACS Spring Meeting, New Orleans, USA (2024)
  • 9th International Conference on Fog and Dew, Colorado, USA (2023)
  • Baltic Biomat Symposium, Szczecin, Poland (2022)
  • EUPOC 2019, Como, Italy
  • International Conference on Aerogels, Santiago de Compostela, Spain (2020)

Public Lectures & Outreach:

  • TEDx AGH University: Świat nanowłókien polimerowych (available on YouTube)
  • Children’s University Kraków – lectures for teenagers
  • Panelist at COST Ministerial Conference (2021)

Teaching & Supervision

Courses Taught:

  • Biomaterials and Medical Devices (English)
  • Biomaterials (Polish)
  • Atomic Force Microscopy (Polish and English)
  • Polymers and Composites (Polish)
  • Design in Materials – Lessons from Nature (Polish and English)

Supervision:

  • Over 15 PhD students, including completed theses
  • Over 30 MSc and BSc theses
  • Supervising interdisciplinary international student projects

Teaching Highlights:

  • Best PhD Supervisor Award in Materials Science at AGH University (2022)
  • Lecturer at international schools and outreach programs (e.g., Children’s University, National Science & Engineering Week UK)
  • Promoter and mentor for ERC-level research and PhD student mobility programs

Awards & Grants

Selected Awards:

  • ERC Starting Grant (2020)
  • Bioengineering Best Paper Award (2020)
  • Rector’s Award for Best Publishing Scientist (2021–2025)

Major Grants and Fundings:

  • 2024: Excellence Initiative – Research University project, AGH Kraków – EUR 200,000
  • 2022: M-ERA.NET project PIECRISCI – EUR 664,507 (AGH share: EUR 199,870)
  • 2021: Foundation for Polish Science – Extension of First TEAM: Nano4Skin – PLN 1,000,000
  • 2021: Poland–China (NAWA) project on cellulose acetate nanofibers – PLN 34,850
  • 2020: ERC Starting Grant – BioCom4SavEn – EUR 1,694,375
  • 2020: National Science Centre OPUS – Cell responses to electrospun fibers – PLN 1,599,100
  • 2019: Foundation for Polish Science – Confocal microscope equipment grant – PLN 935,000
  • 2018: First TEAM project: Nano4Skin – PLN 2,000,000
  • 2017: Uwertura grant for fellowship at University of Cambridge – PLN 76,000
  • 2016: NCN Sonata-Bis – Bioinspired design of nanofibres – PLN 1,559,500
  • 2015: NCN Sonata – 3D analysis of cell responses – PLN 837,740
  • 2014–2011: Multiple industry contracts (GSK, DSTL, L’Oréal, Johnson Matthey, Inventech Europe) and UK-based research grants totalling over £300,000

Contact

Prof. Urszula Stachewicz
AGH University of Science and Technology
Faculty of Metals Engineering and Industrial Computer Science
Email: [institutional email placeholder]
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