I was working in Laboratory of Environmental Chemometrics (University of Gdańsk) during 4 months (from 04.02.2014 to 31.05.2014). It was second time I have visited University of Gdansk in the framework of NanoBRIGES. Thus, guys from the team of Professor Tomasz Puzyn met me like family.
My work was related to WP3: Development of novel structural descriptors for nanoparticles. Thanks to the support of Tomasz Puzyn and Agnieszka Gajewicz I had real freedom of action. Thus, despite the fact that my work was limited by WP3, I worked in different fields and I can say that work I have done can be classified also as WP4. In particular, I and my colleague (Elena Mokshyna) from PCI (Ukraine) adapted specific statistical methods to QSAR. read more >>
I have visited National Institute for Environmental Studies (NIES) in Tsukuba (Japan) for 2 months (26.03-02.06.2014) within the NanoBRIDGES project. The aim of research secondment was to characterize of twenty photocatalysts TiO2 modified with ionic liquids (ILs). The photocatalysts were prepared in Poland by hydrothermal method. The reaction process was assisted by different types of ionic liquids. The effect of IL structure (chain length of the imidazolium cation and anion type) on the crystalline phase (XRD technique) and surface area (BET)of TiO2 particles has been investigated. The photocatalytic activities of samples will be continued in Poland. The photoactivity of TiO2 modified with ionic liquids will be measured in the gas phase (toluene degradation) and liquid phase (phenol degradation). read more >>
I spent 2 months (from 26 of March to 2 of June 2014) in National Institute for Environmental Studies (NIES) working on third generation nanocomposites. It was my second travel there in the project. During my visit I was investigated morphology of over fifty samples (such as KTaO3+CdS+MoS2 and KTaO3+SrTiO3+CdSe) prepared previously in Poland via hydrothermal method. The nanomaterials were synthesized in stainless-steel autoclave under room temperature and appropriate pressure. The synthesis conditions were chosen depending on the nanocomposites configurations.
In NIES I focused on characterization photocatalysts using analytical methods like X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) and BET surface area. read more >>
Between 18 of June to 20 of July I was visiting Jackson State University (USA). The secondment was conducted within Work Package 4: Development of novel NanoQSAR methodologies.
During my short visit in ICN I was working on the application of 3D QSAR models for nanoparticles. I discussed with researches from ICN involved in the project the efficiency of two the most widely applied QSAR approaches, such as: Hansch analysis and CoMFA/CoMSIA techniques. This activity is related to the TASK 4.3 in the project proposal and Description of Work (Annex I of the Grant Agreement).
Although, the visit was very short, it was very fruitful. I had the opportunity to practise my scientific communication in international research group. I think that this experience is very important in my academic career.
From 01st March to 27th May 2014 I was seconded to National Institute for Environmental Sciences (NIES) in Tsukuba, Japan, within the NanoBRIDGES project. During this three month period I was fulfilling the WP4: Development of novel Nano-QSAR methodologies. I was hosted by fate modeling specialist – Dr. Noriyuki Suzuki and his group.
My main objective to achieve during the secondment was to get familiar with basic techniques of fate modeling. Throughout my stay I was introduced to the main rules of creating environmental models and was taught how to design them properly. Scientists from NIES taught me how to use existing models they created. They taught me the differences between each model, pointed out their main features and explained the mathematical background of mechanisms used in simulations. read more >>
I was working in Laboratory of Environmental Chemometrics (University of Gdańsk) during 4 months (from 04.02.2014 to 31.05.2014). It was second time I have visited University of Gdansk in the framework of NanoBRIGES. Thus, guys from the team of Professor Tomasz Puzyn met me like family.