Scientific biography

Dr. Agnieszka Chylewska was born in 1981 in Elbląg, Poland. She commenced her studies in chemistry in 2000 at the University of Gdańsk (UG), Poland, and completed her Master’s degree in 2004. Her MSc thesis was recognized with an award from the Gdańsk Branch of the Polish Chemical Society in 2005. In the same year, she began her PhD studies at the University of Gdańsk under the supervision of Professor Lech Chmurzyński. Her doctoral research focused on the synthesis and structural characterization of d-block trivalent metal ion complexes with bio-ligands, including vitamins, aminosugars, and heterocyclic diamines. She investigated their acid-base properties, kinetic reactions, and potential applications as sensing detectors for carbon dioxide derived from biological materials. Her work led to the development of novel complexes and innovative carbon dioxide detection methods, which were published in scientific journals. In 2008, she earned her PhD degree and subsequently joined the University of Gdańsk as an assistant professor. University grants for young researchers have supported Dr. Chylewska’s research. After maternity leave in 2013, she resumed her laboratory work with renewed dedication. Her current scientific interests are centered on coordination compounds of di- or trivalent metal ions with organic bio-ligands, particularly their interactions with biomolecules and microorganisms, including pathogens. Her contributions to the field have been acknowledged in the Journal of Coordination Chemistry (2016, DOI: 10.1080/00958972.2016.1178465).

Dr. Agnieszka Chylewska is a faculty member at the Department of Bioinorganic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Gdańsk, and has held the title of Doctor habilitatus in chemical sciences since 2019. She serves as the Head of the Laboratory of Intermolecular Interactions, an editor for the Journal of Coordination Chemistry, and a senator of the University of Gdańsk. In addition to her academic and research responsibilities, she actively contributes as an ambassador and mentor in the „Girls into Science!” project initiated by the Perspektywy Educational Foundation. Dr. Chylewska is a member of the Polish Chemical Society and the Polish Society of Calorimetry and Thermal Analysis. She also supervises the Scientific Chemistry Student Association at the University of Gdańsk, which provides her with valuable leadership experience. The diversity of her professional roles makes her scientific career an engaging and dynamic journey.

Me about my scientific work:

I work with the complexes of metal (II/III) ions like Cu, Ni, Fe, Ru, Rh, Os, Ir, which should apply by their antibacterial and antifungal activities. Moreover, I am interested in applying pyrazine derivatives as the second type of ligands (vitamins are the first one) with their original disinfection properties. I would like to develop a new series of coordination compounds based on new structural solutions and introduce/use modern, faster methods to predict the stability and characteristics of complexes. I want to determine the antimicrobial activity and cytotoxicity of new complex compounds in comparison to my results to those known for metallo-pharmaceuticals or antibiotics in use.