Thesis topics in Chemistry (for February 2022)

  1. Design, synthesis and biological evaluations of new radiopharmaceuticals
    • Supervisor: Prof. Dr hab. Aleksander Bilewicz
    • Auxiliary Supervisor: Dr Agnieszka Majkowska
    • Description: The Radiopharmaceutical Chemistry Laboratory in the Department of Radiochemistry nad Nuclear Chemistry is seeking candidates for a PhD student  position in design, synthesis and biological evaluations of new radiopharmaceuticals.  Our research group develops and evaluates new radiobioconjugates labeled with alpha and Auger emitters.  Preclinical research in actinium-225-labeled peptides conducted by our group has been translated to the clinic and is presently being evaluated in multiple human studies. The aim of the proposed project is to obtain a new bisphosphonate radiopharmaceutical based on an 103Pd/103mRh in-vivo generator for the Auger electron treatment of bone metastases. The project includes:
      • Synthesis of radioactive bisphosphonates-diamine complexes of 103Pd,
      • Chemical evaluation of the complexes,
      • Studies on the recoil of 103mRh from 103Pd bisphosphonate-diamine complexes in water solutions.
      • Biological studies such as binding affinity, internalization, cytotoxicity on cell cuture and spheroids.
    • Funding: IChTJ Fellowship
  2. Radiation induced paramagnetic centres in polymer-ceramic composites
    • Supervisor: Dr hab. Hanna Lewandowska
    • Auxiliary Supervisor: Dr inż. Jarosław Sadło
    • Description: The study will cover polymer-ceramic biomaterials for tissue culture. These materials can potentially change their properties when exposed to radiation. The use of electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy will make it possible to track radical reactions occurring as a result of radiolysis, and then link them to changes in the macroscopic properties of the material.
    • Funding: IChTJ Fellowship
  3. Determination of selected radionuclides – important for nuclear safety- by ICP-MS, LSC and gamma-ray spectrometry
    • Supervisor: Prof. Dr hab. Marek Trojanowicz
    • Auxiliary Supervisor: Dr inż. Ewelina Chajduk
    • Description: In relation to the plans of building the first Polish Nuclear Power Plant, INCT wants to develop analytical methods that can be useful in ensuring nuclear safety. We are twe are interested in the determination of radionuclides in environmental samples: water, soil, food, etc. We also want to develop methods that can be used in emergency situations, when time is very important. INCT has the experience and appropriate equipment to perform this type of task.
    • Funding: IChTJ Fellowship
  4. Characteristics of chiral molecules using chiroptical methods supported by computational chemistry
    • Supervisor: Dr hab. Joanna E. Rode
    • Auxiliary Supervisor: Dr Krzysztof Łyczko
    • Description: The main interest of our Laboratory for Spectroscopy, Molecular Modeling and Structure Determination is characterizing chiral molecules using molecular spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction and computational methods. Chirality brings molecules a new dimension. For example, enantiomers can differ in bioactivity, chiroptical spectra, interactions with other chiral molecules, organoleptic properties. New chiral materials can find use in asymmetric synthesis and catalysis, as well as in chiral separation, chiral optoelectronics, chiral sensing, etc. Recently, we have synthesized chiral naphthalenediimides based on which we have constructed an enantioselective sensor for teratogenic (S)- and terpeutic (R)-Thalidomide in blood plasma. Also, we studied new chiroptic ECD-Raman spectra using some atropisomeric naphthalenediimides. The PhD thesis can be devoted to some of the following topics:
      – synthesis,
      – experimental chiroptical spectroscopy,
      – computational chiroptical spectroscopy,
      – crystal structure determination of a series of chiral substances such as chiral organic semiconductor molecules or chiral lanthanide coordination complexes, etc.
    • Funding: IChTJ Fellowship