Urszula Dorosz's implementation doctorate at Grupa Azoty
On Wednesday, 23 March 2022, a doctoral thesis defence took place at the Faculty of Chemistry of the Silesian University of Technology within the first edition of the ministerial programme "Implementation Doctorate". The doctoral degree was awarded to Urszula Dorosz, an employee of Grupa Azoty ZAK, after defending a thesis entitled "Chemoenzymatic methods for obtaining lactic acid esters".
"Implementation PhD" is a programme inaugurated in 2017 by the former Ministry of Science and Higher Education, now operating under the guidance of the Ministry of Education and Science. Under a tripartite agreement between the ministry, the university and the company, the accepted candidate pursues full-time doctoral studies, combining them with professional responsibilities. Each participant in the programme receives a doctoral scholarship.
- The Silesian University of Technology is one of the national leaders regarding the number of implemented doctorates. In the current academic year, we have started eighty of them. Research work resulting from an excellent understanding of the needs and cooperation between the university and industry is one of the main objectives of the development strategy of the Silesian University of Technology. Cooperation with Grupa Azoty ZAK, carried out by the Faculty of Chemistry at our university, is extremely valuable to us. In addition to specialised technological projects, the results of which are implemented in the chemical industry, it is particularly important to us that students from the Silesian University of Technology have the opportunity to study, do any kind of internships at Azoty ZAK Group, said Professor Arkadiusz Mężyk, the Rector of the Silesian University of Technology.
As part of the cooperation, Grupa Azoty ZAK will use the implementation doctorate of Urszula Dorosz, PhD. Her doctoral thesis entitled "Chemoenzymatic methods for obtaining lactic acid esters" was carried out as part of the first edition of the "Implementation doctorate" programme.
- This is one of the first implementation doctoral theses at the Silesian University of Technology. It must be from Grupa Azoty, a large industrial plant with which the university cooperates positively. It is also crucial that this doctorate will be used in production - said the Vice-Rector for Collaboration with Civic and Economic Environment, Professor Janusz Kotowicz.
Most of the employees of Grupa Azoty ZAK who are pursuing implementation doctorates in chemistry are studying at the Silesian University of Technology. It is another element in the long-standing collaboration between the university and Grupa Azoty.
- We see great potential in the implementation doctorate programme, which is why we constantly encourage our employees to apply. Currently, the company is completing 20 doctorates, most of them in the field of chemistry - not a few universities could envy such a large number. Implementation doctorates are a lever for innovation and further development, both for our company and the chemicals sector, said Professor Bolesław Goranczewski, board member of Grupa Azoty ZAK.
One of the conditions for qualifying for the ministerial programme is the implementation and market potential resulting from the doctoral thesis.
- Implementation doctorates give us a chance to transfer our ideas to the industry. The qualified staff of the Silesian University of Technology is ready to solve many problems in companies by providing modern solutions and technologies - emphasised Professor Anna Chrobok from the Department of Chemical Organic Technology and Petrochemistry.
The subject of Urszula Dorosz's doctoral thesis was lactic acid esters.
- My objective was to develop efficient, low-waste and energy-saving methods for obtaining lactic acid esters in the presence of innovative catalysts. The idea for the topic arose from cooperation with the Silesian University of Technology, my interest in biotechnology and my education in this field - said Urszula Dorosz, PhD. - The programme "Implementation doctorate" is intriguing due to the idea of cooperation between research units and entrepreneurs. The main objective is to develop solutions with implementation potential so that these doctorates are not typically scientific ones but ones that can be implemented in the industry - added Dorosz PhD.
Lactic acid esters, which were the subject of Urszula Dorosz's doctoral thesis, are environmentally friendly alternative solvents used in the food, cosmetics and pharmaceutical industries. The research carried out as part of this doctoral thesis fits in well with global development trends, including the sustainable development strategy.
The "Implementation Doctorate" programme was established by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education (now the Ministry of Education and Science) and aims to create conditions for intensifying cooperation between academia and industry. Urszula Dorosz's dissertation was supervised by Danuta Gillner, PhD, Professor of the Silesian University of Technology and Anna Chrobok, PhD, and Grupa Azoty ZAK S.A.'s supervisor was Ewa Pankalla, PhD, Director of the Research and Innovation Department.
