The centrosome presents a material science paradox: how gigapascal-stiffness microtubules might be structurally anchored within a seemingly soft, viscoelastic hydrogel matrix. In the proposed talk, I will describe this organelle as a potential "supramolecular reactor“ and suggest how self-organization can confine reactants to modulate catalytic polymer nucleation. Furthermore, we discuss the hypothetical role of the centriole in guiding the orthogonal geometry and maintaining spindle integrity in cell division.

Presentations by new PhD students and postdocs at the departmental retreat in Liblice Castle (https://www.zamek-liblice.cz/en/).

The fine chemical industry faces increasing pressure to adopt more sustainable, selective, and atom-efficient synthetic routes. Single-atom catalysts (SACs) are a disruptive solution, combining the precision of molecular catalysts with the robustness and reusability of solid materials. Building on this potential, our group is developing SACs that do more than just mimic homogeneous sites: they adapt, switch reactivity modes, and enable new transformations that were previously challenging or inaccessible in heterogeneous systems. This lecture outlines our journey through the design, application, and understanding of SACs in the context of scalable, sustainable fine chemical manufacturing. The lecture will begin by elucidating the local coordination of isolated metal atoms (Zn, Cu, Ni, Ag, Pd, Ir) through XAS, FTIR, aberration-corrected STEM, and DFT, revealing well-defined and often unexpected geometries where support composition and texture dictate both dispersion and electronic properties. This precise understanding of structure enables the rational deployment of SACs across a broad range of reactions, including CO2-assisted cycloaddition, light-driven pollutant degradation, C–O/C–C coupling, click chemistry, and C–S coupling, outperforming conventional catalysts by enabling isolated, selective, and tunable reactivity under mild conditions. Key to their function are confinement effects, charge-transfer interactions, and coordination anisotropy. These insights culminate in adaptive systems like Pd SACs with switchable reactivity and a multifunctional Ir SAC that achieves selective reductive couplings, showcasing the unique capacity of SACs to deliver efficient and sustainable catalysis guided by atomic-scale design.

Wood is a natural and renewable resource whose use has recently increased in fields such as civil construction, fiber production, and biopolymer development. Thanks to its hierarchical structure at different levels, wood can be utilized in new applications with the assistance of Polymer Science. At the macroscale, the use of adhesives, primers, and special physicochemical treatments for durability improves the quality of engineered wood products; at the microscale, thanks to its anisotropic and porous structure, filters, insulators, sensors, and actuators are produced for water purification, thermal insulation, and smart materials; and at the nanoscale, new biopolymers and nanoparticles are synthesized for the development of adhesives, fibers, films, foams, and composites. This makes Wood Materials Science a field where physicists, chemists, and engineers combine their knowledge to achieve more sustainable products and innovative applications.

Raman microscopy is a microscopic imaging method combining the molecular specificity of vibrational spectroscopy with the spatial resolution of confocal optical microscopy. Here, it will be presented as an exceptionally useful method for identifying the chemical nature of intracellular organelles and intracellular inclusions, and for chemical mapping of microorganisms. Recent methodological progress we have contributed to will be illustrated by selected examples of identifying the chemical composition of crystalline inclusions in photosynthetic microalgae. The advantages, perspectives, opportunities, and challenges of wider use of Raman microscopy in biological applications will also be highlighted, along with the limitations and pitfalls of this method.

Photoacoustic (PA) imaging detects an acoustic signal induced by light. This unique method provides simultaneously ultrasound anatomical information with high resolution along with a functional photoacoustic  signal, which is created by transformation of a laser pulse to mechanical wave by some light absorbing chromophore. PA imaging shows great potential for various clinical procedures from diagnosis to therapy guidance, which arises from its ability to gather functional and molecular information in real-time regime with a high spatial resolution at clinically relevant depths together with the absence of ionizing beaming.

To maximize the contrast effect of the exogenous contrast agents (CA) in the living organism, the optical absorption of the CA should be optimally in the near-infrared (NIR) regions ~700 - 1100 nm and 1200 - 2000. We developed new heterogenous syntheses of polypyrrole (PPY) particles with PA contrast properties in NIR, which allow good control of size (10 nm step within the range 80-300 nm). Besides widely used linear water-soluble polymer stabilizers of the dispersion polymerizations, classical emulsifiers were also successfully employed in their synthesis, what broadens possibilities to employ less hydrophilic comonomers in the aqueous polymerization. Particles as CA for the PA were tested in vitro and in vivo.

Zeolites and metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are two important areas of modern porous material research, connecting the fields of catalysis, medicine, and functional design. Their distinctive structures, which range from strong, crystalline networks to the  complex, modular structures of MOFs, allow for selective reactivity, molecular sieving, and new bio-interactions. For a long time, zeolites have been the best way to process hydrocarbons, cut down on emissions, and drive acid site-driven transformations in catalysis. MOFs, on the other hand, have customisable pore environments and metal-node functions that expand the substrate scope and catalytic possibilities. New uses for these materials in medicine include targeted drug delivery, imaging, and therapy platforms that take use of their adjustable porosity and biocompatibility. This talk will cover interdisciplinary roles of zeolites and MOFs on the examples of the work done by Zeolite Chemistry Group in Kraków.

This seminar explores the concept of resilience as a crucial skill for success and well-being during postgraduate studies. Master’s and PhD programs often present unique challenges -- academic, emotional, and personal --- that test students’ perseverance and adaptability. Through a combination of research insights, practical strategies, and real-life experiences, this session aims to help participants understand the psychological and social factors that foster resilience in demanding academic environments. Attendees will gain information about tools for managing stress, maintaining motivation, balancing competing responsibilities, and developing a sustainable mindset for long-term scholarly and professional growth.