Faculty of Chemistry, Gdańsk University of Technology

Faculty of Chemistry

Wydział Chemiczny
Type	Public
Established	1904/1945
Dean	Prof. dr hab. inż. Sławomir Milewski
Administrative staff	246
Students	ca. 2800[1]
Location	Gdańsk, Poland
Website	http://chem.pg.edu.pl/general-information

Coordinates: 54°22′16″N 18°37′15″E / 54.37111°N 18.62083°E / 54.37111; 18.62083

Student laboratory, 1904

Two-dimensional chromatograph, 2016

Faculty of Chemistry - is one of nine faculties of Gdańsk University of Technology, educating in the field of technical and natural sciences. There are the following types of studies: full‐time studies at the BEng level (3.5 years), full‐time studies at the MEng level for graduates holding a BEng degree (1.5 years), postgraduate studies leading to a PhD degree (4 years), non‐residential postgraduate studies, supplementary courses at different levels, studies and courses for foreign students (in English).^[2][3]

History

Faculty of Chemistry was one of the four original faculties of 'Royal Technical College in Gdańsk', operating continuously in the pre-war German technical university since its establishment. The Institute of Chemistry (Chemisches Institut) building was one of the first built specially for Gdańsk University of Technology in 1900-1904.^[4]

Famous for his discovery of sex hormons Adolf Butenandt was professor at the Technical University of Danzig 1933-1936. Here at Chemisches Institut he was continuing his works over hormons extracting from several thousand liters of urine progesterone in 1934 and testosterone a year later. Subsequently Butenandt had synthesized estrogen and testosterone. Adolf Butenandt also had characterized the first pheromone, bombykol, a chemically well-characterized sexual hormone released by the female silkworm to attract mates.^[5] While working in Gdańsk Butenandt has obtained a substantial part of research results awarded later by Nobel Committee in 1939.^[6]

Faculty of Chemistry is one of five faculties, which started operations research and teaching in 1945, as a result of the decree of the Polish government transforming technical university acting in Gdańsk since 1904 into Polish Gdańsk University of Technology. To this day, it works in rooms designed specifically for training chemists, since 1904 operate here labs, preserved historic auditorium, which original equipment is unique in the world.^[7]

In the period of 1945-2005 from the Faculty of Chemistry graduated more than 7.000 people, including 4877 masters of engineering and 1967 engineers. PhD degree was given 565, and 97 DSc degrees (habilitations). A total of 43 professors have held posts at GUT during this time. The Chemical Faculty has worldwide research ties and ranks consistently among the top 10 Polish public colleges and universities in funded research.^[8]

Scientific activity

At the faculty there are realized projects financed by the Komitet Badań Naukowych (Science Research Council) and European Commission. Faculty research teams collaborate with foreign centers from several countries. At the faculty operates the Centre of Excellence in Environmental Analysis and Monitoring.^[9] The Chemical Faculty's scientific activity is performed within the framework of domestic and international research programmes.^[10][11][12] There are around 70 ongoing projects with financial support from the Polish State Committee for Scientific Research as well as 200 projects financed by Statutory research programmes. There are also research programmes financed by the European Commission within the framework of EU programmes V and VI.^[13]

International conferences

Chemical Faculty of GUT is organizer of international scientific conferences, e.g.:

• 35th International Symposium on Environmental Analytical Chemistry – ISEAC 2008^[14]
• 15th International Conference on Heavy Metals in the Environment – ICHMET 2010^[15]
• 15th Workshop on Progress in Trace Metal Speciation for Environmental Analytical Chemistry – TRACESPEC 2016^[16]

Studies

Metalwork in the staircase at the Faculty of Chemistry. Alembic heated by burner, 1904

Electronic nose prototype

• Biotechnology
  • Technology, biotechnology and food analysis
  • Molecular Biotechnology
  • Biotechnology of drugs
• Chemistry
• Construction chemicals
• Material Engineering
  • Corrosion Engineering
  • Engineering polymeric materials
• Environmental Protection and Management (in English)^[17]
• Chemical Technology
  • Technology of anticorrosion protection
  • Organic Technology
  • Technical and industrial analysis
• Environmental protection technology
  • Monitoring and analytics of environmental pollutants
  • Systems environment

– Source: ^[18]

BEng studies

Engineer full-time programs are 3.5 years in duration. Study programs at all faculties are based on core courses embracing general subjects. Graduates are awarded the title "Engineer" ("inżynier" in Polish - equivalent to BEng). Studies are also conducted in English.^[19][20]

MEng studies

1.5 years, full‐time studies at the MEng level for graduates holding a BEng degree. Master programs build upon Engineer programs, and are composed of core and specialized courses. Studies lead to the "master of engineering" degree ("magister inżynier" in Polish, equivalent to MEng). After completion of their second cycle studies, all students receive the European Union's Diploma Supplement automatically and free of charge.

PhD and postdoc students

Postgraduate doctoral studies leading to a PhD degree typically last four years beyond master studies and include Chemistry, Chemistry and Chemical Technologies and Chemistry and the Technology of Materials.

PhD students on Spitsbergen

– Source: ^[21]

Other studies

• Non‐residential postgraduate studies
• Supplementary courses at different levels

Studies and courses for foreign students (in English)

Since 2004 the faculty became involved in Socrates programme, allowing working on MSc and BSc thesis on the base of English study courses.^[22]

EMQAL - Erasmus Mundus Master in Quality Assurance for Analytical Laboratories - MSc level studies taught in English.^[23]

Academic qualifications

The Chemical Faculty is authorised to confer the following academic qualifications:

• DSc degrees in the

‐chemical sciences – chemistry ‐technical sciences – chemical technology

• PhD degrees in the

‐chemical sciences – biotechnology

– Source: ^[24]

Scientific infrastructure

The Faculty's scientific infrastructure includes:

• An NMR laboratory equipped with 500 MHz and 200 MHz spectrometers, X‐ray spectrometer and electronic microscope;
• A biotechnological laboratory with a Braun C biofermentor, state‐of‐the‐art spectrophotometers and spectrofluorometers;
• An environmental analysis laboratory equipped with a wide range of control/measurement devices (CE, GC, LC, GC GC‐MS MS, LC LC‐MS MS, LC LC‐MS MS/MS) and apparatus for sample preparation
• A rheological laboratory
• A modern technology hall

– Source: ^[25]

Admission

Gdańsk University of Technology admits international students to its bachelor's degree programs in Polish or English provided that applicants have completed secondary education at a level equivalent to Polish secondary education and possess the required qualifications. Applicants are asked to provide transcripts from their secondary studies along with their application form (chemistry and mathematics are essential). An admission examination may be required, especially in chemistry and mathematics.

Departments

The faculty consists of 14 departments:^[26]

• Department of Inorganic Chemistry
• Department of Organic Chemistry
• Department of Physical Chemistry
• Department of Analytical Chemistry
• Department of Chemical Technology
• Department of Pharmaceutical Technology and Biochemistry
• Department of Technology of Colloids and Lipids
• Department of Electrochemistry, Corrosion and Materials Engineering
• Department of Chemistry, Food Technology and Biotechnology
• Department of Microbiology
• Department of Polymer Technology
• Department of Chemical and Process Engineering
• Department of Chemical Equipment and Machines
• Department of Chemistry and Technology of Functional Materials

References

External links

• Official website of the faculty
• Official website of the university