Dr. Agnieszka Małgorzata Lipke is a doctor of chemistry and researcher currently completing a postdoctoral internship at the Faculty of Chemistry and Geosciences at Vilnius University. She came to Vilnius from Maria Curie-Skłodowska University (UMCS) in Lublin (Poland), where she gained a strong academic and scientific foundation in the field of advanced inorganic materials research. In this interview, Dr. Lipke talks about the topic of her postdoctoral fellowship, her research, and her experiences at Vilnius University.
Could you tell us about your research areas and projects?
My research to date has focused on porphyrins – their photophysical properties and applications in functional materials. I am primarily involved in the immobilisation of porphyrins in silica matrices obtained by the sol-gel method and the analysis of their photocatalytic activity. I am interested in how the matrix environment affects the behaviour of porphyrin molecules and their ability to generate reactive oxygen species. In addition, I conduct research on the sorption of heavy metal ions, including uranyl ions, from aqueous solutions – both from the point of view of the mechanism and the practical application of hybrid materials in water purification.
What prompted you to choose Vilnius University and, specifically, the Faculty of Chemistry and Geosciences for your postdoctoral fellowship?
The idea of undertaking a postdoctoral internship at Vilnius University appeared after a conversation with the Dean of the Faculty of Chemistry and Geosciences, Professor Aivaras Kareiva, during his stay in Poland at the Faculty of Chemistry of Maria Curie-Skłodowska University in Lublin. During the meeting, we had the opportunity to discuss the scope of research conducted by my research group and by Professor Kareiva's team. It turned out that our common interests oscillate in the area of materials chemistry and processes related to environmental protection. As a result of this conversation, the concept of scientific cooperation appeared, followed by the idea of applying for a postdoctoral internship at this centre. An additional, very important factor in choosing Vilnius University was its high scientific level, excellent reputation and modern research infrastructure. Equally important to me was the fact that it represents an open approach to international cooperation, which creates real opportunities for scientific development.
What specific research techniques or methodologies are you most eager to learn or significantly improve upon during your time at the Faculty of Chemistry and Geosciences?
During my internship at the Faculty of Chemistry and Geosciences, I would especially like to learn the technique of obtaining layered double hydroxides and study its various practical aspects, from synthesis to structural modification. I am particularly interested in the possibility of immobilisation of macromolecules, such as porphyrin compounds, in LDH structures, which will open up the opportunities for obtaining new materials with photocatalytic properties. This is directly related to my previous research. In addition, I would like to acquire practical skills in structural analysis using X-ray diffraction (XRD) – both in the preparation and measurement of samples and in the interpretation of the obtained data. I would also like to learn more about the FTIR method in ATR mode, which is very useful in the study of hybrid materials.
How do you anticipate this postdoctoral experience will contribute to your personal and professional growth as a scientist?
With no doubt, this postdoctoral internship will have a significant impact on both my personal and professional development as a researcher. From a personal point of view, the highly international character of Vilnius University has a great importance for me. Being in an environment of scientists from different countries and with diverse research interests will allow me to broaden my intellectual horizons and look at the discussed issues from new perspectives. Another important aspect will be the opportunity to improve my skills in English language, both in terms of specialist chemical vocabulary and everyday communication. On the professional side, the internship will allow me to develop my knowledge of the synthesis and characteristics of new materials based on layered double hydroxides, which has not been done in my research group until now. Combining this topic with my previous research on porphyrins will enable me to prepare new hybrid materials and use them in sorption processes. I believe that the gained experience will significantly broaden my research competences and allow me to develop new directions in my scientific work in the future.
Looking ahead, what do you hope will be the single most valuable takeaway from your upcoming research at the Faculty of Chemistry?
Looking ahead, I believe that the most valuable conclusion from my research will be the development of new hybrid functional materials that combine the photocatalytic activity of porphyrins with the sorption capabilities of layered double hydroxides. These results can be used both for the development of environmentally useful materials (the ability to remove chromate and arsenate ions from aqueous solutions) and for further research in the field of materials chemistry and photochemistry.