Wizytówka pracownika Politechniki Rzeszowskiej

Personal information

Izabela Zaborniak, DSc, PhD, Eng., Associate Prof.

Curriculum vitae

Education and key qualifications

21/05/2025      Habilitation in Chemical Engineering discipline, Rzeszow University of Technology, Poland

24/02/2021      PhD in discipline of Chemical Engineering, Rzeszow University of Technology, Poland

03/2016 – 06/2017  Master Degree in Biotechnology (Specialization – Purification and analysis of biotechnological products), Faculty of Chemistry, Rzeszow University of Technology, Poland

10/2012 - 02/2016       Bachelor of Engineering Degree in Biotechnology (Specialization – Purification and analysis of biotechnological products), Faculty of Chemistry, Rzeszow University of Technology, Poland

 

Position

06/2025 - present        Associate professor in the group of research and teaching staff, Department of Physical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, PRZ, Poland

04/2021-05/2025         Assistant professor in the group of research and teaching staff, Department of Physical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, PRZ, Poland

 

Internships

2025 Department of Chemical, Pharmaceutical and Agricultural Sciences, University of Ferrara, Italy

2025    School of Pharmacy, Drug Delivery Division, University of Camerino, Italy

2023    Department of Chemical and Geological Sciences, University of Cagliari, Italy

2022    Department of Chemistry and Industrial Chemistry, University of Genoa, Italy

2022    Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Padova, Italy

2022    Department of Biological, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Palermo, Italy

2019    Department of Chemistry, Carnegie Mellon University, USA

2019    Department of Engineering, Aarhus University, Denmark

2018    Department of Chemistry, University of Milano, Italy

2018    Department of Chemistry, University of Konstanz, Germany

2018    Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Padova, Italy

 

Conferences

as a presenting author

  1. 18-20.06.2025: 9th Milan Polymer Days International Congress - MIPOL2025 (Milan, Italy). Invited lecture: Izabela Zaborniak, Paweł Chmielarz: “Designing drug delivery systems by atom transfer radical polymerization”, date of presentation: 19.06.2025 r.
  2. 01-04.07.2024: IUPAC MACRO 2024, THE 50TH WORLD POLYMER CONGRESS (Coventry, Wielka Brytania). Lecture: Izabela Zaborniak, Paweł Chmielarz: “Synthesis of multifunctional wood-polymer materials through surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization”, date of presentation: 02.07.2024 r.
  3. 07-09.06.2023: Milan Polymer Days – MIPOL2023 (Milan, Italy). Invited lecture: Izabela Zaborniak, Paweł Chmielarz: „Development of radical polymerization toward more economical and environmentally-friendly concepts: From low ppm to metal-free ATRP”, date of presentation: 07.06.2023 r.
  4. 24-26.05.2023 : Polymer Materials Pomerania-Plast 2023 (Międzyzdroje, Poland). Lecture: Izabela Zaborniak, Paweł Chmielarz: „Koncepcje otrzymywania nowych materiałów polimerowych z zastosowaniem substratów pochodzących ze źródeł odnawialnych”, date of presentation: 24.05.2023 r.
  5. 11-12.05.2023: Trends In Chemistry 2023 Cagliari State University Workshop (Cagliari, Italy). Invited lecture: Izabela Zaborniak, Paweł Chmielarz: „ Synthesis of troxerutin-inspired brush-shaped polymers through ATRP methods with diminished catalyst concentration”, date of presentation: 11.05.2023 r.
  6. 19-21.06.2022: Milan Polymer Days – MIPOL2022 (Milan, Italy). Lecture: Izabela Zaborniak, Paweł Chmielarz: „Naturally-derived compounds: How nature can improve ATRP techniques?”, date of presentation: 20.06.2022 r.
  7. 15-17.07.2020 : Virtual Milan Polymer Days – Virtual MIPOL2020 (online). Lecture: Izabela Zaborniak, Paweł Chmielarz, „Ultrasonication‐mediated atom transfer radical polymerization in miniemulsion for the preparation of precisely-defined complex polymer architectures”, date of presentation: 15.07.2020 r.
  8. 04-08.06.2019: 50th ACS Central Regional Meeting 2019 (Midland, USA). Lecture: Izabela Zaborniak, Paweł Chmielarz, „Synthesis of bioinspired star-like nanomaterials through low ppm ATRP technique”, date of presentation: 05.06.2019 r.
  9. 11-15.03.2019: 6th International Conference on Multifunctional, Hybrid and Nanomaterials (Sitges, Spain). Poster: Izabela Zaborniak, Paweł Chmielarz, „Synthesis of natural origin star-like bio-nanocontainers through low ppm ATRP method”, date of presentation: 14.03.2019 r.
  10. 11-13.03.2019: 3rd Milan Polymer Days Congress-MIPOL2019 (Milan, Italy). Poster: Izabela Zaborniak, Paweł Chmielarz, Karol Wolski, Abdirisak Ahmed Isse, Armando Gennaro, Szczepan Zapotoczny, „A new approach for the electrochemical and structural characterization of newly received tea stains-inspired macromolecules via temporally-controlled seATRP”, date of presentation: 12.03.2019 r.
  11. 17-21.09.2018 : 61. Polish Chemical Society Scientific Congress (Kraków, Poland). Lecture: Izabela Zaborniak, Paweł Chmielarz, „ Synthesis of naturally-derived polymers via reversible deactivation radical polymerization methods”,  date of presentation: 20.09.2018 r.
  12. 03-07.09.2018: IX Chemical Technology Congress, (Gdańsk, Poland). Lecture: Izabela Zaborniak, Paweł Chmielarz, „Synthesis of naturally-derived polymers via atom transfer radical polymerization method”,  date of presentation: 20.09.2018 r.
  13. 15-18.07.2018: 4th International Conference on Biomedical Polymers & Polymeric Biomaterials (Kraków). Lecture: Izabela Zaborniak, Paweł Chmielarz, „Synthesis of naturally-derived star-shaped polymers through ATRP methods with diminished catalyst concentration”, date of presentation: 17.07.2018 r.

 

as co-author

  1. 24-26.09.2025: 5th International Workshop on Functional Nanostructured Materials (FuNaM-5, Kraków, Poland). Poster: Katarzyna Kisiel*, Izabela Zaborniak, Agnieszka Sysło, Joanna Ortyl, Paweł Chmielarz: “Non-toxic nanomaterials as catalysts in metal-free ATRP for the synthesis of advanced polymers”, date of presentation: 24.09.2025 r.
  2. 07.2025: III Ogólnopolski Kongres Nauk Ścisłych i Przyrodniczych (online). Lecture: Weronika Zuba*, Katarzyna Kisiel, Izabela Zaborniak, Paweł Chmielarz: "Kropki kwantowe w polimeryzacji rodnikowej z odwracalną dezaktywacją", date of presentation:19.07.2025 r.
  3. 22-27.06.2025: EPF European Polymer Congress (Groningen, Netherlands). Lecture: Janna Jeschke*, Agata Hochół, Izabela Zaborniak, Paweł Chmielarz, Hatice Mutlu: "Polybutadiene Upcycling via Electrophilic Multicomponent Reactions Enabling Metal-Free ATRP for Advanced Polymer Architectures", date of presentation: 25.06.2025 r.
  4. 18-20.06.2025: 9th Milan Polymer Days International Congress - MIPOL2025 (Milan, Italy). Lecture: Małgorzata Klamut*, Izabela Zaborniak, Weronika Zuba, Magdalena Jankowska, Joanna Ortyl, Paweł Chmielarz: "Shedding new light on novel photocatalytic systems for photo-mediated atom transfer radical polymerization", date of presentation: 19.06.2025
  5. 05.2025: Silesian Meetings on Polymer Materials POLYMAT2025 (Zabrze, Poland). Poster: Michał Sroka*, Izabela Zaborniak, Paweł Chmielarz: „Smart surface engineering for medicine and biotechnology: Glass functionalization through ATRP”, date of presentation: 29.05.2025 r.
  6. 05.2025: Silesian Meetings on Polymer Materials POLYMAT2025 (Zabrze, Poland). Poster: Weronika Zuba*, Izabela Zaborniak, Malgorzata Klamut, Kamil Wilk, Paweł Chmielarz: „Light-driven, metal-free ATRP: Unlocking the potential of riboflavin”, date of presentation: 29.05.2025 r.
  7. 04-08.05.2025: 15th Advanced Polymers via Macromolecular Engineering Conference (Catania, Italy). Poster: Nicola Porcelli*, Fabrizio Roncaglia, Francesca Parenti, Izabela Zaborniak, Pawel Chmielarz” "ATRP of 4-vinyl guaiacol acetate: Renewable monomer synthesis and its polymerization".
  8. 04-08.05.2025: 15th Advanced Polymers via Macromolecular Engineering Conference (Catania, Italy). Poster: Justyna Bała*, Izabela Zaborniak, Szczepan Zapotoczny, Paweł Chmielarz, Karol Wolski "Biocompatible riboflavin as a photocatalyst for polymer brush synthesis”.
  9. 04-05.03.2025: Royal Society of Chemistry’s 2025 #RSCPoster Conference (LinkedIn). Poster: Michał Sroka*, Izabela Zaborniak, Kamil Wilk, Anna Cieślik, Joanna Raczkowska, Kaja Spilarewicz, Natalia Janiszewska, Kamil Awsiuk, Magdalena Bednarenko, Krzysztof Matyjaszewski, Paweł Chmielarz „Cotton functionalized with thermoresponsive polymers as a promising material in the development of smart dressings”, date of presentation: 04.03.2025 r.
  10. 04-05.03.2025: Royal Society of Chemistry’s 2025 #RSCPoster Conference (LinkedIn). Poster: Weronika Zuba*, Izabela Zaborniak, Małgorzata Klamut, Paweł Chemialarz: "Photoinduced ATRP towards green chemistry aspects", date of presentation: 04.03.2025 r.
  11. 11.2024: National Scientific Conference „e-Factory of Science” – XII edition (online). Lecture: Weronika Zuba*, Izabela Zaborniak, Paweł Chmielarz: „Fotoindukowana polimeryzacja rodnikowa z przeniesieniem atomu - metal-free ATRP”, date of presentation: 23.11.2024 r.
  12. 04-06.09.2024 : 6th EPNOE Junior Scientist Meeting (Wiedeń, Austria). Poster: Giacomo Damonte*, Izabela Zaborniak, Małgorzata Klamut, Donatella Di Lisa, Laura Pastorino, Paweł Chmielarz, Orietta Monticelli “Chitozan functionalized poly(lactide) films as neuronal cell growth scaffolds”, date of presentation: 06.09.2024.
  13. 12-14.06.2024: VI Interdyscyplinarna Konferencja Nano(&)BioMateriały – od teorii do aplikacji. Lecture: Michał Sroka*, Izabela Zaborniak, Kamil Wilk, Anna Cieślik, Joanna Raczkowska, Kamil Awsiuk, Paweł Chmielarz: „Funkcjonalizacja bawełny termoczułymi szczotkami polimerowymi o kontrolowanej strukturze do zastosowań jako inteligentne opatrunki”, date of presentation: 14.06.2024 r.
  14. 12-14.06.2024: Nordic Polymer Days (Helsinki, Finland). Poster: Justyna Bała,* Karol Wolski, Izabela Zaborniak, Paweł Chmielarz, Szczepan Zapotoczny: "Synthesis of polymer nanobrushes via organocatalyzed ATRP with biocompatible photosensitizer – riboflavin", date of presentation: 12.06.2024
  15. 05-07.06.2024: Milan Polymer Days (Milan, Italy). Lecture: Giacomo Damonte*, Izabela Zaborniak, Małgorzata Klamut, Donatella Di Lisa, Laura Pastorino, Paweł Chmielarz, Orietta Monticelli “ATRP biofunctionalized poly(lactide) films as neuronal cell growth scaffolds”, date of presentation: 06.06.2024.
  16. 24-26.04.2024 : Infrared Nanoscopy Workshop on Biological and Polymer Nanomaterials (Kraków, Poland). Poster: Michał Sroka*, Izabela Zaborniak, Kamil Wilk, Anna Cieślik, Joanna Raczkowska, Kamil Awsiuk, Paweł Chmielarz: „Thermoresponsive polymer brushes grafted from cotton surface – SI-SARA ATRP as a versatile tool for preparing smart biomaterials”, date of presentation: 24.04.2024 r.
  17. 24-26.04.2024: International Conference for Young Scientists on Biorefinery Technologies and Products BTechPro2024 (Riga, Latvia). Lecture: Katarzyna Kisiel*, Izabela Zaborniak, Małgorzata Klamut, Cicely M. Warne, Alessandro Pellis, Krzysztof Matyjaszewski, Paweł Chmielarz: "Bio-based substitutes of polar aprotic solvents as a green sustainable reaction environment for polymerization of (meth)acrylates", date of presentation: 25.04.2024 r.
  18. 15-17.04.2024: 12th edition of the European Young Engineers Conference (EYEC) (Warszawa, Poland). Lecture: Katarzyna Kisiel*, Izabela Zaborniak, Arkadiusz Zych, Paweł Chmielarz: "(Meth)acrylate-based copolymers for potential use as hydrophobic and self-healable coatings", date of presentation: 15.04.2024 r.
  19. 15-17.04.2024: 12th edition of the European Young Engineers Conference (EYEC) (Warszawa, Poland). Poster: Katarzyna Kisiel*, Izabela Zaborniak, Małgorzata Sroka, Cicely M. Warne, Alessandro Pellis, Krzysztof Matyjaszewski, Paweł Chmielarz: "Bio-based substitutes of polar aprotic solvents as reaction environment for ATRP", date of presentation: 16.04.2024 r.
  20. 04.2024: National Scientific Conference „e-Factory of Science” – XI edition (online). Lecture: Katarzyna Kisiel*, Izabela Zaborniak, Paweł Chmielarz: "Innovative approaches for modification of natural fibers through ATRP methods", date of presentation: 06.04.2024 r.
  21. 03.2024: RSC Poster: A global online poster conference 2024 (online). Poster: Katarzyna Kisiel*, Izabela Zaborniak, Arkadiusz Zych, Paweł Chmielarz: „Synthesis of polymers cross-linked by boronic esters for application as vitrimers”, date of presentation: 05.03.2023r.
  22. 08-01.09.2023: 36th European Conference on Surface Science (Łódź, Poland). Lecture: Małgorzata Sroka*, Izabela Zaborniak, Paweł Chmielarz: „Grafting of multifunctional polymer brushes from a glass surface via surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization", date of presentation: 30.08.2023 r.
  23. 06-09.06.2023: Redox Biology Congress (Vienna, Austria). Poster: Natalia Pieńkowska, Margaret Fahnestock, Crystal Mahadeo, Izabela Zaborniak, Paweł Chmielarz, Grzegorz Bartosz, Izabela Sadowska-Bartosz*: „Overexpression of tau protein induces oxidative stress in SH-SY5Y cells, which is mitigated by redox-active nanoparticles”, date of presentation: 06.06.2023 r.
  24. 05-02.06.2023: II Konferencja Kół Naukowych działających w ramach Politechnicznej Sieci VIA CARPATIA im. Prezydenta RP Lecha Kaczyńskiego (Rzeszów, Poland). Lecture: Monika Flejszar*, Małgorzata Sroka*, Michał Sroka*, Izabela Zaborniak, Paweł Chmielarz: „Innowacyjne koncepcje syntezy polimerów technikami polimeryzacji rodnikowej z przeniesieniem atomu (ATRP)”, date of presentation: 01.06.2023 r.
  25. 17-19.05.2023: Modern Polymeric Materials for Environmental Applications (Kraków, Poland). Poster: Katarzyna Kisiel*, Izabela Zaborniak, Paweł Chmielarz: „Synthesis of (meth)acrylate based copolymers for potential use as precursors of vitrimers by SARA ATRP”, date of presentation: 18.05.2023 r.

Chapter in a monograph: Modern polymeric materials for environmental applications. Vol. 8, 8th International Seminar including Special Session 'Polyhydroxyalkanoates: synthesis, modification and applications', Kraków, 17-19 May 2023. Iss. 1, Redaktor: Redaktor: Krzysztof Pielichowski, Wydawca: Politechnika Krakowska im. Tadeusza Kościuszki, Kraków 2023, ISBN: 978-83-966714-0-0, strona 201-207.

  1. 17-19.05.2023: Modern Polymeric Materials for Environmental Applications (Kraków). Poster: Zuzanna Michno*, Izabela Zaborniak, Paweł Chmielarz: „Synthesis of hydrophilic polymers in an aqueous environment by atom transfer radical polymerization”, date of presentation: 18.05.2023 r.

Chapter in a monograph: Modern polymeric materials for environmental applications. Vol. 8, 8th International Seminar including Special Session 'Polyhydroxyalkanoates: synthesis, modification and applications', Kraków, 17-19 May 2023. Iss. 1, Redaktor: Redaktor: Krzysztof Pielichowski, Wydawca: Politechnika Krakowska im. Tadeusza Kościuszki, Kraków 2023, ISBN: 978-83-966714-0-0, strona 11-18.

  1. 17-19.05.2023: Modern Polymeric Materials for Environmental Applications (Kraków). Poster: Martyna Korbecka*, Izabela Zaborniak, Paweł Chmielarz: „Thermosensitive polymers for potential application in the controlled release of active substances”, date of presentation: 18.05.2023 r.

Chapter in a monograph: Modern polymeric materials for environmental applications. Vol. 8, 8th International Seminar including Special Session 'Polyhydroxyalkanoates: synthesis, modification and applications', Kraków, 17-19 May 2023. Iss. 1, Redaktor: Redaktor: Krzysztof Pielichowski, Wydawca: Politechnika Krakowska im. Tadeusza Kościuszki, Kraków 2023, ISBN: 978-83-966714-0-0, strona 219-227.

  1. 06.2022: National Scientific Conference „Science and Young Researchers” – 6th edition (online). Lecture: Martyna Korbecka*, Izabela Zaborniak, Paweł Chmielarz: „Modification of pharmacologically active substances through ATRP techniques”, date of presentation: 04.06.2022 r.
  2. 06.2022: XIII International Conference "Horizons of Science (online). Lecture: Katarzyna Kisiel*, Angelika Macior, Izabela Zaborniak, Paweł Chmielarz: „Esterification of hydroxyl and phenolic groups as a way of introducing ATRP initiator functionality to the wood structure”, date of presentation: 04.06.2022 r.
  3. 11-14.05.2022: 10th Congress of Chemical Technology (Wrocław, Poland). Lecture: Angelika Macior*, Izabela Zaborniak, Paweł Chmielarz, Joanna Smenda, Karol Wolski, Ewa Ciszkowicz, Katarzyna Lecka-Szlachta: „Szczepienie hydrofobowych i antybakteryjnych szczotek polimerowych z powierzchni drewna jesionowego”, date of presentation: 12.05.2022 r.
  4. 11-14.05.2022: 10th Congress of Chemical Technology (Wrocław, Poland). Poster: Małgorzata Sroka*, Izabela Zaborniak, Paweł Chmielarz: „Ekstrakt z cytryny w roli środowiska reakcyjnego do polimeryzacji metakrylanu 2-(dimetyloamino) etylu”, date of presentation: 12.05.2022 r.
  5. 11-14.05.2022: 10th Congress of Chemical Technology (Wrocław, Poland). Poster: Joanna Bałbustyn*, Izabela Zaborniak, Paweł Chmielarz: „Polimery gwiaździste o rdzeniu β-cyklodekstryny jako inteligentne systemy uwalniania leków wrażliwe na zmiany temperatury”, date of presentation: 12.05.2022 r.
  6. 03.2022: THE SILESIAN MEETINGS ON POLYMER MATERIALS POLYMAT 2022 in memory of Prof. Andrzej Dworak (Zabrze, Poland). Poster: Małgorzata Sroka*, Izabela Zaborniak, Paweł Chmielarz, „Lemonade as a rich source of antioxidants: Polymerization of 2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate (DMAEMA) in lemon extract”, date of presentation: 17.03.2022 r.
  7. 03.2022: THE SILESIAN MEETINGS ON POLYMER MATERIALS POLYMAT 2022 in memory of Prof. Andrzej Dworak (Zabrze, Poland). Poster: Paweł Błoniarz*, Izabela Zaborniak, Paweł Chmielarz, „ Synthesis and characterization of DDMATas chain transfer agent for eRAFT polymerization”, date of presentation: 17.03.2022 r.
  8. 15-17.07.2020 : Virtual Milan Polymer Days – Virtual MIPOL2020 (online). Poster: Angelika Macior*, Izabela Zaborniak, Paweł Chmielarz, „ Wood-polymer composites with hydrophobic properties”, date of presentation: 15.07.2020 r.
  9. 11-15.03.2019: 6th International Conference on Multifunctional, Hybrid and Nanomaterials (Sitges, Spain). Poster: Paweł Chmielarz*, Izabela Zaborniak, "Synthesis of biomimetic nanocontainers with an antifouling polymer brush system via new microwave-accelerated simplified electrochemically mediated ATRP", date of presentation: 14.03.2019 r.
  10. 11-13.03.2019: 3rd Milan Polymer Days Congress-MIPOL2019 (Milan, Italy). Lecture: Paweł Chmielarz*, Izabela Zaborniak, „ Electrochemically mediated atom transfer radical polymerization (eATRP)”, date of presentation: 12.03.2019 r.

*presenting author

 

Awards

06/2024-07/2025         START 2024 fellowship (Foundation for Polish Science)

09/2021-08/2024         Minister of Science and Higher Education scholarship for outstanding young scientists

2022-2025       Rector of Rzeszow University of Technology Award – award for publications from group A (MEiN)

10/2020-09/2021         Scholarship for the best doctoral students from the pro-quality grant

10/2019-09/2020         Scholarship for the best doctoral students from the pro-quality grant

10/2019-09/2020         Rector of Rzeszow University of Technology Award for PhD students, scholarship

10/2018-06/2019         Rector of Rzeszow University of Technology Award for PhD students, scholarship

 

Research Interests

 – Synthesis of Polymers and Biopolymers

 – Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization (ATRP)

  

Memberships in Organizations and Associations

 – Student and Doctoral  Scientific Association of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Engineering "IPSUM" (Deputy Scientific Supervisor)

 – American Chemical Society

 – European Chemical Society

 – Polish Chemical Society

 

ORCID ID: 0000-0001-7533-3668

Scopus ID: 57197857085

Researcher ID:  GPS-4807-2022

 

Bio