Karol Kyzioł | Materials Engineering | Best Researcher Award

Published on by Petroleum Engineering

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Karol Kyzioł | Materials Engineering | Best Researcher Award

Head of the Department at AGH University of Krakow | Poland

Assoc. Prof. Karol Kyzioł, D.Sc., Ph.D., Eng., is a distinguished academic at the AGH University of Krakow, where he serves as Head of the Department of Physical Chemistry and Modelling and leads the Laboratory of Vapour Deposited Materials. He earned his Master’s, Ph.D., and Habilitation in Materials Engineering from the same institution, specializing in thin layer technologies and advanced surface modification techniques. His professional career reflects a steady progression from assistant to associate professor, underscoring his commitment to academic excellence and scientific innovation. Assoc. Prof. Karol Kyzioł research focuses on the synthesis and physicochemical characterization of coatings and gradient materials using advanced PVD, CVD, and plasma-assisted methods. His expertise extends to developing surface technologies that enhance mechanical, tribological, and corrosion properties of lightweight alloys and biomaterials. He has led multiple national and European research projects on bioactive coatings and functionalized metallic surfaces and has co-authored over 120 scientific papers, several book chapters, and two patents. He has led multiple national and European research projects on bioactive coatings and functionalized metallic surfaces and has co-authored over 40 scientific documents, which have garnered 525 citations from 412 publications, achieving an h-index of 14. A respected reviewer and member of various scientific and academic committees, he actively collaborates with both academic institutions and industry partners to translate research into technological applications. His numerous awards, including Rector’s distinctions and international invention medals, reflect his significant contributions to materials engineering and surface science. Through his leadership and continued research, Assoc. Prof. Karol Kyzioł advances the field of materials science with a focus on sustainable and functional material design for future engineering applications.

Profiles: Scopus | ORCID

Featured Publications

Kottfer, D., Kyzioł, K., Kaňuchová, M., Kianicová, M., Žitňan, M., Durda, E., Trebuňová, M., Medveď, D., & Kľučiar, P. (2025). The effect of HiPIMS pulse conditions on the microstructural, mechanical, and tribological properties of TiB₂ coatings on steel substrates.

Kyzioł, K., Szymański, W., Kottfer, D., Kyzioł, A., Kaczmarek, Ł., & Kleszcz, K. (2024). Mechanical properties and biocompatibility of multilayer systems based on amorphous SiN:H/SiCN:H layers on Ti6Al7Nb titanium alloy.

Trebuňová, M., Kottfer, D., Kyzioł, K., Kaňuchová, M., Medveď, D., Džunda, R., Kianicová, M., Rusinko, L., Breznická, A., & Csatáryová, M. (2023). The WC and CrC coatings deposited from carbonyls using PE CVD method—Structure and properties.

Kyzioł, K., Kollbek, K., Jabłoński, P., & Mazur, M. (2022). Morphology and topography of co-sputtered Cu, Cr, Ti-based layers.

Januś, M., Kyzioł, K., Kluska, S., Jastrzębski, W., Adamczyk, A., Grzesik, Z., Zimowski, S., Potoczek, M., & Brylewski, T. (2022). Plasmochemical modification of Crofer 22APU for intermediate-temperature solid oxide fuel cell interconnects using RF PA CVD method.

Qi Yang | Sustainable Polymer | Best Academic Researcher Award

Published on by Petroleum Engineering

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Qi Yang | Sustainable Polymer | Best Academic Researcher Award

Teacher at Qingdao University of Science and Technology | China

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Qi Yang is a dedicated researcher and academic in the field of polymer science and engineering, currently serving as an Associate Professor at the School of Polymer Science and Engineering, Qingdao University of Science and Technology. He earned his Bachelor of Engineering in Polymer Materials and Engineering from Qingdao University of Science and Technology in 2014, followed by a Ph.D. in Material Science from the University of Science and Technology of China in 2019, where he conducted advanced research under the guidance of Prof. Xuequan Zhang. Since 2020, he has contributed significantly to teaching and research as a faculty member, while also expanding his international academic exposure through a postdoctoral fellowship at Tampere University from 2023 to 2025. His research interests center on developing eco-friendly synthetic pathways for diene rubbers, exploring novel structures and properties to enhance their industrial applications, and advancing functionalization methods to equip synthetic rubbers with innovative properties tailored for sectors including healthcare and electronics. He is also deeply engaged in creating stimuli-responsive rubber materials that react to light, heat, and magnetism, enabling their integration into soft robotics for intelligent, flexible actuation and adaptive deformation. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Qi Yang scholarly contributions are evidenced by his publications in high-impact journals, covering topics such as selective polymerization of isoprene, novel copolymer designs for high-performance elastomers, light-responsive programmable materials, and sustainable thermoplastic elastomers. His work not only advances the understanding of polymer structures and properties but also bridges fundamental research with practical applications in advanced materials. With a strong foundation in material science and a focus on sustainable and intelligent polymer systems, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Qi Yang continues to make meaningful contributions to the field, aiming to drive innovation in both academic research and industrial applications.

Profile: ORCID

Featured Publications

Liu, X., Yang, Q., Zhang, C., Zhang, X., & Liu, H. (2024). 3,4-Selective polymerization of isoprene by iron-based system: The key role of borate salts for enhancing catalytic activities and broadening 1,10-phenanthroline ligand scope.

Liu, X., Zheng, H., Wang, X., Jiang, Z., Gu, J., Liu, H., Zhang, C., Yang, Q., & Zhang, X. (2023). Novel butadiene/isoprene copolymer with predominant 1,2/3,4-units: A tough thermoplastic elastomer material with superior dynamic mechanical properties.

Yang, Q., Shahsavan, H., Deng, Z., Guo, H., Zhang, H., Liu, H., Zhang, C., Priimagi, A., Zhang, X., & Zeng, H. (2022). Semi‐crystalline rubber as a light‐responsive, programmable, resilient robotic material.

Yang, Q., Zheng, W., Zhao, W., Peng, C., Ren, J., Yu, Q., Hu, Y., & Zhang, X. (2019). One-way and two-way shape memory effects of a high-strain cis-1,4-polybutadiene–polyethylene copolymer based dynamic network via self-complementary quadruple hydrogen bonding.

Yang, Q., Peng, C., Ren, J., Zhao, W., Zheng, W., Zhang, C., Hu, Y., & Zhang, X. (2019). A near-infrared photoactuator based on shape memory semi-crystalline polymers toward light-fueled crane, grasper, and walker.

Yang, Q., Wang, X., Wang, B., Liu, Y., Sun, Y., Na, L., Wang, F., Zhang, C., Liu, H., & Zhang, X. (2021). Toward sustainable and strong ABA-type thermoplastic elastomers with poly(ε-caprolactone-co-4-methyl-ε-caprolactone) soft midblock and polystyrene hard end blocks.