Marcin Stepien, a chemist from the University of Wroclaw, winner of the Foundation for Polish Science 2023 Award

The 46-year-old Prof. Stepien was awarded for designing and obtaining new aromatic compounds with unique structures and properties.

Prof. Marcin Stepien is an internationally recognized authority, shaping the field of research on aromatic compounds. The fruit of his work, conducted at the intersection of organic synthesis, physical organic chemistry and theoretical chemistry, was the design and subsequent synthesis of new aromatic and anti-aromatic molecules with unique structures and unusual, often three-dimensional shapes.

Foundation for Polish Science, announcement

The achievements of the Wroclaw-based scientist also open up new possibilities for applications of these compounds as functional organic materials. Among the aromatic compounds synthesized by Prof. Marcin Stepien are those that mimic graphene fragments in their structure and which, due to the presence of unusual rings and atoms other than carbon, show unique optical and electron properties.

Prof. Stepien's molecules may provide inspiration in the search for new organic materials, particularly functional dyes. They may find applications, including in LED devices and photovoltaics, as well as in medical diagnostics and phototherapy.

Wroclawian with achievements

Marcin Stepien is a graduate of the university's chemistry department, received his PhD and habilitation thesis at the Faculty of Chemistry, and was awarded the title of professor in 2017. He collaborates with researchers from Spain, France, Germany, Korea, China, India and the USA, which has resulted in the publication of more than 30 joint international scientific articles. He has authored or co-authored more than 90 publications and is the recipient of many prestigious scientific awards and fellowships.

He is head of the Department of Organic Chemistry and chairman of the Discipline Council at the Department of Chemistry, University of Wroclaw. He also heads the Organic Synthesis Group (Stepien Lab), whose research work focuses on functional aromatic compounds.

Polish Nobel Prize for outstanding scientists

The Prize of the Foundation for Polish Science is awarded for outstanding scientific achievements and discoveries that push the boundaries of cognition and open new cognitive perspectives, make an outstanding contribution to the civilizational and cultural progress of our country and ensure Poland's prominent place in tackling the most ambitious challenges of the modern world. The amount of the award is 200 thousand zlotys.

In addition to the Wroclawian, this year's winners are:

• Krzysztof Liberek from the Inter-University Faculty of Biotechnology at the University of Gdansk and the Medical University of Gdansk;
• Rafal Latala from the Faculty of Mathematics, Informatics and Mechanics at Warsaw University;
• Maria Lewicka from the Faculty of Philosophy and Social Sciences at Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun.