Department of Environmental Microbiology and Biotechnology

Department of Environmental Microbiology and Biotechnology was established in 1987 as an initiative of Professor Wojciech Donderski. Initially, it functioned as the Laboratory of Water and Wastewater Biotechnology, which in 1989 was transformed into the Department of Water Microbiology and Biotechnology. In 2003, due to the considerable expansion of the research area, the Department changed its name and now operates as  Department of Environmental Microbiology and Biotechnology. Since 2022 the head of the Department is Maria Swiontek Brzezinska, NCU professor.

The research topics of the Department of Environmental Microbiology and Biotechnology include microbiological analysis of air, soil, water, sewage, and also extreme environments. The aim of our research is to study biodiversity and function of microorganisms in a variety of natural and anthropogenic environments, and to obtain and find practical applications for enzymes and products of microbes? metabolism in various fields of industry, medicine, and environmental protection. In our area of interest there are also natural and synthetic biocidal substances.

The Department of Environmental Microbiology and Biotechnology cooperates with international and local scientific institutes, as well as with small business, where specific scientific knowledge helps to develop the innovativeness and competitiveness.