Gains Research Experience at FunGlass

We were pleased to welcome Zofia Grudzień-Murawska, an Erasmus+ trainee from Gdańsk University of Technology, Poland, who joined FunGlass for a two-month research stay from 27 July to 26 September 2026.

Zofia is a Bachelor of Engineering student in Nanotechnology at the Faculty of Applied Physics and Mathematics at Gdańsk University of Technology. Her bachelor’s thesis focuses on the luminescent properties of silica–lead glass doped with rare-earth ions. She is expected to defend her thesis in January and plans to continue her studies at the master’s level in Kraków.

During her stay at FunGlass, Zofia worked in the Glass Analytics Department under the supervision of Aleksandra Nowicka, Katarina Faturíková and Dagmar Galusková . Her research focused on the preparation, characterization, and bioactivity evaluation of zirconia ceramics with mesoporous bioactive glass (MBG) layers for potential applications in dental implantology.

As part of the project, Zofia investigated different surface treatments of zirconia ceramics aimed at improving the adhesion of mesoporous bioactive glass coatings. The main goal was to optimize the coating process and evaluate the resulting surface properties. The obtained results will contribute to further research into MBG coatings for dental implants and their potential influence on osseointegration.

Her Erasmus+ stay also gave her the opportunity to gain hands-on experience with advanced research and analytical techniques that she had previously encountered mainly in her studies. Reflecting on her experience at FunGlass, Zofia said:

“Compared to my university, here I can see and work with research equipment that I had previously only learned about, so I am gaining a lot of practical experience and expanding my knowledge. After three weeks, I have already learned a lot of new things about laboratory work, research methodology, and analytical methods such as XRD, XRF, FTIR, laser ablation, and more.”

We are happy to have supported Zofia in expanding her practical research skills and scientific knowledge and hope that her experience at FunGlass will be valuable for her future academic and research career.