Academic stuff
At the moment I study Biotechnology at the International Faculty of Engineering of Technical University of Lodz.
As many people keep asking me what my subject really is, let me give some explanation. According to United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity, biotechnology is "any technological application that uses biological systems, living organisms, or derivatives thereof, to make or modify products or processes for specific use". This means it is a science that incorporates some branches of biology (mainly microbiology and genetics), chemistry and even physics and mathematics. While a bit hard at times, I do hope these studies will enable me to be a creative researcher.
As I study at a technical university, a lot of emphasis is put on general scientific knowledge and engineering skills, like technical drawing. Courses like Management and Communication skills are also considered important; the aim is to prepare future engineers for founding their own businesses.
My faculty is the only one in Polish technical universities where all subjects are taught in English, which makes its easier to continue our studies in foreign universities. One semester abroad is compulsory; due to a high number of bilateral agreements between IFE and other universities, we have a lot of options to choose from. My little dream to spend these five months in Scandinavia or in the United Kingdom, but nothing is settled yet.
My timetables
3rd semester (autumn/winter 2009)
NB: The timetable does not include tutoring; hopefully it will be added on Monday.
| Time | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Saturday | Sunday |
| 8:15-9:00 | Organic chemistry II (Laboratory, prof. M. Kamińska) |
French language (Tutorials, mgr M. Walenda) |
8:30 - 11:30 : English - Pre-CPE | ||||
| 9:15-10:00 | Physical chemistry (Lecture & tutorials, dr A. Sobiecka) |
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| 10:15-11:00 | Sport (Aerobics, mgr M. Boruch) |
Biotechnological equipment Biochemical engineering (Laboratory, dr T. Olejnik & prof. S. Ledakowicz) |
Business English for engineers (Laboratory, mgr H. Krzyżanowska) |
10:00 : Aerobics
- TBC (Asia S.) |
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| 11:15-12:00 | |||||||
| 12:15-13:00 | Physical chemistry (Laboratory, dr A. Stobiecka) |
Environmental protection (Lecture, prof. K. Cedzyńska) |
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| 13:15-14:00 | Analytical chemistry (Laboratory, dr. E. Łodyga-Chruścińska) |
Biochemical engineering (Tutorials, prof. S. Ledakowicz) |
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| 14:15-15:00 | Biochemical engineering (Lecture, prof. S. Ledakowicz) |
Organic chemistry II (Lecture, prof. M. Kamińska) |
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| 15:15-16:00 | |||||||
| 16:15-17:00 | French language (Tutorials, mgr M. Walenda) |
Biotechnological equipment (Lecture, dr T. Olejnik) |
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| 17:15-18:00 |
2nd semester (spring/summer 2009)
| Time | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday |
| 8:15-9:00 | Mathematics II (Lecture, dr inż. A. Olek) |
French language (Tutorials, mgr M. Walenda) |
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| 9:15-10:00 | Organic chemistry I (Tutorials, prof. dr hab. inż. J. Kamińska) |
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| 10:15-11:00 | Engineering drawing (Lecture, dr inż. T. Saryusz-Wolski) |
Modern physics (Lecture, prof. dr hab. inż. W. Nakwaski) |
General and inorganic chemistry II (Tutorials, dr inż. W. Sroczyński) |
Management (Lecture, dr inż. M. Miller) |
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| 11:15-12:00 | Cell biology (Lecture, dr inż. A. Kunicka) |
Mathematics II (Tutorials, dr inż. A. Olek) |
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| 12:15-13:00 | General and inorganic chemistry II (Laboratory, dr inż. B. Smolińska) |
Management (Tutorials, dr inż. M. Miller) |
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| 13:15-14:00 | General and inorganic chemistry II (Lecture, prof. dr hab. inż. K. Cedzyńska) |
Organic chemistry I (Lecture, prof. dr hab. inż. J. Kamińska) |
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| 14:15-15:00 | Engineering drawing (Tutorials, dr inż. T. Saryusz-Wolski) |
Cell biology (Laboratory, dr inż. A. Kunicka) |
Modern physics (Laboratory, dr inż. K. Krasińska) |
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| 15:15-16:00 | Callanetics | ||||
| 16:15-17:00 | Tutoring (Maths with Sylwia) | Tutoring (Maths with Sylwia) |
1st semester (autumn/winter 2008)
| Time | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday |
| 8:15-9:00 | Physics (Lecture & tutorials, dr inż. J. Zaraś & dr inż. B. Żółtowski) |
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| 9:15-10:00 | Physics (Laboratory, dr inż. M. Krasiński) |
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| 10:15-11:00 | Mathematics I (Lecture, dr inż. A. Olek) |
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| 11:15-12:00 | General and inorganic chemistry I (Tutorials, dr inż. M. Bryszewska & dr inż. B. Smolińska) |
Mathematics I (Tutorials, dr inż. A. Kondratiuk) |
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| 12:15-13:00 | Information technology (Laboratory, mgr inż. M. Bujacz) |
General and inorganic chemistry I (Tutorials, dr inż. M. Bryszewska & dr inż. B. Smolińska) |
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| 13:15-14:00 | General and inorganic chemistry I (Lecture, prof. dr hab. inż. K. Cedzyńska) |
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| 14:15-15:00 | |||||
| 15:15-16:00 | Information technology (Lecture, dr inż. J. Grudziecki) |
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| 16:15-17:00 | Tutoring (Maths with Sylwia) |
Economics (Lecture & tutorials, dr S. Bakalarczyk) |
Tutoring (Maths with Sylwia) |
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| 17:15-18:00 | |||||
| 18:15-19:00 | |||||
| 19:15-20:00 |
My results
NB: Polish marking scale is 2(lowest, failing) - 5(highest).
1st semester
| Subject | ECTS points | Grade |
| Advanced English | 3 | 5 |
| Economics | 3 | 5 |
| General and inorganic chemistry I | 6 | 5 |
| Information technology | 3 | 5 |
| Mathematics I | 6 | 4.5 |
| Physics | 5 | 4.5 |
| 27 | Average: 4.79 |
2nd semester
| Subject | ECTS points | Grade |
| Cell biology | 3 | 5 |
| French language | 1 | 5 |
| General and inorganic chemistry II | 6 | 4.5 |
| Management | 3 | 5 |
| Mathematics II | 6 | 5 |
| Modern physics | 3 | 4.5 |
| Organic chemistry I | 5 | 4 |
| Engineering drawing | 3 | 5 |
| Sport | 0 | |
| 30 | Average: 4.68 |