Dominik Czernia

Areas of expertise

• Molecular magnetism

• Quantum-mechanical calculations

• Magnetic cooling technology

• Ultra-low temperature measurements

• Coordination chemistry

Education

• Institute of Nuclear Physics PAN, Cracow, PolandPhD in Physics

• AGH University of Science and Technology, Cracow, PolandMaster’s degree in Physics

• AGH University of Science and Technology, Cracow, PolandBachelor’s degree in Physics

Professional background and credentials

Dominik’s fascination with physics began in high school and flourished at AGH University of Science at Technology, one of Poland’s top universities. After earning his Master’s degree, he was awarded a research project on creating new materials with proton and plasma irradiation, and eventually obtained a PhD at the Institute of Nuclear Physics PAN. He has quickly dived into the field of molecular magnets, which are novel materials with unique physical properties promising for developing quantum technologies. His research involves conducting experiments at ultra-low temperatures at high magnetic fields and performing quantum-mechanical calculations of molecular materials. He has conducted numerous experiments with neutrons and X-rays at the ILL/ESRF large-scale facilities in Grenoble, France. Additionally, he has completed internships in Košice, Slovakia, focusing on ab initio calculations of molecular magnetism. Dominik also engages the public with science through events like Researchers’ Nights. His calculators address critical issues such as the danger of leaving children in hot cars and the effectiveness of face masks. Still, he enjoys everyday life topics as well, like optimizing the strategies for finding the perfect “love” or simulating potentialhow humans would fare against vampires.

Achievements

Dominik led several projects: Diamond Grant “Properties of the molecular magnets with defects induced by a low energy ions irradiation” funded by the Polish Ministry of Science and Higher Education, and MINIATURA 7 “Quantum spin liquids in molecular magnet” and SONATINA 8 projects, “Quantum critical refrigeration in molecular materials”, both funded by the Polish National Science Center. He defended his Ph.D. thesis with distinction and presented his studies at over 25 international conferences specializing in magnetism. His work was featured, among others, on the back cover of Dalton Transactions Issue 34, 2022, for the paper “Magnetic cooling: a molecular perspective” and in the Journal of Geek Studies with the “Vampire Apocalypse Calculator”.

Awards

• Scholarship for outstanding achievements for undergraduate and Ph.D. students funded by the Polish Ministry of Science and Higher Education

• First prize in the Best Poster Competition at the Multiscale Phenomena in Condensed Matter Multis 2022 conference for the poster “Effects of plasma irradiation on the three-dimensional cyanide-bridged network based on the Nb(IV) and Mn(II) ions”

Featured in

• From water to vodka: how to chill every drink to the best possible temperature; The Guardian

• Covid vaccinations in Wales and Northern Ireland to begin on Tuesday; The Telegraph

• How to Calculate Gain and Loss on a Stock; Investopedia

• This Calculator Lets You See Exactly How Many Lives You'll Save by Wearing a Mask; Yahoo! Life

• How to Find Area; WikiHow

• This Caffeine Calculator Helps You Plan Your Day; Lifehacker

• Alien life SHOCK: Scientists create CALCULATOR to estimate number of alien civilisations; Express

• "Piekarnik na kółkach". Dziecko w samochodzie w upały to przepis na tragedię; Onet

• Calculate Your Exact Chance of Falling in Love This Valentine's Day; Popular Mechanics

• Avec cet outil, calculez le nombre de civilisations extraterrestres intelligentes dans la galaxie; Futura Sciences

• The Hot Car Calculator Tool Can Help Prevent Heatstroke Illness and Death; Institute for Childhood Preparedness

• PhD students invent ‘coronavirus calculator’ to check effectiveness of face masks; Science in Poland

• This Calculator Gives the Endless Casual Dating Phase an Expiration Date; Vice

• Vampire Apocalypse Calculator; Journal of Geek Studies

• Graduate Student Designs Calculator To See How Humans Fare Against Vampires; Forbes

Publications

• Czernia D, Konieczny P, Juszuńska-Gałązka E, et al. Influence of proton irradiation on the magnetic properties of two-dimensional Ni(II) molecular magnet; Scientific Reports; Aug 2023

• Czernia D, Konieczny P, Perzanowski M, et al. Plasma Treatment as an Unconventional Molecular Magnet Engineering Method; Acta Physica Polonica A; Feb 2024

• Konieczny P, Czernia D, Kajiwara T. Rotating magnetocaloric effect in highly anisotropic Tbᴵᴵᴵ and Dyᴵᴵᴵ single molecular magnets; Scientific Reports; Oct 2022

• Konieczny P, Sas W, Czernia D, et al. Magnetic cooling: a molecular perspective; Dalton Transactions; Jul 2022

• Konieczny P, Pełka R, Czernia D, et al. Rotating Magnetocaloric Effect in an Anisotropic Two-Dimensional Cuᴵᴵ[Wⱽ(CN)₈]³⁻ Molecular Magnet with Topological Phase Transition: Experiment and Theory; Inorganic Chemistry; Sep 2015

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