PAN Olsztyn

As a PhD student from the Faculty of Biosystems Engineering, University College Dublin, it is my great honour to have been invited to a short-term secondment in the Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research of the Polish Academy of Sciences, that took place from November 17th to December 16th 2011. The main purpose of my PhD studies is to use the ultrasound and high pressure to accelerate the wine ageing process.

During the visit in Olsztyn, my scientific work, conducted under the supervision of Professor Józef Fornal, was focused on the influence of both the ultrasound and high pressure on the sensorial properties and phenolic composition of a young red wine. The research staff of Professor Fornal has a significant experience in the study of bioactive compounds including the phenolic compounds and has already made a number of excellent achievements. I fell very lucky to have had the opportunity to work with such distinguished scientists, since they gave me a lot of salient suggestions, which made my research considerably easier. What is more, all the people working in the Institute appeared to be very friendly and helpful, which positively affected our cooperation to a great extent. One could have had an impression that Professor Fornal’s group was like a warm family, that I had the honour to be a member of, during my entire stay at the Institute.

What is more, the PhD students in this scientific unit became my friends soon after my arrival. Thanks to them, the time I spent in Olsztyn was really wonderful. I had a chance to get familiarized with Polish culture, tradition and customs. All in all, my visit in Olsztyn was a very beneficial and memorable experience, that will definitely contribute to the development of my scientific career in the future.