Rafał Konefał
About Me
I am a physical chemist specializing in NMR spectroscopy, stimuli-responsive polymers, and nanomaterials.
My research focuses on understanding molecular interactions, dynamics, and structure–property relationships in advanced polymer systems for biomedical and energy-related applications.
I completed my M.Sc. (“Reactivity of Amino Groups of PAMAM Dendrimers”) in Chemical and Bioprocess Engineering at Rzeszów University of Technology (2011) and obtained my Ph.D. in Physical Chemistry from Charles University in Prague (2018), in collaboration with the Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry, Czech Academy of Sciences (IMC CAS).
My doctoral thesis, “Interactions in Solutions and Gels of Stimuli-Responsive Polymers Studied by NMR Spectroscopy,” investigated molecular mechanisms in responsive polymer systems using advanced NMR techniques.
Professional Experience
2024 – present Assistant Professor, NanoBioMedical Centre (NBMC), Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznań, Poland
2018 – 2024 Research Fellow, Department of Structural Analysis, Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry (IMC), Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
2019 – 2020 Postdoctoral Fellow, NanoBioMedical Centre (NBMC), Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznań, Poland
2012 – 2018 Ph.D. Student, Department of Structural Analysis, Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry (IMC), Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
Research Interests
* High-resolution NMR spectroscopy of polymers and nanomaterials
* Stimuli-responsive polymer systems for drug delivery and biomedical imaging
* Nanomaterials for energy storage and polymer battery applications
* Structure–property relationships in soft matter and hydrogels
Selected Achievements
* Otto Wichterle Award (2021) – granted by the Czech Academy of Sciences for outstanding scientific achievements
* Guest Editor, Polymers (Special Issue: “Drug Delivery Systems Based on Smart Polymers,” 2020–2021)
Publications
View full list on Scopus:
👉 Scopus Author Profile
Research Projects
* Principal Investigator – NMR Spectroscopy of Dendritic Materials for Polymer Batteries (MSM200501902)
* Participant in six Czech Science Foundation projects on thermoresponsive hydrogels, polymer electrolytes, and self-assembling nanostructures:
– 13-23392S: Design and Characterization of Novel Thermosensitive Polymer Hydrogels (2013–2016)
– 15-13853S: Structures and Interactions in Aqueous Solutions of a New Type of Thermosensitive Polymers (2015–2017)
– 17-08084S: Polymer Prodrugs Acting as Endogenous Vaccines for Synergistic Cancer Therapy Using Immunomodulation and Checkpoint Blockade (2017–2021)
– 21-07004K: Itaconic Acid-Based Polyelectrolytes Derived from Biomass for the Synthesis of Self-Assembled Nanocomposite Hydrogels (2021–2023)
– 18-12925S: Advanced Environmentally Friendly Poly(2-oxazoline)-Based Polyelectrolytes for Lithium-Ion Polymer Batteries (2018–2022)
– 19-01602S: Self-Assembling Structures of Amphiphilic Gradient Copolymers for Novel Applications (2019–2021)