Szymon Zubek

Address

Department of Plant Ecology
Institute of Botany, Jagiellonian University
Gronostajowa 3, 30-387 Kraków, Poland
e-mail: szymon.zubek@uj.edu.pl
phone: (00 48) 12 664-69-26
ORCiD https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1338-9572
Scopus https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=24485694800
Research Gate https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Szymon_Zubek

Scientific education

  • 2020: Professor of exact and natural sciences
  • 2013: Habilitation in biological sciences (mycology), Faculty of Biology and Earth Sciences, Jagiellonian University
  • 2007: Ph.D. in biological sciences (mycology), FBES, JU
  • 2002-2006: Ph.D. studies in biological sciences, FBES, JU
  • 2002: M.Sc. in biological sciences (mycology), FBES, JU
  • 1997-2002: M.Sc. studies in biological sciences, FBES, JU

Professional positions

  • 09.2020-present: Director of the Institute of Botany, Faculty of Biology, Jagiellonian University
  • 09.2020-present: Professor, Institute of Botany, Faculty of Biology, Jagiellonian University
  • 10.2017-09.2020: Head of the Department of Plant Ecology, Institute of Botany, Faculty of Biology and Earth Sciences, Jagiellonian University
  • 11.2016-08.2020: Director for scientific affairs of the Institute of Botany, Faculty of Biology and Earth Sciences, Jagiellonian University
  • 10.2016-09.2017: Head of the Department of Taxonomy, Phytogeography and Palaeobotany, Institute of Botany, Faculty of Biology and Earth Sciences, Jagiellonian University
  • 10.2013–09.2020: Associate professor, Institute of Botany, Faculty of Biology and Earth Sciences, Jagiellonian University
  • 10.2009–09.2013: Assistant professor, Institute of Botany, Faculty of Biology and Earth Sciences, Jagiellonian University
  • 10.2007-09.2009: Assistant professor, Department of Pharmaceutical Botany, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jagiellonian University Collegium Medicum
  • 11.2006-09.2007: Research assistant, Department of Pharmaceutical Botany, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jagiellonian University Collegium Medicum

Research interests

  • Ecology of mycorrhizal fungi
  • Soil microbiology
  • Impact of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on the production of secondary metabolites in plants
  • Interactions of invasive plants with soil microorganisms
  • Arbuscular mycorrhiza, soil microbiological and physicochemical properties in temperate forests
  • The use of soil microorganisms in the active protection of endangered plants

Research grants and scientific programmes

International:

  • EU COST Action FP1305 BioLink "Linking soil biodiversity and ecosystem function in European forests", participant (2015-2018)
  • Polish-South African Research Programme, cooperation between Jagiellonian University and Materials Research Group of iThemba Labs, researcher (2001-2003)
  • EU COST Action 8.38 "Managing arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi for improving soil quality and plant health in agriculture", participant (2000-2006)
  • EU COST Action 631 "Understanding and modelling plant-soil interactions in the rhizosphere environment", participant (2000-2006)
  • EU Project MYCOREM "The use of mycorrhizal fungi in phytoremediation projects". Fifth Framework Programme, Life Sciences, QLR3-1999-00097, researcher (2000-2002)

National:

  • "A comprehensive analysis of interactions between herbaceous plants and soil microbiological and physicochemical properties in temperate deciduous forests as the basis for effective biodiversity protection of these ecosystems ". National Science Centre, project leader, project no. 2017/27/B/NZ9/01297 (2018-2021)
  • "Comparison of the impact of fourteen tree species on herbaceous layer development, soil physicochemical properties and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi abundance, species richness and composition in the experimental forest". National Science Centre, supervisor of Ph.D. project, project no. 2017/27/N/NZ8/00999 (2018-2021)
  • "Ecosystem changes driven by Reynoutria japonica invasion: linking quantity and chemical quality of plant biomass to soil properties". National Science Centre, project no. UMO-2016/23/B/NZ8/00564, researcher (2017-2020)
  • "The true diversity of central European grasslands – lessons from exploration of underground plant parts with metabarcoding approach". National Science Centre, project no. 2017/25/B/NZ8/00572, researcher (2017-2020)
  • "Interactions of invasive plants with soil microorganisms". National Science Centre, project no. 2011/03/B/NZ8/00008, project leader (2012-2016)
  • "Morphological and molecular diversity of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) of the Słowiński National Park and other localities, and AMF succession in the deflation field of the park". National Science Centre, project no. 2012/05/B/NZ8/00498, researcher (2013-2016)
  • "Impact of of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on biomass, vitality and secondary metabolite production of selected medicinal plants". Ministry of Science and Higher Education, project no. N N304 381939, project leader (2010-2013)
  • "Arbuscular mycorrhiza of rare and endangered plants of the Tatra Mts". Ministry of Science and Higher Education,  project no. 2 P04G 00628, researcher (2005-2006)

Scientific stays and expeditions

  • Department of Biology and Ecology, University of Ostrava, Czech Republic (2018)
  • Department of Agriculture, Food and  Environment, University of Pisa, Italy – ERASMUS+ programme “Staff mobility for teaching” and laboratory stay (2018)
  • Centre for Organismal Studies, University of Heidelberg, Germany – laboratory stay (2017)
  • Georgia – scientific expedition (2015)
  • Institute of Dendrology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Kórnik, Poland – laboratory stay (2012)
  • Institute of Natural Fibres and Medicinal Plants, Poznań, Poland – laboratory stay (2012)
  • Materials Research Group, iThemba Labs, Somerset West, South Africa – laboratory stay (2001)

Co-organization of international conferences

  • The meeting of EU COST Action FP1305 BioLink: Linking soil biodiversity and ecosystem function in European forests, 17-19 March 2015, Kraków, Poland
  • 7th International Symbiosis Society Congress "The earth's vast symbiosphere", 22-28 July 2012, Kraków, Poland
  • Plant-Microbial Interactions, 2-6 July 2008, Kraków, Poland

Reviews, evaluations

Journal reviews

  • Acta Biologica Cracoviensia Series Botanica
  • Acta Physiologiae Plantarum
  • American Fern Journal
  • Applied Soil Ecology
  • Aquatic Botany
  • Archives of Agronomy and Soil Science
  • Biological Invasions
  • FEMS Microbiology Letters
  • Frontiers in Plant Science
  • Fuctional Ecology
  • Fungal Ecology
  • Industrial Crops and Products
  • Journal of Ecology
  • Journal of Plant Interactions
  • Journal of Plant Research
  • Journal of Soils and Sediments
  • Land Degradation and Development
  • Microbial Ecology
  • Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions
  • Mycorrhiza
  • Oikos
  • Pedosphere
  • Plant Biosystems
  • Plant Species Biology
  • Plant and Soil
  • PlosONE
  • Restoration Ecology
  • Revista de Biologia Tropical - International Journal of Tropical Biology and Conservation
  • Science of the Total Environment
  • Scientia Horticulturae
  • Soil Biology & Biochemistry
  • Symbiosis

Project reviews

  • Czech Science Foundation (Czech Republic)
  • “Diamond Grant" programme, Ministry of Science and Higher Education (Poland)
  • “Iuventus Plus" programme, Ministry of Science and Higher Education (Poland)

Awards and scholarships

  • 2017, 2018, 2020: Award of Rector of the Jagiellonian University for scientific achievements
  • 2016: Award of Rector of the Jagiellonian University for scientific achievements
  • 2013-2016: Scholarship of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education for outstanding young researcher
  • 2015: Distinction by Rector of the Jagiellonian University for teaching activities
  • 2011: Award of Rector of the Jagiellonian University for scientific achievements
  • 2007: Distinction by Rector of the Jagiellonian University for doctoral dissertation

Academic teaching activity

Selected courses:

  • Methods in environmental sciences and nature conservation (2018-present)
  • Fungal biology (2016-present)
  • Diversity and evolution of plants, algae and fungi (2016-present)
  • Diversity and evolution of plants (2015-present)
  • Botanical workshop (2015-present)
  • Progress in botany (2014-present)
  • Fungi in biotechnology and medicine (2010-present)
  • Fungi and lichens (2010-present)
  • Mycology with elements of microbiology (2011-2014)
  • Systematic mycology (2009-2016)
  • Systematic botany (2002-2006, 2010)
  • Pharmaceutical botany (2007-2009)
  • Fungal ecology (2002-2006)
  • Mycorrhizal ecology (2002-2006)

Supervision:

  • Bachelor students – 10
  • Master students – 10
  • Doctoral students – 2
  • Scientific stays – 4

Selected publications

Participation in conferences

  • 62nd Annual Symposium "Vegetation Science and Biodiversity Research" IAVS -Bremen, Germany – 2019
  • 58 Zjazd Polskiego Towarzystwa Botanicznego, Kraków – 2019
  • 9th International Conference on Mycorrhiza (ICOM9), Prague, Czech Republic – 2017
  • Belowground biodiversity and global change. The meeting of COST Action FP1305 BioLink: Linking soil biodiversity and ecosystem function in European forests, Průhonice, Czech Republic – 2016
  • 57 Zjazd Polskiego Towarzystwa Botanicznego, Lublin, Poland – 2016
  • 8th Congress of International Symbiosis Society, Lisbon, Portugal – 2015
  • Belowground biodiversity in changing environment. The meeting of COST Action FP1305 BioLink: Linking soil biodiversity and ecosystem function in European forests, Kraków, Poland – 2015
  • Warsztaty Polskiego Towarzystwa Mykologicznego. Grzyby – organizmy kluczowe dla życia na Ziemi, Łódź-Spała, Poland – 2014
  • The First Interdisciplinary Symposium. Biogeography of the Carpathians: Evolution of Biodiversity in a Spatiotemporal Context, Kraków, Poland – 2013
  • 7th International Symbiosis Society Congress, Kraków, Poland – 2012
  • International Biological Conference on the Middle and Central Asia Biodiversity and its Conservation, Ostrava, Czech Republic – 2012
  • XXXVIII Zjazd Polskich Ogrodów Botanicznych pod patronatem Rady Ogrodów Botanicznych w Polsce połączony z konferencją pt. Gromadzenie i wykorzystanie kolekcji roślin użytkowych w kraju, Poznań, Poland – 2009
  • 6th International Symposium on Chromatography of Natural Products, Lublin, Poland – 2008
  • International Conference on Plant-Microbial Interactions, Kraków, Poland – 2008
  • Eurobiotech – Central European Congress of Life Sciences, Kraków, Poland – 2008
  • VIII Ogólnopolska Konferencja - Kultury in vitro w fizjologii roślin, Kraków, Poland – 2008
  • Eurobiotech – Biotechnology in Agriculture, Kraków, Poland – 2007
  • 54 Zjazd Polskiego Towarzystwa Botanicznego, Szczecin, Poland – 2007
  • International Congress of Symbiosis Society, Viena, Austria – 2006
  • Understanding and modelling plant-soil interactions in the rhizosphere environment, COST Action 6.31 Final Meeting, Prague, Czech Republic – 2006
  • XVII Botanical Congress, Vienna, Austria – 2005
  • Understanding and modelling plant-soil interactions in the rhizosphere environment, COST Action 6.31, Kraków-Tomaszowice, Poland – 2005
  • Managing Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi for Improving Soil Quality and Plant Health in Agriculture, COST Action 8.38, Granada, Spain – 2004
  • 53 Zjazd Polskiego Towarzystwa Botanicznego, Toruń/Bydgoszcz, Poland – 2004
  • 4th International Conference on Mycorrhizas, Montreal, Canada – 2003
  • 52 Zjazd Polskiego Towarzystwa Botanicznego, Poznań, Poland – 2001
  • 15th International Symposium on Environmental Biogeochemistry – Biogeochemical Process and Cycling of Elements in the Environment, Wrocław, Poland – 2001