University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn - Poland
AUTHOR PROFILE
SCOPUS
ORCID
GOOGLE SCHOLAR
SUMMARY
Professor Katarzyna Glińska-Lewczuk is a distinguished environmental scientist specializing in hydrology, hydrochemistry, and ecohydrology. With over three decades of experience, she has contributed significantly to freshwater ecosystem research, focusing on biogeochemical processes, hydrological connectivity, and climate change impacts. Her interdisciplinary expertise integrates scientific research, project leadership, academic teaching, and policy advising. She has authored or co-authored over 300 publications, developed patented methods, and supervised numerous PhD students. As an expert evaluator and advisor in EU and national projects, she continues to shape the direction of sustainable water management and wetland restoration in Poland and across Europe.
EDUCATION
Katarzyna Glińska-Lewczuk holds a Master’s degree in Geography from the University of Gdańsk (1993), further specialized in water management at Wageningen University in the Netherlands. She earned her PhD in Environmental Protection and Management in 2001 and was awarded the title of Professor of Agricultural Sciences in 2018. Her academic trajectory is defined by a consistent dedication to freshwater research, particularly in lowland and postglacial regions, and her continuous pursuit of innovative, ecohydrological solutions for environmental challenges posed by climate change and human activities.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Throughout her career, Professor Glińska-Lewczuk has led multiple national and EU-funded research projects focused on the protection, functioning, and restoration of oxbow lakes and wetland systems. She has served as principal investigator in grants from the Polish Ministry of Science and Higher Education and contributed as work package leader in EU initiatives such as OPTIFERT and BIOPROS. Her practical and scientific knowledge has supported the development of integrated water management strategies and conservation plans, with notable engagement in hydromorphological assessments using advanced geospatial tools like GIS and remote sensing.
RESEARCH INTEREST
Her core research interests lie in understanding the hydrological and biochemical dynamics of river-lake systems, particularly under the influence of climate change. She has contributed pioneering work on hydrological connectivity, nutrient cycling, and ecosystem services in floodplain and oxbow lakes. Her research explores how agricultural runoff, groundwater depletion, and land use impact aquatic ecosystems. Additionally, she is involved in the development of ecological models using modern statistical methods to aid in environmental decision-making and landscape-scale water ecosystem management.
AWARD AND HONOR
Professor Glińska-Lewczuk has received wide recognition for her contributions to environmental science and water management. She has been appointed an Independent Expert Evaluator for EU frameworks including Horizon 2020, Water4All, and ERA-NET Water JPI. Her participation on expert advisory boards for Natura 2000 planning highlights her authority in policy-relevant science. As a respected reviewer for leading journals and active member of prestigious scientific societies, she maintains a prominent position in both national and international environmental research communities.
RESEARCH SKILL
She possesses advanced research skills in hydrological modeling, hydrochemical analysis, GIS, GPS, and remote sensing applications for aquatic ecosystem monitoring. Her methodological strength includes using multidimensional statistical tools to interpret complex ecological data. She is adept at applying scientific insight to real-world conservation, translating findings into actionable management plans for floodplains, wetlands, and rivers. Her experience spans from designing long-term watershed monitoring programs to evaluating the impacts of restoration efforts and guiding the implementation of ecohydrological practices.
PUBLICATIONS
Title: Mortality among the homeless: causes and meteorological relationships
Authors: J. Romaszko, I. Cymes, E. Dragańska, R. Kuchta, K. Glińska-Lewczuk
Journal: PLOS ONE
Title: The impact of urban areas on the water quality gradient along a lowland river
Authors: K. Glińska-Lewczuk, I. Gołaś, J. Koc, A. Gotkowska-Płachta, M. Harnisz, ...
Journal: Environmental Monitoring and Assessment
Title: Water quality dynamics of oxbow lakes in young glacial landscape of NE Poland in relation to their hydrological connectivity
Author: K. Glińska-Lewczuk
Journal: Ecological Engineering
Title: Effects of lateral connectivity on zooplankton community structure in floodplain lakes
Authors: A. Goździejewska, K. Glińska-Lewczuk, K. Obolewski, M. Grzybowski, ...
Journal: Hydrobiologia
Title: Heavy metal contamination in the surface layer of bottom sediments in a flow-through lake: a case study of Lake Symsar in Northern Poland
Authors: A. Kuriata-Potasznik, S. Szymczyk, A. Skwierawski, K. Glińska-Lewczuk, ...
Journal: Water
Title: The principal threats to the peatlands habitats, in the continental bioregion of Central Europe–A case study of peatland conservation in Poland
Authors: M. Grzybowski, K. Glińska-Lewczuk
Journal: Journal for Nature Conservation
CONCLUSION
Professor Katarzyna Glińska-Lewczuk stands out as an accomplished environmental scientist, educator, and leader. Her work bridges science, policy, and practical conservation, with an emphasis on safeguarding freshwater ecosystems amid changing climatic and land use patterns. She continues to contribute to sustainable water governance through research, mentorship, and expert advising. Her legacy includes shaping water protection frameworks, influencing academic curriculum through tutoring models, and strengthening the scientific foundation for protecting Europe’s most sensitive and vital water-dependent habitats.