Undergraduate and graduate studies in Torun: I did my PhD in computational chemistry and before that MSc in physics under the supervision of Professor Wlodek (Wlodzislaw) Duch at the Nicholas Copernicus University in Torun (Copernicus was born in Torun in 1473), Poland. Wlodek is an absolutely open-minded thinker in constant search for new challenges. He (currently, I should say) works in the fields of computational intelligence, machine learning, cognitive sciences and other related disciplines. Just google Duch (which actually means "ghost" in Polish) and you will get the picture. I am always amazed by his energy, intellectual apetite and the breadth of his knowledge. I am honored to be a part of his "Ghost Circle". The photograph you can see to the left was taken during Wlodek's visit to Cincinnati in February 2005.

Between physics and mathematics: Professor Brian Wybourne decided (in a bold move) to come to Torun in late eighties when Poland was still in transition between communism and the uncertain future. As a result, not only he opended another crack in the Iron Curtain but also influenced in so many ways the whole bunch of aspiring young people who had the good fortune of meeting him. Luckily for me, Brian became my adviser when I was working on my MSc degree in math and computer science. It was a great intellectual adventure with a warm personal dimension to it. Unfortunaltely, Brian (in the center in the picture to the left) passed away suddenly several years ago, while he was making plans for an active next chapter in his life. A commemorative meeting in honour of Brian was held in Torun in June 2005, with the aim of celebrating his academic life and his numerous contributions to physics and mathematics.

TEMPUS fellowships in Toulouse: While working on my PhD in computational chemistry, I was able to visit several times the Universite Paul Sabatier in Toulouse, France. There, I was fortunate to meet and work with Professor Jean-Paul Malrieu, one of the leaders in the field of computational methods for electronic structure. Jean-Paul's taste for elegant formalisms and solutions proved quite irresistible and he actually became a co-adviser on my Ph.D. Our papers from this period are still being cited quite a bit, which is yet another indication of his extraordinary ability to pose the right questions and shape the future of the disciplines he decides to devot himself to. In the photograph, you can see Jean-Paul (top row, second from the right) surrounded, as usual, by admiring disciples and friends.

Fellowship in Japan: After obtaining my PhD in computational chemistry, I applied for a JSPS fellowship to work in the Lab of Professor Hiroshi Nakatsuji at the Kyoto University. Prof. Nakatsuji is one of the leaders in the fields of quantum chemistry and electronic structure of molecules and it was a privilage to work with him. Moreover, during the time spent in Japan I learned a lot not only about the electronic structure of large biomolecules but also about the wonderfully complex Japanese culture. In the photo to the left you can see us visting Nakatsuji-sensei's house in Kyoto (he is talking to my son Artur who was quite fluent in Japanese at that time).

Postdoctoral years in Jerusalem and Ithaca: Before going to Japan I got a chance to spend some time in Israel to work in the group of Professor Ron Elber at the Hebrew University, Jerusalem. This turned out to be a great adventure and intellectual inspiration. I actually ended up working with Ron for a total of over three years and those years shaped my future. First, in Jerusalem, working as a postdoc at the Fritz Haber Center for Molecular Dynamics I entered the field of computational biology. Then in Ithaca, after my fellowship in Japan, I continued working with Ron in the fields of bioinformatics, protein structure prediction and functional genomics at the Cornell University. These were the exciting years of the final stages of the Humane Genome Project and other revolutionary changes in biomedical sciences. Thanks to Ron I was able to take a small part in this on-going revolution.