Beata Gutarowska

Beata Agnieszka Gutarowska – is a Polish microbiologist and professor at Łódź University of Technology, where she serves as Head of the Department of Environmental Biotechnology at the Faculty of Biotechnology and Food Sciences. Her research specialization includes technical and environmental microbiology, biodeterioration of materials, and applied biotechnology.

She has been included in the prestigious global ranking of the Top 2% of the World's Scientists, compiled by Stanford University.

Biography

In 1992, she graduated from the University of Łódź with a master's degree in biology (specialization: Microbiology). She subsequently joined Łódź University of Technology, where she has been continuously employed since 1 February 1999. In 1999, she obtained a Ph.D. in Technical Sciences in the discipline of Chemical Technology (specialization: Technical Microbiology) from the Faculty of Food Chemistry and Biotechnology at Łódź University of Technology.

In 2011, at the same faculty, she obtained the degree of Doctor Habilitatus in Technical Sciences in the discipline of Biotechnology on the basis of her scientific achievements and habilitation thesis.

By decision of the President of the Republic of Poland dated 9 May 2018, she was awarded the title of Professor of Technical Sciences in the discipline of Biotechnology.

Scientific and research activity

Her principal research areas include:

• Biodeterioration and microbiological corrosion – investigating the mechanisms of biological degradation of technical materials (construction materials, textiles, paper, leather) and cultural heritage objects, as well as methods for their protection, including the use of naturally derived biocides such as essential oils, innovative disinfection methods, and material-engineering tools such as silver nanoparticles.
• Biopreparations – searching for and selecting microorganisms with application potential for the development of environmentally friendly products for agriculture and environmental protection.
• Environmental Monitoring – assessing levels of microbiological contamination in specific environments, including archives, museums, industrial facilities, and waste-sorting plants, with particular emphasis on protecting workers’ respiratory health.

She has led and participated in numerous national and international research projects, including:

• International Visegrad Fund Project (2015–2016).
• National Centre for Research and Development (NCBR).
• Agency for Restructuring and Modernisation of Agriculture (ARMA) / Rural Development Programme Project.
• National Science Centre (NCN).

In 2013, she completed a research fellowship at Oklahoma University and the Center of Biocorrosion, Montana State University (USA).

Organizational activity

At Łódź University of Technology and in the broader scientific community, she has held numerous important organizational positions, including:

• Member of the Board of the International Biodeterioration and Biodegradation Society (IBBS) and national representative (2013–2024).
• Member of the Scientific Excellence Council in the Engineering and Technical Sciences section, discipline of Chemical Engineering (since 2024).
• Chair of the Łódź Branch of the Polish Society of Microbiologists (2016–2022).
• Director of the Institute of Fermentation Technology and Microbiology at Łódź University of Technology (2014–2019).
• Head of the Department of Environmental Biotechnology at Łódź University of Technology (since 2019).
• Member of the Scientific Council of Bionanopark Łódź (since 2021).
• Permanent Guest of the Committee of Chemical and Process Engineering of the Polish Academy of Sciences (since 2025).

She has organized 11 international scientific conferences devoted to biodeterioration and the protection of technical materials, including the 16th IBBS Symposium. She is also an active mentor of young researchers, having supervised 10 doctoral graduates and more than 140 master's and engineering theses. A prestigious EU Marie Skłodowska-Curie Fellowship grant (2026–2028) is currently being carried out at Łódź University of Technology under her supervision.

Publications and patents

Her scholarly output includes more than 230 scientific publications, including 154 papers indexed in the Journal Citation Reports (JCR) database, published in journals such as International Biodeterioration & Biodegradation, Journal of Cultural Heritage, Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology, and Journal of Environmental Management. She is also the co-author of nine scientific monographs and 14 Polish patents.

For her innovative activities and inventions, she has received seven medals at international innovation and invention exhibitions as well as a Diploma of the Minister of Science and Higher Education for a research project.