Piotr Szymczak

Institute of Theoretical Physics
Faculty of Physics, University of Warsaw
Hoza 69, 00-681 Warsaw, Poland
telephone: (+48 22) 55 32 256
fax: (+48 22) 621 94 75
email: piotrek[at]fuw.edu.pl

My research focuses on complex systems involving many degrees of freedom in which collective interactions give rise to a rich zoology of physical phenomena. Besides the theoretical analysis, an important tool in tackling these problems are numerical simulations.

Current research topics include:

nonequilibrium growth processes, in particular dissolution in porous media and rock fractures

mechanical properties of protein molecules

dynamics of colloidal suspensions

Recent publications

P. Szymczak, Tight knots in proteins: can they block the mitochondrial pores?, Biochem. Soc. Trans., 41, 620-624, 2013 [pdf]

A. Budek, P. Szymczak, Network models of dissolution of porous media, Phys. Rev. E, 86, 056318, 2012 [pdf]

P. Szymczak, A. J. C. Ladd, Reactive-infiltration instabilities in rocks. Fracture dissolution., J. Fluid Mech., 702, 239-264, 2012 [pdf]

P. Szymczak, A. J. C. Ladd, Instabilities in the dissolution of a porous matrix, Geophys. Res. Lett., 38, L07403, 2011 [pdf]

P. Szymczak, A. J. C. Ladd, The initial stages of cave formation: Beyond the one-dimensional paradigm, Earth Planet. Sci. Lett., 301, 424-432, 2011 [pdf] Press Coverage: [Science Editor's Choice] [Science News] [Wired]

P. Szymczak, M. Cieplak, Hydrodynamic effects in proteins (invited review), J. Phys. Cond. Matt., 23, 033102, 2011 [pdf]

J. Piasecki, P. Szymczak, J. Kozak, Prediction of a structural transition in the hard disk fluid, J. Chem. Phys., 133, 164507, 2010 [pdf]

J. Sułkowska, P. Sułkowski, P. Szymczak, M. Cieplak, Untying knots in proteins, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 132, 13954-13956, 2010 [pdf] (Press Coverage)

P. Szymczak, H. Janovjak, Periodic forces trigger a complex mechanical response in ubiquitin, J. Mol. Biol., 390, 443, 2009 [pdf] [frontcover]

P. Szymczak, A. J. C. Ladd, Wormhole formation in dissolving fractures, J. Geophys. Res., 114, B06203, 2009 [pdf]

J. Sułkowska, P. Sułkowski, P. Szymczak, M. Cieplak, Stabilizing effect of knots on proteins, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 105, 19714, 2008 [pdf] (Press Coverage)