The Rector is the head of the university. Together with the Vice-Rectors, he oversees UW administration and finances, makes key decisions, represents the University externally, and is in charge of the staff as well as undergraduates and postgraduates.
The Senate is the University’s most important governing body. It has the authority to pass documents which are of key importance to the University, such as bylaws, the mission statement and strategy for development, as set out by the Rector, financial and investment plans, and course regulations.
Prof. Alojzy Z. Nowak – Rector of the University of Warsaw
45th Rector of the University of Warsaw
UW Vice-Rector for Cooperation and Human Resources – Prof. Sambor Grucza
Prof. Grucza graduated in German Philology (Saarland University) and Applied Linguistics (University of Warsaw). He completed his doctorate in 1994. His research interests are metalinguistics, the theory of language and communication for specific purposes, glottodidactics, translatorics and eye tracking research.
In years 2008–2012 and 2016–2020, he held the position of Dean of the Faculty of Applied Linguistics at the University of Warsaw. Previously, he was a Vice-Dean of the Faculty of Applied Linguistics and Head of the Institute of Specialised and Intercultural Communication. He is also Elector at the University of Warsaw (since 2008). Prof. Grucza is President of the Polish Association of Applied Linguistics, Vice-President of the Polnischer Germanisten Verband, and Executive Board member of the Internationale Vereinigung für Germanistik – IVG. He is also a member of Polish Linguistics Society, and Modern Language Association of Poland.
UW Vice-Rector for Development – Prof. Ewa Krogulec
Prof. Ewa Krogulec is a geologist. She holds the position of the Vice-Rector for Development of the University of Warsaw. She is the Chairwoman of the Rector’s Team for Ecology and Climate Crisis, and the Chairwoman of the Steering Committee of the Intelligent Green University Programme (IZU). Within 2012–2016 and 2016–2020, she was as the Dean of the Faculty of Geology, University of Warsaw.
In her research work she focuses on hydrogeology, and, in particular, groundwater protection and conservation. The scope of her interest is mainly concerned with the methodology and regional study of hydrodynamic modelling. Her scientific activity refers to the issue of the assessment of groundwater susceptibility to contamination, the evaluation of parameter values to hydrologic models, and processes in hydrogeological systems. As part of her research, Prof. Krogulec conducts quantitative analyses of groundwater management, identifies potential risks associated with mining and urbanisation, as well as participates in ground dependent ecosystems mapping (GDEs). She is also interested in regional hydrogeology, as well as law and economic aspects of the search for groundwater sources and their exploitation.
Prof. Ewa Krogulec is an author or co-author of about 200 scientific papers, i.e. articles, chapters of monographs, and monographs and maps. She has also been a leader of more than 40 research projects in the field of geology, hydrogeology and environmental protection.
She is the Chairwoman of the Polish Academy of Sciences Committee on Geological Sciences, the Vice-Chairwoman of the National Council of Water Management. For a number of years she has been holding the position of the Chairwoman of the Committee for Hydrogeological Documentations, an advisory body to the Ministry of Climate and Environment. She also works as a member of many scientific councils, including the Scientific Council of Kampinos National Park and Nature Conservation Council, the Mazovieckie Voivodeship.
UW Vice-Rector for Research – Prof. Zygmunt Lalak
Prof. Zygmunt Lalak graduated from the Department of Technical Physics and Applied Mathematics of the Warsaw University of Technology (M.Sc. in 1985). His scientific career has been associated with the Department of Physics of the University of Warsaw, where he received his doctoral degree (1990) and habilitation (Dr Sc. 1999). In 2008, he obtained the state-awarded title of the professor. As of 2003, Prof. Zygmunt Lalak is an associate professor and as of 2013 full professor of the University of Warsaw.
In years 2016-2020, he was the Vice-Dean for Research and Development at the Faculty of Physics at the University of Warsaw.
Prof. Zygmunt Lalak had been working for many years in the leading research institutions in the area of elementary particle physics: in the laboratory CERN (Switzerland), at the University of Oxford (UK), at the University of Pennsylvania (USA), at the Technical University in Munich and the University of Bonn (both in Germany). He authored more than 120 scientific papers published in the leading international journals and supervised 8 completed PhD degree procedures.
To the focus areas of Prof. Zygmunt Lalak’s scientific research belong: Beyond the Standard Model Physics, supersymmetry in four and higher dimensions, theories with extra-dimensions and branes, metastability of the electroweak vacuum, cosmology – inflationary universe, cosmological particle production, the theory of primordial fluctuations, modifications of Einstein gravity.
He chairs the Scientific Council of the Discipline Physical Sciences. Prof. Zygmunt Lalak is a member of the Coordination Committee of the Priority Research Area POB 2 “Beyond Micro and Macro Worlds” as part of the “Initiative of Excellence – Research University” programme at the University of Warsaw.
UW Vice-Rector for Doctoral and Legal Affairs – Prof. Adam Niewiadomski
Prof. Adam Niewiadomski is a lawyer and political scientist, who graduated in both fields in 2007 and 2009 respectively. He specialises in agricultural and administrative law as well as real estate economy. He has worked as a lecturer since 2007, teaching courses on agricultural law, administrative law and urban planning. Right from the beginning of his career, he has been affiliated to the University of Warsaw. In 2011, he obtained a doctoral degree in law with distinction and in 2014 a doctoral degree in linguistics. In 2018, he was awarded a postdoctoral degree in law. He is a university professor.
Since 2021, Prof. Niewiadomski heads the Chair of Agricultural Law and Food Protection System at the Faculty of Law and Administration, University of Warsaw. He is registered as an attorney-at-law. He carried out grants financed by Polish National Science Centre, such as PRELUDIUM and FUGA. For many years, he has been involved in university and national legislation, e.g. being an advisor to the Sejm’s (lower house of the Polish parliament) Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development and serving as a secretary of the Organisation and Legislation Committee of the Conference of Rectors of Academic Schools in Poland. Prof. Niewiadomski is also a member of various academic societies and organisations such as the European Council for Rural Law and the World Union of Agricultural Law.
UW Vice-Rector for Student Affairs and Quality of Teaching and Learning – Prof. Maciej Raś
Prof. Maciej Raś is a political scientist, specialising in international political relations and the activity of subnational actors in IR (paradiplomacy). He has lectured at the University of Warsaw since 1999, delivering courses regarding, among others, foreign policy analysis and international relations in the post-Soviet area.
Since the beginning of his career, he has been affiliated to the Faculty of Political Science and International Studies (formerly Faculty of Journalism and Political Science), from which he graduated in 1999. He also completed the National Security Study. In 2003, the researcher was awarded a doctoral degree and in 2019 a habilitation in political science.
As a part of his work at the faculty, Prof. Raś held various functions such as the Dean’s Representative on Foreign Ph.D. Candidates (2013-2020), Head of the Postgraduate Cultural Marketing Studies (2006-2014) and Head of the National Security Study. From 2020 to 2024 he was the Vice-Dean for Students Affairs.
Prof. Maciej Raś has carried out research and teaching internships, while also lecturing as a visiting professor in China, Germany, Russia and Türkiye. He has presented papers in Baltimore, Bangkok, Bonn, Chengdu, Frankfurt, Heidelberg, Jerusalem, Odesa, Moscow, Nashville, Saint Petersburg, San Francisco, Sofia and Tokyo.
