Rector of the University of Gdańsk, President of the Conference of Rectors of Polish Universities, Member of the Polish Academy of Sciences.
Since the beginning of his academic career, he has been affiliated with the University of Gdańsk. He has held the position of Rector since 2020. At his university, he has also served as Vice-Rector and Dean of the Faculty of Chemistry. From 2006 to 2023, he headed the Department of Environmental Analysis. Professor P. Stepnowski was also the initiator of the Daniel Fahrenheit Association of Universities in Gdansk and its first director. Since 2016, he has been Vice President of the Green Chemistry Division of the European Chemical Sciences Society (EuCheMS). From 2016 to 2024, he was vice-chairman of the Committee on Analytical Chemistry of the Polish Academy of Sciences. He was also the first Chairman of the Academic Council of the Academy of Fine Arts in Gdańsk. Since 2007, he has been a member of the Gdańsk Scientific Society, of which he is Secretary General. Since 2010, he has been continuously Chairman of the Board of the Agency for Regional Atmospheric Monitoring Gdańsk-Gdynia-Sopot.
Professor P. Stepnowski has initiated the formation of a rapidly growing scientific school of modern environmental chemical analytics focused on both basic and applied research. He is the author or co-author of more than 300. original and review scientific articles. His papers have been cited more than 13,000 times, and his Hirsch Index is 62. He has been the editor of 9. publication items and co-author of 3. academic textbooks. He was the promoter of 14. completed doctoral theses.
He is a three-time recipient of the Award of the Minister of Science and Higher Education. For his achievements, he received the Prof. K. Taylor Science Award, the Jan Hevelius Science Award of the City of Gdansk, the “Sopot Muse” Award in the field of science, the Prof. W. Kemula Medal for outstanding scientific achievements, the Centennial Medal of the Polish Olympic Committee, the Medal of the Senate of the Republic of Poland, the title of Ambassador of Polish Congresses, the Medal of the Nicolaus Copernicus University, the Medal of the 100th anniversary of the Society of Friends of Science and Art in Gdansk.
During his tenure as rector, he launched a whole series of systemic measures to reform universities in terms of research strategy, internationalization, informatization, modern academic teaching and cooperation with business and the social environment. This change has had a very positive impact on the university's image, placing it at the highest ever positions in rankings and lists (including 4th position among Polish Universities in the Perspectives ranking or the highest position among Polish universities in the Times Higher Education impact rankings).
Prof. P. Stepnowski's non-scientific interests include fine arts, wood carving, guitar playing and an enduring fascination with Italian Renaissance painting and architecture.