Abhik Paul was born in 1993 in Kolkata, India. He completed his Bachelor's and Master's in Chemistry at the University of Calcutta and Pondicherry University. After qualifying CSIR-NET (National Eligibility Test), GATE (Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering) in the field of Chemistry and DST-INSPIRE fellowship, obtaining a full scholarship from the government of India, completed his PhD focusing on Chiral Supramolecular Assemblies from Achiral Precursors, under the supervision of Prof. Sanjit Konar at IISER Bhopal. After a short PDRA stay at the same group, he joined Szyszko Lab as a postdoctoral researcher in February 2025 under the Ulam-NAWA fellowship program (2024 edition). Abhik explores the stimuli-responsiveness of molecular links and knots and studies their optoelectronic properties. In his spare time, he is an avid reader, writer and a tourist by heart who loves to dwell around the realm of nature and human psychology.

Aleksandra Sarwa (Alexa) was born in 1996 in Milicz, Poland. In 2015, she started studying Medicinal Chemistry at the University of Wrocław. She received her Bachelor’s degree for a thesis titled: “Application of quaternary pyridinium salts for testosterone derivatization” under the supervision of Dr. Hab. Mariola Kuczer. In 2018, she started working under the supervision of BS on a project focused on the synthesis and properties of π-extended phenanthriporphyrinoids. In 2020, she defended (with honours) her MSc thesis titled “Synthesis and characterisation of azaaceneporphyrinoids”. Currently, Aleksandra investigates pyrrole-based supramolecular assemblies. 

Rafał Grzelczak was born in 1996 in Leszno, Poland. He has been studying chemistry at the University of Wrocław since 2016. In 2019, he received a Bachelor’s degree for the thesis “Determination of proton and carbon chemical shifts. Difficulties and successes of theoretical methods.” This was carried out under the supervision of Andrzej Bil. Currently, Rafał works under the supervision of BS on a project focused on searching for new methods of rotaxane synthesis. 

Jakub Sukiennik was born in 1996 in Radomsko, Poland. In 2016, he started studying Chemistry and Forensic Toxicology at the University of Wrocław. He received his Bachelor’s degree for a thesis titled: “Poisoning by Cytotoxic Fungi - from Chemistry to Toxicological Diagnostics” under the supervision of dr Marta Siczek. In 2019, he started working under the supervision of dr Karolina Hurej. He obtained his MSc in 2021 for the thesis titled ”Selective oxidation of arylalkanes as a new route to 1,4-diketones”. Upon finishing his MSc, he started his PhD under the supervision of BS in 2021. He is currently researching and working on dipyrrin-based supramolecular assemblies. 

Daniel Wiendlocha was born in Raciborz in 1998. In 2017, he began studying Medical Chemistry at the University of Wroclaw. In 2020, he received a Bachelor's degree for a thesis: "In search of synthetic pathways for the precursors of porphyrin and crown ether hybrids". Continuing his work at Szyszkolab, he received a Master's degree in 2022 for his thesis: "Di-2,6-naphthihexaphyrin - synthesis, properties and coordination chemistry". In the same year, he began his PhD studies at Szyszko Lab, focusing on obtaining new rotaxanes and their complexes.

Andrei Khmara was born in 2000 in Brest, Belarus. Once he attended chemistry in the 7th school grade, he immediately realised that chemistry was what he wanted to commit to. In 2018, Andrei moved to Poland, where in 2019, he started studying Chemistry at the University of Wrocław. Andrei works on the self-assembly of new macrocycles and cages. Andre's PhD work is focused on the coordination chemitry of crownphyrins. 

Jędrzej Perdek was born in 2001 in Jelenia Góra.  In 2020, he started studying Chemistry and Forensic Toxicology at the University of Wrocław, where he got his BSc degree for the thesis ‘Reactivity of 28-Selena- and 28-Thianaphthiporphyrins towards di- and triethylamine’ in 2023. Afterwards, Jędrzej enrolled in the Chemistry MSc program at UWr and started working on finding new methods of rotaxane synthesis with Rafał Grzelczak. Jędrzej is currently doing PhD under guidance of BS, with his project being focused on new rotaxane-based artificial machines. 

Filip Otlewski was born in 2004 in Wrocław. As soon as he encountered chemistry in primary school, he immediately became deeply fascinated by it. In 2023, he graduated from high school and started studying Chemistry at the University of Wrocław. His never-ending quest for the most interesting chemistry has led him to the Szyszko Lab, where he currently develops rotaxane-based molecular shuttles with Rafał Grzelczak.

Artsiom Khaklou was born in 2001 in Minsk, Belarus. In 2023, he began studying Medicinal Chemistry at the University of Wrocław. From the start of his studies, he became involved in laboratory research and started working with Dr. hab. Janusz Gregoliński. This early scientific experience allowed him to explore topics related to coordination and supramolecular chemistry. Now, he continues his research, focusing on the synthesis of iminopyrrole-based molecular cages — structurally complex compounds with potential applications in catalysis and molecular recognition. He currently collaborates closely with both Dr. hab. Janusz Gregoliński and Andrei Khmara, combining insights from different areas of chemistry.

Anna Burkova was born in 2001 in Minsk, Belarus. In 2018, she began studying medicine, motivated by a strong interest in biology and health. Four years later, she moved to Poland and, in 2023, started studying Chemistry and Forensic Toxicology at the University of Wrocław. She is now working on the synthesis of new rotaxanes for use in cellular bioimaging.