Rate My Professor Rafał Wiśniowski

Professor Rafał Wiśniowski, born on November 13, 1964, in Kraków, is a distinguished academic and administrator at AGH University of Science and Technology, where he has devoted his entire professional career since 1991. He graduated with a Master's degree in drilling from the Faculty of Drilling, Oil, and Gas in 1988, earned his PhD in mining and engineering geology in 1992 with a thesis titled 'Strategy for replacing drilling tools in the aspect of minimizing the unit cost of drilling a well,' completed habilitation in 2003 on 'Selected aspects of designing directional well structures using numerical techniques,' and was appointed professor of technical sciences in 2013. He also finished postgraduate studies in gas industry marketing and management in 2000. Starting as a trainee assistant in 1991 and assistant professor from 1992 to 2005, he advanced to associate professor and held key leadership roles: Head of the Department of Drilling and Geoengineering from 2012 to 2016, Dean of the Faculty of Drilling, Oil, and Gas from 2016 to 2020, and currently serves as Vice-Rector for Cooperation since 2020. He chaired the Discipline Council for Environmental Engineering, Mining and Energy and was active in the AGH Senate's budget and labor committees.

Wiśniowski's research specializes in technical and technological problems of directional boreholes applied in mining, oil and gas engineering, environmental protection, environmental engineering, and energy sectors, with emphasis on optimal drilling techniques and designing deep borehole and non-vertical wells. He has authored over 300 scientific articles and conference papers, 10 monographs, 11 book chapters, three university textbooks, and co-authored more than 100 reports and expert opinions for industry and state administration. He supervised eight research grants and served as scientific secretary of the annual publication 'Drilling, Oil, Gas.' His contributions extend to leadership in professional bodies, including Chairman of the Mining Committee of the Polish Academy of Sciences and President of the Association of Engineers of the Oil and Gas Industry under NOT. Among his honors are the Silver Cross of Merit (2002), Bronze Cross of Merit (1997), Silver Medal for Long Service (2011), Medal of the National Education Commission (2009), and General Mining Director distinctions of I, II, and III degrees (2015, 2012, 2009).