Professor Marek Koziorowski was born on 28.04.1950 in Inowrocław. He attended elementary school - exercise school there, and then attended the J. Kasprowicz High School No. 1, also in Inowrocław - a high school with great traditions, attended by, among others, Jan Kasprowicz, Primate Józef Glemp, Prof. Marian Biskup, Prof. Benon Miśkiewicz. Together with Prof. Koziorowski, Prof. Jacek Namieśnik - later Rector of the Gdansk University of Technology - attended one class. Prof. Koziorowski received his high school diploma at the age of 17.

In 1967-73 he studied veterinary medicine at the Michal Oczapowski Agricultural and Technical Academy in Olsztyn. The culmination of his studies was the receipt of a diploma in veterinary medicine on 10.03.1973. Prof. Koziorowski devoted the next years of his life to science, conducting research first on the regulation of erythropoiesis and then on the regulation of livestock reproduction in a research group headed by the eminent specialist Prof. Dr. Tadeusz Krzymowski, a member of the Polish Academy of Sciences. In 1981, at the Academy of Agriculture and Technology in Olsztyn, he defended his doctoral thesis entitled "The level of estradiol 17b in peripheral blood and the content of cytosolic receptors in the mucosa and muscle of the uterus of sows during the sexual cycle," whose supervisor was the eminent specialist in endocrinology and veterinary medicine Mr. Prof. Dr. Tadeusz Krzymowski.

Immediately after his doctorate, Prof. Koziorowski continued to hone his skills in Mr. Prof. Krzymowski's group by conducting research on local regulation in the area of the reproductive system. Thanks to them, it was possible to show that the hormones produced in the ovary and testis in their entirety do not drain with the venous blood to the periphery, but in the area of the uterus and spermatic cord they penetrate from the venous and lymphatic outflow counter-current transfer, penetrate into the arterial blood supplying the ovary and uterus, as well as the testis and epididymis. This mechanism is crucial in the regulation of reproduction, but with age, when vascular atherosclerosis occurs, it is significantly weakened, which is one of the reasons for the disappearance of reproductive activity. In 1984-1985, as a visiting professor, he participated in work on reproductive regulation in pigs and cows in the research team of Prof. Jim Tilton and Garry Williams at North Dakota State University, Department of Animal Science (USA), and in 1995-1996, under a World Health Organization grant, he was a research intern at the Collaborating Center for Research in Human Reproduction at the University of Oulu (Finland).

October 27, 1997, Council of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine of the Michal Oczapowski Academy of Agricultural and Technical Sciences in Olsztyn, on the basis of the reported scientific achievement entitled "Countercurrent permeation and reverse transport of progesterone, oxytocin and prostaglandin F2-alpha in the area of the broad ligament of the uterus of cows during the luteal phase", conferred on Mr. Prof. Koziorowski the degree of Doctor of Science in the field of natural sciences, discipline of biology, specialty of animal physiology.

From 1997 to the present, Mr. Prof. Marek Koziorowski, PhD, has been associated with the University of Rzeszow (formerly WSP). It is worth noting that during this period he has always been a committed and active researcher as well as an academic teacher, to whom the affairs and welfare of the University of Rzeszow have always been close. Professor Marek Koziorowski held the position of Vice-Dean for Student Affairs of the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences from 1999 to 2005, and during this period he also played an active role in the establishment of a new University unit on the territory of Verynia, i.e. the Institute of Biotechnology, which was transformed into the Faculty of Biotechnology on the spot. In 2000-2002, as the Rector's Plenipotentiary for the organization of the UR facility in Verynia, he was active from the first days of its establishment, especially activities in the field of investment, searching for sponsors in order to obtain equipment to enable teaching and the first scientific research, or acquiring a building for a university house. From 2005 to 2007, he served as Vice-Dean for Science, and from 2007 to 2012, he served as Dean of the Faculty, and then as Director of the Institute of Applied Biotechnology and Basic Sciences. At the same time, from the beginning of his work at the Rzeszow University, Prof. Marek Koziorowski was the head of the Department and then of the Department of Animal Physiology and Reproduction. In 2009, he received the title of Professor received from the hands of President Lech Kaczynski. At this point it is worth noting that throughout the period of his scientific and administrative work, the University of Rzeszow was and is his primary and only place of work. Prof. Marek Koziorowski's scientific interests are consistently focused on research in physiology, endocrinology and biotechnology of animal reproduction. As a very active scientist, he is a man who undoubtedly has an excellent understanding of the essence of the University. From the moment he became dean of the Intersectional Faculty of Biotechnology and then director of the Institute of Applied Biotechnology and Basic Sciences, he has consistently pursued a program aimed at improving the quality and internationalization of research carried out in the unit he heads. As a result, on the basis of the evaluation carried out by the Committee for the Evaluation of Scientific Units (CEU) within the time limit specified in Article 32, paragraphs 2 and 3 of the Act of April 30, 2010. - Provisions Introducing Laws Reforming the System of Science (Journal of Laws No. 96, item 620 and No. 155, item 1036, and of 2012, item 756), after conducting a comprehensive assessment of the scientific or research and development quality of scientific units in accordance with the provisions of the Regulation of the Minister of Science and Higher Education of July 13, 2012 on the criteria and procedures for granting scientific categories to scientific units (Journal of Laws No. 877 and of 2013, item 191), granted the Institute of Applied Biotechnology and Basic Sciences category A in the Life Sciences group. At the same time, the NSC evaluated the unit's potential, placing the University of Rzeszow between such centers as the Faculty of Biology of the University of Warsaw and the Faculty of Biology of the University of Gdansk. It is noteworthy that this result was achieved under the leadership of Mr. Prof. Koziorowski after only 12 years of biotechnology at the University of Rzeszow, and to date it is the only one of the best scientific units operating in the Subcarpathian region. During the dean's term of office of Mr. Prof. Marek Koziorowski, thanks to his commitment, the Faculty of Biotechnology at the University of Rzeszow managed to obtain nearly PLN 19.6 million from the structural funds of the Operational Program Development of Eastern Poland 2007-2013 for the purchase of equipment and the establishment of the Center for Applied Biotechnology and Basic Sciences. The effect of obtaining funding for the purchase of modern equipment and excellent management by Mr. Prof. Marak Koziorowski was the creation of favorable conditions at the Faculty/Institute conducive to the establishment of close cooperation between science and economic entities, as well as the development and diffusion of innovative ventures, which are necessary to increase the competitiveness of the economy and build a knowledge-based society. In 2010-2014, more than 20 cooperation agreements were signed with entrepreneurs, 10 universities and 9 research institutes. At the same time, the level of research carried out in the unit under his leadership, including the work carried out directly by him (at the operating table), has made it possible to establish new permanent contacts with internationally recognized scientific centers. A tangible and ennobling result of this sphere of activity was, among others, the arrival at the Institute of Applied Biotechnology and Basic Sciences on a one-year Fulbright scholarship of Professor Dan Oren of Yale University. Prof. Koziorowski's significant scientific discovery was the demonstration of the production of carbon monoxide in the eye and the possibility of its direct transport via target transfer from the scleral sinus to the brain, as well as the mechanism of direct transport of carbon monoxide produced in the eye area under the influence of light radiation from the venous outflow directly into the arterial vessels supplying the brain bypassing the general circulation.

Describing this phenomenon for the first time was an important contribution to further understanding of the mechanism of the development of seasonal affective disorder, which is not only a medical but also a social problem. In addition, this research deepened our knowledge of the function of the periventricular vascular plexus, an underappreciated structure in its ability to regulate many processes related to neurosecretory brain function. Another discovery was the description of the role of the vascular plexus in the regulation of testicular function - the countercurrent passage of hormones from the venous and lymphatic outflow from the testis, and the subsequent return and target transport to the epididymis and testis. Thanks to the results of these studies, the study of pregnancy in cows by determining P4 in milk was put into practice.

Prof. Koziorowski was also the manager of 3 scientific projects funded by the Committee for Scientific Research, i.e. "Seasonal changes in the concentration of steroid hormones, thyroid hormones, leptin and growth factors in peripheral blood and their receptors in the gonads of pig-wild crossbred gilts. Total antioxidant activity"; (PBZ-KBN-084/P06/2002-function head of task 1.1) "Can information about changes in environmental illumination be transmitted via the humoral pathway (humoral phototransduction) from the retina to the central nervous system?"- (N N311 1001 33: project manager), "Seasonal changes in the feedback and target transfer of steroid hormones in the vasculature of the reproductive organs of the male domestic pig" (N N311 376735 - project manager). In 2012, at the Institute of Applied Biotechnology and Basic Sciences in Verin, organized an international scientific seminar on Chronobiology with the participation of numerous guests, leading researchers of world rank.

To date, he has served as supervisor of 6 doctoral theses, developing and educating mainly UR staff: Jaroslaw Staszkiewicz, M.D., thesis title: "Effect of progesterone and estradiol benzoate on the synthesis of 17ß-estradiol in the mammary gland of gilts and the concentration of triiodothyronine and free thyroxine in arterial and venous blood flowing from this gland", unit: Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Warmia and Mazury, year of awarding the degree: 2001, M.Sc. Katarzyna Koziol, title of dissertation: "Changes in gonadal activity in male roe deer (Capreoluscapreolus L 1758) during the breeding season", unit: Department of Biology, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, year of awarding the degree: 2010, vet. Anna Tabecka-Łonczyńska, title of doctoral thesis "Seasonal changes in the feedback and target transfer of steroid hormones in the vasculature of the reproductive organs of the male domestic pig", unit: Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Warmia and Mazury, year of awarding the degree: 2010, Maria Romerowicz, M.D., dissertation title: "Effect of carbon monoxide on the expression of gonadotropin and gonadoliberin genes in the central nervous system of the piglet during summer and winter", unit: Faculty of Biological and Agricultural Sciences, University of Rzeszow, year of degree award: 2014, Jennifer Mytych, MA, dissertation title: "Search for new properties of klotho protein in the control of bacterial infections", unit: Faculty of Biological and Agricultural Sciences, University of Rzeszow, year of awarding the degree: 2017, MA Przemysław Sołek, dissertation title: "The use of a cellular model for in vitro studies of the mechanisms of toxicity of antidepressant drugs with different profiles of side effects", unit: Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Medical Sciences in Lublin, year of awarding the degree: 2020. To date, he has served as a reviewer in 11 proceedings for the conferral of the title of professor, 7 proceedings for the conferral of the degree of habilitated doctor and 18 proceedings for the conferral of the degree of doctor. His teaching achievements also include his activity in promoting more than 60 master's degrees, 40 engineers and more than 30 bachelor's degrees. Among his alumni, there are as many as 4 Ministerial Fellowship students.

Prof. Koziorowski has always been one of the most well-liked academics among UR students. During his career, he taught immunology, animal physiology, anatomy and endocrinology to biology and biotechnology majors.

Professor Koziorowski is an active member in national and international scientific societies and organizations such as the Committee for Reproductive Biology of the Polish Academy of Sciences, the Society for Reproductive Biology, the Polish Physiological Society, the Rzeszow Scientific Society, and the Society for Light Treatment and Biological Rhythms (SLTBR). In 2016-2019, he was also Deputy Chairman of the Committee on Veterinary and Reproductive Biology of the Polish Academy of Sciences; Division II of Biological and Agricultural Sciences; Committee on Veterinary and Reproductive Biology.

From 2016 to 2019, he served as Vice-Chancellor for Science and Foreign Cooperation. During this period, it was possible to continue and expand the system of pro-quality bonuses in recognition of scientific activity, which significantly increased the scientific activity of University of Rzeszow employees.

Mr. Prof. Koziorowski's scientific activity has been repeatedly rewarded. In 2014, he was awarded by the chapter of VIP magazine in the category of Discovery of the Year 2014. In 2015, his scientific activity was recognized by awarding the University of Rzeszow Science Laurel for lifetime scientific activity.

On November 3, 2016, Prof. Koziorowski was awarded an honorary doctorate by the Senate of the University of Veterinary Medicine and Biotechnology in Lviv - the oldest Polish veterinary university. In 2021, Prof. Koziorowski received the Medal of the Society for Reproductive Biology Societas Generationis Scrutandis Destinata for a significant honor for his discovery of the role of carbon monoxide in the regulation of reproductive processes and the organization of a reproductive research center and branch of TBR in Rzeszow. Professor Koziorowski served as the UR Rector's Plenipotentiary for Science from 2020 to 2022.

Currently, Professor Koziorowski is the Director of the Interdisciplinary Center for Preclinical and Clinical Research and is still an active scientist conducting research on the mechanisms occurring in the area of the cerebrovascular system with a focus on the periventricular plexus with a special emphasis on the role of dopamine in brain function, as well as teaching "Animal Physiology" to Biology and Biotechnology majors. He also lectures on the broad regulation of human body functions at the Institute of Pedagogy.

His scientific output consists of more than 100 scientific papers indexed in the Scopus database, which have been cited 1,068 times and the H citation index is 17, of which more than 30% of the articles have been published in journals in the top quartile of top journals, with an 18% international collaboration rate. Mr. Professor is also a co-author of 2 patents resulting from scientific collaborations with Bioorganic Technologies Ltd.

A detailed list of papers involving Mr. Professor can be found here.