Malgorzata Korbas
Physicist
Polish/Canadian living in the United States
Gosia is a first-generation university graduate and an interdisciplinary synchrotron researcher with international experience in Poland, Germany, Canada, and the USA. She earned her M.Sc. and Ph.D. in Physics from Jagiellonian University in Krakow, Poland.
Originally from a small town in Poland, Gosia now resides in the Chicago. She works as a physicist at a synchrotron facility, where she collaborates with plant biologists and environmental scientists to enhance their research through synchrotron applications. Before moving to Chicago, she was a senior scientist at the Canadian Light Source, where she led the construction and commissioning of three BioXAS beamlines.
Gosia’s research focuses on understanding the mechanisms of toxicity for global pollutants such as mercury. Throughout her career, she has developed and utilized synchrotron techniques to study a range of organisms, from small zebrafish larvae to large pilot whales. Passionate about science communication, Gosia actively engages in outreach activities to share her enthusiasm for science and mercury research. She finds mentoring high school groups visiting synchrotrons particularly rewarding.
In her personal life, Gosia enjoys spending time with her family and their “gentle giant” Bernese Mountain Dog. To unwind after work, she practices Pilates, takes photographs, and creates art. Through the Homeward Bound program, Gosia aims to support women in amplifying their voices and hopes to raise awareness about issues close to her heart, including mercury pollution and equitable science education.
