PhD Sebastian Cygert Receives the POLITYKA Scientific Award 2026
PhD Sebastian Cygert, Head of the Artificial Intelligence Safety and Transparency Department at NASK, has been named a laureate of the POLITYKA Scientific Awards 2026 in the Technical Sciences category.
The POLITYKA Scientific Awards are among the most prestigious distinctions for young researchers in Poland. For more than 25 years, the competition has recognized scientists whose achievements significantly contribute to the advancement of science and who carry out innovative research projects with substantial social and economic impact.
In this year’s edition, the Professors’ Committee selected 15 finalists from more than 400 candidates across five scientific fields: humanities, social sciences, exact sciences, life sciences, and technical sciences. From this group, five main award winners were chosen. In the Technical Sciences category, the award was presented to NASK researcher PhD Sebastian Cygert.
PhD Cygert’s research focuses on the safety and trustworthiness of artificial intelligence systems. His work includes identifying vulnerabilities in large language models and developing methods to prevent their misuse for harmful or unsafe purposes. Earlier in his career, he also co-developed AI-based solutions supporting cancer diagnostics.
In June 2026, he was appointed to the European Commission’s scientific panel supporting the implementation of the AI Act, joining a group of 60 experts from around the world. At NASK, he established and continues to lead a team dedicated to AI safety research, while also serving as principal investigator of a research project funded by the National Science Centre.
We warmly congratulate Dr. Sebastian Cygert on this outstanding achievement and wish him continued success in his scientific and research endeavors.