Aleksander Sładkowski was born on the 23rd of November 1956 in Dnepropetrovsk (Ukraine) in a Polish-Russian family. The parents were engineers. In 1963 he entered secondary school and graduated in 1973 with a gold medal. Last years he was educated in a special mathematical class. In parallel, he graduated from the music school at Dnepropetrovsk Music College in piano classes.

In 1973 he entered the Dnepropetrovsk State University (DSU) in Mechanics and Mathematics Faculty. After 5 years of studying he graduated with an honors degree in a specialty "Dynamics and Strength of Machines". Starting from 3 year he engaged in scientific work under the guidance of academician of the Ukrainian National Academy of Sciences, professor V.I. Mossakovski, who at this time headed the department of "Applied Theory of Elasticity" and was the rector of the university.

After graduating at university in 1978 he entered the Problem Scientific Research Laboratory of Strength and Reliability of Constructions DSU as an engineer, where he was responsible to calculate the contact interaction of elastic bodies.

In autumn of 1978 A. Sładkowski became a postgraduate student in DSU at the department of "Applied Theory of Elasticity." The scientific leader at the preparation dissertation work was prof. V.I. Mossakovski. After finishing graduate courses in 1981, he continued the work in the Problem Scientific Research Laboratory of Strength and Reliability of Constructions DSU as a junior researcher. Based on work related to the study of contact interaction of elastic bodies and prepared research project "Study of microslip in contact of elastic bodies," which in 1983 won the First Prize of the All-Union Council of Scientific and Technical Societies (VSNTO).

From 1983 till 1986 he worked in the Diagnostic Branch Laboratory of Holography DSU as head of the research sector. The main focus of the research was the interpretation of holographic interferograms. At the same time, he carried out the functions of the responsible executor of research.

From 1986 till 1987 he worked as a senior researcher in the Research Laboratory of Economics of the Environment (NIL EKOOS) of DSU. Research during this period included the issues of statistical processing of economic information.

During 1986-1988 he also worked as an assistant in the department of "Mathematical Study of Software" DSU. He conducted lectures and workshops on programming and methods of computation.

In 1987 A. Sładkowski defended his dissertation "Microslip at a stationary interaction of elastic bodies" receiving a PhD degree in physics and mathematics in specialty 01.02.04 "Mechanics of deformable solids". Scientific supervisor of work was prof. V.I. Mossakovski. Defense of work was held on the specialized council of DSU.

The research and teaching activities of A. Sładkowski was awarded prizes and official gratitude of the Rector of DSU in 1983 (twice) and in 1987.

In 1987 A. Sładkowski joined the Dnepropetrovsk Metallurgical Institute (DMetI). At the present time, it is the National Metallurgical Academy of Ukraine (NMetAU). Until 1993 he worked as a senior researcher of the department of "Applied Mechanics". He headed the group and was a responsible performer of a number of research works on topics of the railway, as well as topics related to industrial vehicles. In parallel, he conducted lectures and workshops with students in a number of specialties as an assistant.

In 1989 the Higher Attestation Commission of the USSR awarded A. Sładkowski the academic title of senior researcher in the specialty "Mechanics of deformable solids".

In 1993-1996 he trained on the habilitate courses in the department of "Applied Mechanics" DMetI, parallel he executed functions of associate professor of this department. Beginning from 1996 the position of associate professor for A. Sładkowski became the main professor, despite the fact that he carried out simultaneous research work as a senior researcher.

In 1997 A. Sładkowski defended his dissertation "Theoretical substantiation and development of rational designs of wheel-rail pairs for rail transport machines and units of mining branches." Defense of the thesis for the habilitate degree on technical sciences in specialty 05.15.16 "Mining machinery" was held on the specialized council of the National Mining Academy of Ukraine.

Since 1999 A. Sładkowski worked as a professor of the department of "Applied Mechanics" DMetI, at first in the staff of the department, and since 2000 under the contract. This allowed him to combine teaching and research work in Ukraine and Poland until 2003.

In 2001 the decision of the Certifying Collegium of the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine awarded for A. Sładkowski the academic title of associate professor of applied mechanics, and in 2002 the same government body of Ukraine awarded the academic title of professor of the department of applied mechanics.

In 1998 A. Sładkowski received the award of the Rector of NMetAU for research and teaching activities.

In 1998-2000 he taught as a professor at the Institute of Management and Professional Personnel Development for Metallurgical Complex of Ukraine.

Over the years he was a member of specialized councils for habilitate and doctoral theses defence at the National Mining Academy of Ukraine and Dnepropetrovsk National University of Railway Transport (DIIT).

Since 2000 the activity of A. Sładkowski associated with the Silesian University of Technology, where he was given the position of a professor under contract at the Department of Railway Engineering of the Faculty of Transport. In 2002 A. Sładkowski was elected on tender for the position of professor extraordinary of this department. That same year after receiving the academic title of professor in Ukraine Polish Bureau for Academic Recognition and International Exchange recognized for A. Sładkowski the title of professor of technical sciences.

In 2006 prof. A. Sładkowski received Polish citizenship.

Starting from 2006 A. Sładkowski worked at the Department of Logistics and Industrial Transportation of Silesian University of Technology. In 2007 A. Sładkowski was elected to the position of ordinary professor (full professor), and in 2009 he was elected as the head of the Department of Logistics and Industrial Transportation. In 2013, he was re-elected to a new term (next four years). In 2017, in connection with the fusion of departments prof. A. Sladkowski was elected on the position of head of the Department of Logistics and Aviation Technologies. In the years 2018-2020, he was the head of the Department of Logistics and Transport Technologies. Since 2021, he has been a professor at the Department of Rail Transport.

Since 2008 he worked as the assoc. dean on international cooperation. He was the coordinator of international programs LPP-ERASMUS, CEEPUS, TEMPUS. He currently functions as coordinator of the programs ERASMUS+ & CEEPUS and also as Coordinator for International Relations at the Faculty of Transport and Aviation Engineering.

In May 2021, the Rector of the Silesian University of Technology appointed prof. A. Sładkowski to perform the function of the Rector's Plenipotentiary for Cooperation with the Countries of Central and Eastern Europe and Central Asia.

He was repeatedly awarded by the Rector of the Silesian University of Technology for his achievements in scientific and organizational activities (2006, 2008, 2010, 2012 - 2014, 2016 – 2019, 2021, 2023). In 2020, prof. A. Sładkowski received the Individual Award of the Rector of the Silesian University of Technology for lifetime achievement.

Since 2006 he has headed the international scientific journal "Transport Problems" as an Editor-in-Chief.

He is a member of the editorial boards of several international scientific journals.

He is the coordinator, chairman, and vice-chairman of several international scientific conferences and is a member of the program and scientific committees of many conferences.

From 2010-2013 he was the chairman of the scientific council of the Research and Development Centre of Hoisting Machinery and Mechanical Conveying Equipment "DETRANS".

In 2013 Ural State University of Railway Transport (USURT, Ekaterinburg, Russia) awarded A. Sładkowski the title of Professor Honoris Causa of USURT.

In the same year, A. Sładkowski was elected a full member (academician) of the Russian Academy of Transport. He cooperates with the Ural Branch of RAT.

In 2013 A. Sładkowski was awarded by Szeged University (Hungary) with the title Excellent Cooperation Partner.

In 2014 he was awarded the Medal of the National Education Commission of Poland.

In 2015 East-Ukrainian National University named after V. Dahl awarded A. Sładkowski the title of Doctor Honoris Causa of EUNU.

In 2016 he was awarded the Badge "Distinguished for Silesian University of Technology".

In 2016 he was accepted as a member of the Union of Scientists in Bulgaria. In addition, in 2016 he was accepted to the Federation of Scientific and Technical Unions in Bulgaria as a member of the Club of Mechanical Engineers (territorial organization of scientific and technical experts in Ruse).

In 2017 he was elected an Honorary Member of the Scientific Council of the Institute of Machine Mechanics of the Georgian National Academy of Sciences (GNAS).

In 2018 "Angel Kanchev" University of Ruse (Bulgaria) awarded A. Sładkowski the title of Doctor Honoris Causa of this university.

In 2019 the Dnieper National University of Railway Transport named after Academician V. Lazaryan (DIIT, Ukraine) awarded A. Sładkowski the title of Professor Honoris Causa. In the same year, the Faculty of Transport Engineering of the University of Pardubice awarded prof. A. Sładkowski medal in recognition for long and successful cooperation.

In 2021, the President of the Republic of Poland, Andrzej Duda, awarded A. Sładkowski the Knight's Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta for outstanding merits in research and teaching.

According to the recommendation of the Faculty of Engineering, on October 5, 2023, the Academic Council of the Akaki Tsereteli State University in Kutaisi decided to assign the title of Doctor Honoris Causa to prof. Aleksander Sładkowski.

In 2024 the European Academy of Architecture awarded the honorary title of visiting professor to Aleksander Sładkowski.

He is a member of several scientific and technical societies.

He speaks Polish, Russian, Ukrainian and English.

He is married and has one son.

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