Wojciech Kazimierz Gwarek was born on September 13, 1947, in Skarżysko Kamienna. He has lived in Warsaw since 1950. There, he graduated from Elementary School No. 28 (1961) and the XLIX Zygmunt Modzelewski High School (1965) (now Johann Wolfgang Goethe High School).

In 1970, he graduated with honors from the Faculty of Electronics at the Warsaw University of Technology and began working at the Faculty’s Institute of Radioelectronics.

In 1973-1974, as a Kościuszko Foundation scholarship holder, he completed a one-year postgraduate program at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (USA), where he completed a one-year course at the Center for Advanced Engineering Study and obtained a Master of Science in Electrical Engineering. In 1977, he received his PhD in technical sciences from the Warsaw University of Technology for his distinguished thesis “Numerical Analysis of a Single-Diode Microwave Mixer,” and in 1988, his habilitation for his thesis on the analysis of two-dimensional wave circuits. Since 1994, he has been an associate professor at the Warsaw University of Technology. In 2000, he was awarded the academic title of professor, and in 2007, he became a full professor. In 2017, he retired from full-time employment at the Warsaw University of Technology, which only slightly limited his activity in the Polish and international scientific community.

Since 2018, he has been a member of the European Research Council (EPC) panel evaluating the most prestigious European Advanced Grants.

At the Warsaw University of Technology, in addition to his teaching, he held a number of academic positions, including Deputy Director for Education at the Institute of Radioelectronics (1984-1987). From 2005 to 2016, he headed the Department of Microwave and Radiolocation Technology.

He exerted a significant influence on shaping the electronics and telecommunications curriculum as an active member of numerous program committees and the head of the “Radioelectronics and Multimedia Techniques” specialization. He supervised nine doctoral students. He is also co-author (with Professor Tadeusz Morawski) of one of the fundamental academic textbooks, “Theory of the Electromagnetic Field” (Wydawnictwa Naukowo-Techniczne, Warsaw 1978, 1985), also published in its supplementary edition, “Pola i fale electromagneticczne” (Wydawnictwa Naukowo-Techniczne, Warsaw 1990). This work is one of the fundamental academic textbooks for electronics and telecommunications faculties in Poland.

Throughout his tenure, Professor Gwarek was actively involved in the work of the Faculty and the University. He served as chairman of the Faculty Committee for Awards and Distinctions for four terms. At the University level, he was a member of the Senate Committee for International Cooperation and (for three terms) a member of the Rector’s Committee for Awards and Distinctions.

While still employed at the Warsaw University of Technology, he lectured and conducted research at numerous other centers, including Algeria (1980-1984), France (Brest, 1991-1992, Nice 1994), and Germany (Duisburg, 1989). From 1992 to 1993, he co-founded the French-Polish University of New Information and Communication Technologies in Poznań and headed the Faculty of Electronics and Physics at that university.

Wojciech K. Gwarek’s research specialization is microwave technology, particularly solving field problems arising in this technique. Since 1984, he has focused on computer simulations of field simulations in the time domain. He studies both the theory of electromagnetic analysis algorithms using FD-TD (finite difference time domain) and TLM (transmission line matrix) methods, as well as the applications of computer programs developed using them. He is a recognized expert in electromagnetic simulations, including space research equipment, antennas, microwave telecommunications applications, waveguide and fiber optic technology, resonators and filters, and microwave oven design. His experience in this field has benefited many leading global companies and research laboratories, such as the renowned American Jet Propulsion Laboratory and the National Radio Astronomy Observatory. Since 1991, he has been an active consultant to numerous global industrial companies, including those in the USA, Canada, Finland, Sweden, and Germany.

His research on electromagnetic modeling has resulted in a series of application computer programs (developed initially independently and then with his team) introduced to the global market. The first QuickWave software was introduced to the market by a German company in 1990. Since 1997, QWED, founded by Professor Gwarek and his colleagues, has been responsible for the development and commercialization of this series of programs. From 1999 to 2008, these programs were also distributed under the name Concerto by the British company Vector Fields, and later by the British corporation Cobham. QuickWave and Concerto software are currently used in leading industrial and research laboratories in more than a dozen countries worldwide. They are used to design various types of devices – from space technology and submillimeter waves to household microwave ovens and ovens used by food producers. QuickWave software has been honored with, among other awards, the prestigious European Union award (European Information Technology Prize, 1998), which annually recognizes the 25 best new IT products on the European market. Subsequently, QWED was twice awarded the title of Software Export Leader by the Polish Software Market Association. Wojciech K. Gwarek is the author of over 300 scientific publications, primarily in the field of electromagnetic modeling. Among his most valuable publications are a dozen or so in IEEE Transactions on Microwave Theory and Techniques, frequently cited in the international literature, several of which have been subsequently reprinted in books published by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. As of May 2019, the Google Scholar database lists 204 publications cited 1,623 times and gives him an H-index of 20.

Professor Gwarek is very active in the international scientific community. Throughout his career, he has served as a reviewer for many leading scientific journals and conferences worldwide, including: “IEEE Transactions on Microwave Theory and Techniques” (since 1988) and IEEE Microwave and Guided Wave Letters (since 1992). He served as a member of scientific committees of, among others, the European Microwave Conference (1991-1993, 1995), the IEEE International Microwave Symposium (1999-2007), and MIKON (since 1991).

Professor Gwarek’s significant activity was promoting Polish scientific and technical thought. He was frequently invited to deliver invited papers and lectures (with affiliation with the Warsaw University of Technology) at leading international scientific and industrial centers. For example, between 1994 and 2007, he delivered over thirty papers or individual lectures at various centers in more than a dozen countries. Twelve of these lectures were delivered as part of the prestigious Distinguished Microwave position he held from 2003 to 2005. Lecturer of the IEEE. He has also taught seven courses (series of 8-20 hours of lectures) at international centers for doctoral students and industry professionals in countries such as the USA, Finland, Norway, Sweden, Mexico, Israel, and Australia. He has reviewed professorial applications in Finland, Sweden, and the United Kingdom.

Professor Gwarek has received numerous awards and distinctions, including:

In Poland:
Award of the Scientific Secretary of the Polish Academy of Sciences (1988).
Award of the Minister of National Education for scientific achievements (1995).
Award of the Prime Minister for Outstanding National Scientific and Technical Achievement (1998).
Title of Master of Technology Warsaw 2000 (in the NOT competition).
Multiple awards from the Rector of the Warsaw University of Technology for scientific achievements.
Golden Cross of Merit (2001)
Medal of the National Education Commission (2016)
Abroad:
European Information Technology Award (1999).
Awarded Fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers – IEEE (2001).
IEEE Microwave Pioneer Award (2011). Typically, this award is given annually to one of the approximately 15,000 members of the IEEE Microwave Theory and Techniques Society for work that has proven fundamental to the field more than 20 years after its publication. In this case, it was Professor Gwarek’s original work on electromagnetic modeling, published in IEEE Transactions on Microwave Theory and Techniques between 1985 and 1988.