New doctoral dissertation

Writing scientific papers is a complex and time-consuming process that involves topic analysis, source research, data evaluation, and proper structuring of the work. To effectively manage large amounts of information and ensure high-quality results, it is essential to use reliable information management tools. The VILNIUS TECH Library recommends using information management tools such as Mendeley, Zotero, or EndNote, which help efficiently collect literature sources, manage citations, automatically generate reference lists according to academic standards, and avoid getting lost in the abundance of information. These tools are freely available, so we encourage you to try them out and find the solution that best suits your needs – helping to reduce stress, save time, and ensure a smooth academic writing process. The VILNIUS TECH community has the opportunity to use the “VILNIUS TECH – APA 7th edition” citation style. This style complies with APA 7 guidelines and is available to EndNote, Mendeley, and Zotero users (it can be found in the list of citation styles), helping to ensure high citation standards. Mendeley is a free reference manager that can help you store, organize, note, share and cite references and research data. Mendeley is also an academic social network that enables you to share your research with others. Zotero –  is a free, easy-to-use tool to help you collect, organize, annotate, cite, and share research. Tutorials >>> EndNote – freely accessible online bibliographic tool that allows you to store, share and organize your citations so that you can access them from any computer. The free version is only available online, and the size of saved full-text articles is limited to 2 GB. Virtual guide Installing EndNote has more  features and capabilities, but this version is paid.

VILNIUS TECH Library invites you to follow the published new dissertations. The dissertation „Development and Investigation of Nanometric-Resolution Piezoelectric Systems for Nanosatellites Operating under Varying Environmental Temperature Conditions“ prepared at VILNIUS TECH by Laurynas Šišovas. The doctoral dissertation was prepared at Vilnius Gediminas Technical University in 2021–2025. Supervisor – Assoc. Prof. Dr Sergejus Borodinas, consultant – Assoc. Prof. Dr Andrius Čeponis. The dissertation was defended at the public meeting of the Dissertation Defence Council of the Scientific Field of Mechanical Engineering in the Aula Doctoralis Meeting Hall of Vilnius Gediminas Technical University at 10 a.m. on 13 April 2026. The dissertation investigates the application of piezoelectric actuators in nanosatellites. The research object is piezoelectric actuation systems operating at nanometre-level precision under temperature variations, vibrations, and other conditions typical of nanosatellites. The main objective of the dissertation is to develop a nanometre-resolution piezoelectric inertial rotary actuator intended for nanosatellite subsystems and to study it numerically and experimentally. The study aims to evaluate the influence of temperature on the actuator’s electromechanical characteristics and its response to dynamic loads. To achieve the study’s aim, a set of consecutive tasks is carried out: a literature review is performed to identify the operating principles of piezoelectric systems and their applicability in space missions; a numerical model of the Low Earth Orbit thermal environment is developed to assess how electromechanical characteristics depend on nanosatellite temperature profiles; based on these results, a numerical model of a nanometre-resolution piezoelectric rotary actuator is created and its characteristics are determined; and finally, experimental investigations are conducted to evaluate the electromechanical characteristics of the developed prototype under temperature conditions typical for nanosatellites. The dissertation consists of an introduction, four chapters, general conclusions, and lists of the referenced literature and the author’s publications on the dissertation topic. The Introduction discusses the research problem, the relevance of the work, and the research object. It formulates the aim and tasks, describes the research methodology, presents the scientific novelty and practical value of the results, and states the defended propositions. The First Chapter provides a literature analysis related to nanometre-resolution piezoelectric systems and their applications in space missions. The chapter concludes with a summary and refinement of the dissertation objectives. The Second Chapter describes the design of the nanometre-resolution piezoelectric rotary actuator intended for nanosatellites, including its structural composition and the interrelationships among its components. The Third and Fourth Chapters present the numerical and experimental results of piezoelectric transducer investigations, followed by their analysis and generalisation. Three scientific articles have been published on the dissertation topic: two in journals indexed in the Clarivate Analytics Web of Science database and one in conference proceedings, also indexed in the database. A patent related to the dissertation topic has been registered at the Lithuanian Patent Office. Six conference presentations related to the dissertation were delivered in Lithuania and abroad. Doctoral dissertation readers can search via VILNIUS TECH Virtual Library.

We invite you to visit the photography exhibition "Notes from India" by Algimantas Vėjalis, on display at Gallery A (Saulėtekio al. 14, second floor). “You will not see India in the mountains, you will not see India by the rivers, you will not see India in the cities – you will see India in people’s eyes…” – says photographer A. Vėjalis. A. Vėjalis has visited India on several occasions. The exhibition presents his observations of the seemingly simple and peaceful everyday life of a small Indian town. The photographs reveal the daily routines of local people and a distinct sense of spiritual calm, which, according to the author, is increasingly rare in today’s world, often overshadowed by existential anxiety. Exhibition presentation and meeting with the author on April 28 (Tuesday) at 4:00 p.m. The photography exhibition will be open until April 30.

Until April 30, the VILNIUS TECH community is invited to explore and test the Passport  (Euromonitor International) platform products – Passport Sustainability and Passport Innovation. Passport Sustainability measures sustainable product sales data and the prevalence of sustainability claims across multiple categories. It provides you with comprehensive insights into consumer and business attitudes towards sustainability to help you track performance of claims, understand consumer sentiment and craft effective sustainability strategies. Passport Innovation tracks new brand and sub-brand launches across the global digital shelf and also measures product expansion over time by country, retailer and category to learn when new products proliferate or get discontinued. Testing these products offers an opportunity to gain deeper insight into the latest market research tools, which can be valuable both in the study process and in conducting academic research. Please note that Passport (Euromonitor International) is a university-subscribed database providing comprehensive analysis of consumer behaviour, industries, forecasts, and demographic indicators across more than 200 countries worldwide. The platform is highly valued for its regularly updated data, reliable methodology, and the ability to easily compare markets. Access is available from VILNIUS TECH computer network or via VPN.