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Education

• 2014 – Ph.D. in Technical Sciences
• 2003 – Graduate Engineer of Textile Technology

Academic Experience

• 2022–present: Associate Professor
• 2020–2022: Head of Department of Textile Chemistry and Ecology
• 2017–2022: Assistant Professor
• 2014–2017: Senior Researcher
• 2011–2014: Assistant
• 2007–2011: Young Researcher

All at the University of Zagreb Faculty of Textile Technology

Scientific and Research Activity

Scientifically, educationally and professionally she works in the field of textile and leather finishing and care, focusing on the optimisation of washing process and the functionalisation of textiles in care. Her research focuses on alternative washing and cleaning agents and methods, the application of optical brighteners and UV absorbers in detergent formulations and investigations into the effects of artificial ageing on textile properties and the release of fibre fragments during washing, as well as the hygiene and washing of protective hospital textiles.

In the field of garment finishing, she researches denim finishing processes and special effects, auxiliaries and enzymes. She has published:

• 7 book chapters
• 36 scientific papers in journals
• 50 scientific papers in international conference proceedings
• 9 in domestic conference proceedings
• 3 professional papers in journals
• 4 professional papers in international conferences
• 3 in domestic conferences

She has participated in numerous projects including FP7, EUREKA, HRZZ, Erasmus+, Danube Region, and others, often as coordinator or collaborator. She leads the Croatian Science Foundation project DOK-2021-02-6750.

Awards include the Rector’s Award, 4 Dean’s Awards, INOVA 2022 Gold Medal and Special Prize, and INOVA 2023 Gold Medal, Special Prize, and Platinum Innovation Trophy.

She is Editor of the journal Tekstil (since 2022) and a member of the Faculty Teaching Committee. She also served as an expert jury member at INOVA-YOUTH 2025.

Contact

Education

Dr. Di Zhang received his training as a food biochemist at:

• Hefei University of Technology (China)
• China Agricultural University (China)
• Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institution (Australia)

Academic Experience

• Associate Professor, School of Food and Biological Engineering, Jiangsu University
• Head of Food Science and Engineering Department
• Deputy Director, International Cooperation Office of Jiangsu University
• Member, National Spices Standardization Committee (China)

His scientific focus includes:

1. Rapid detection techniques for nutrients and flavors in spices
2. Polyphenols and chronic disease prevention
3. Mycotoxins detection and control in traditional food

Scientific and Research Activity

Dr. Di Zhang has published over 60 scientific papers in high-impact journals such as: Trends in Food Science and Technology, Food Chemistry, European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, and Free Radical Biology and Medicine.

In the last five years, his research has been supported by:

• National Key Research and Development Program of China
• Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province
• China Postdoctoral Science Foundation
• Jiangsu Planned Projects for Postdoctoral Research Funds
• Key Research and Development Program of Zhenjiang City

Dr. Zhang has contributed to the drafting of 5 national and industry standards, and holds 5 invention patents in the field of spices.

Contact

Education

• Higher education – Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Trakia University, Stara Zagora (1982)
• PhD student – SAIM-BAS, section “Pathogenicity and Virulence of Microorganisms” (1984–1987)
• PhD (1987): “Changes in anti-infective defense against R and S forms of Pseudomonas pseudomallei in irradiated hosts”
• DSci (2011): “Pathogenomic studies on Yersinia and immune response after infection with wild and mutant strains”

Academic positions:

• Assistant Professor (1987–1997)
• Associate Professor (1997–2012)
• Professor (since 2012)
• Corresponding Member of BAS (2014)
• Regular Member of BAS (2024)

Academic Experience

Main research areas: Pathogenic bacteria, zoonoses, antimicrobial resistance, bacterial virulence, infectious immunology, host-pathogen interaction, ecology of pathogens.
Additional areas: New antibacterial/antifungal agents, molecular biology.

International specializations:

• Institut Pasteur, Paris, France (1992–1993)
• Institute for Agriculture and Fisheries, Melle, Belgium (1996, 2004–2010)
• University of Turku, Finland (2001)

Scientific and Research Activity

Publications: 315 total
– 157 in international journals
– 91 in Bulgarian journals
H-index: 29 (Scopus); 32 (Google Scholar)
Citations: ~2800 (Scopus), ~4000 (Google Scholar)
Patents: 2
Utility models: 2

Supervision: 7 PhD students, 6 MSc students

Honors and Awards

• Diploma of the Ministry of Education and Science (2003)
• Bulgarian Society for Microbiology Award for Scientific Achievements (2007)
• Honorary Citizen of Velingrad (2021)
• Award from the Union of Scientists in Bulgaria (2023)

Selected Projects

• ACIP A-08-2010: Role of migratory birds and ticks in zoonotic pathogen transmission (Institut Pasteur)
• ESA Project (2019–2021): Microbial degradation model for space life support systems
• KP-06-PN-36/7 (2019–2023): Antibiotic-resistant food pathogens in Bulgaria – National Science Foundation
• KP-06-PN-71/48 (2024–2027): Microbial biodegradation of cellulose waste for manned space missions – NSF

Contact

Education

• Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering, École Polytechnique de Montréal, Montréal, Canada

Academic Experience

• Head of the Environmental Engineering Division, Sharif Energy, Water, and Environment Institute (SEWEI)
• Visiting Professor, Laboratory of Chemical Engineering of Toulouse (INP/ENSIACET), Université de Toulouse, France
• Senior Research Associate, Research Institute of Petroleum Industry (RIPI), Tehran, Iran
• Postdoctoral Scholar, Clean Energy Research Center (CERC), University of British Columbia (UBC), Vancouver, Canada

Scientific and Research Activity

• Short scientific stay scholarship on sustainable development, Government of France
• FQRNT postdoctoral fellowship, Québec, Canada
• UBC Postdoctoral Fellow Office (PDFO) travel award, University of British Columbia
• Postdoctoral fellowship, University of British Columbia
• Outstanding doctoral dissertation honored by École Polytechnique de Montréal
• FQRNT doctoral scholarship, Québec, Canada

Contact

Education

• PhD thesis: Faculty of Technology Novi Sad, University of Novi Sad, Study program: Synthetic polymers, Graduation: 2006
• Title of defended thesis: “Percolation processes in the polymerization of olefins using transition metal compounds”

Academic Experience

• 1994–1997: Consultant at “POLY” Novi Sad (private consulting and engineering company for plastics, rubber, and other polymeric materials) and editor of Serbian journal “Svet plastike i gume”
• 1997–1999: Commercial manager and technical consultant at “VALORPLAST” (BASF representative), Belgrade
• 2001–present: Faculty of Technology Novi Sad, University of Novi Sad – from assistant to full professor in materials engineering

Scientific and Research Activity

Position: Full Professor, Department of Materials Engineering

Main Activities and Responsibilities:
Education and research in materials engineering, specializing in synthesis, modification, and characterization of polymers and bio-based polymer nanocomposites. Development of advanced materials through electrospinning, surface functionalization, biopolymer and biodegradable polymer nanocomposites.

Leadership Roles:
Head of Department of Materials Engineering (2020–2022), Vice-Dean for Science (2012–2018).

Significant Participation in International Projects:

• HORIZON-JU-CBE-2023: Coordinator for Faculty of Technology Novi Sad – Synthesis of bio-based and biodegradable polymers from renewable biowastes (2024–2028)
• H2020-BBI: Coordinator for Faculty of Technology Novi Sad – High-performance bio-based products for biomedical, cosmetic, and sanitary sectors (POLYBIOSKIN, 2017–2020)
• FP7 RP-DEMATEN: Participant – Reinforcement of research potential in nanostructured materials processing (2007–2011)

International Scientific Collaboration and Mobility:
Visiting Professor at University at Buffalo, NY, USA (Jun–Jul 2009), invited by Prof. Paras N. Prasad. Collaborated with many universities abroad and served on doctoral defense committees in Spain, France, and Belgium.