Key Researchers
The ISO-FOOD key researchers work at four different Jožef Stefan Institute departments from the fields of chemistry, physics and computer science.
Department of Environmental Sciences (DES) focuses on multidisciplinary research with emphasize on combination of physical, chemical and biological processes that influence the environment, man and human activities. The work is based on three main areas: development, optimisation and validation of analytical methods, study of geochemical processes that influence cycling and transformations of substances and elements, and environmental impact assessment which evaluates the risk that human activities present for human health and for the environment.
Prof. Milena Horvat (Female, DES) Head of Department of Environmental Sciences, Head of Ecotechnology Programme at the Jožef Stefan International Postgraduate School; Head of Centre of Excellence “Environmental Technology” 2004-2007, supported by the EU structural fund (nominated for the EU Regional Award 2008).
Assoc. Prof. Ljudmila Benedik (Female, DES) has over 30 years of experience in radiochemistry and works as a senior researcher. Research topics: development of analytical techniques for determination of natural and man-made radionuclides in various samples by alpha and gamma spectrometry, beta counting, liquid scintillation technique and neutron activation analysis.
Assoc. prof. Ester Heath (Female, DES), PhD in chemistry, senior researcher at JSI-O2, Head of Laboratory for organic Analytical Chemistry. Twenty years of experience in the field of organic analytical chemistry, particularly in environmental and biomedical research. Research topics: identification of pharmaceutical transformation products with GC-MS, determination of trace-level organic compounds in environmental or biological samples, water treatment technologies.
Dr. Radojko Jaćimović (Male, DES), Ph.D. in Nuclear Technology, honorary doctor of the National Polytechnic University of Odessa (2012), with 25 years of experience in neutron activation analysis (NAA).. Research topics: k0-standardization method of NAA (k0-NAA) for determination of major and micro elements in different matrices, development of nuclear and nuclear-related analytical methods, working on effective utilization of the Institute’s TRIGA Mark II research reactor for short, medium and long-lived radionuclides and on certification of natural matrix reference materials from well-known Institutions or Laboratories (IRMM, NIST, IAEA, BAM, ISPRA, etc.).
Dr. Tina Kosjek (Female, DES) has a PhD in Ecotechnology (2009) and 10 years of experience in the field of organic analytical chemistry, particularly in environmental and biomedical research. Research topics: identification of pharmaceutical transformation products with high resolution and tandem mass spectrometry, determination of trace-level organic compounds in environmental or biological samples, water treatment technologies.
Assoc. Prof. Sonja Lojen (Female, DES), PhD in geology, senior researcher at the Department of Environmental Sciences, Head of Group of Isotope Geochemistry. Research topics: isotope geochemistry – biogeochemical cycling and stable isotope fractionation of light elements, nitrogen cycling in soil-plant-water system, food web analysis, isotope ecology, palaeoclimate, isotope hydrogeology.
Prof. Radmila Milačič (F, DES) PhD in chemistry, is scientific counsellor, associated professor for the field of ecotechnology, Head of the Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry and assistant head of department. Research topics: speciation of organotin, Cr, Al, Cd, Pb, Fe and Zn in environmental, biological and food samples, development of analytical procedures for the determination of Fe, Pt and Ru in different samples of cancer cells and tissues, investigation of the partitioning of selected metals in the terrestrial environment and waste materials, biological availability of trace elements in sediments and soils, cycling of compounds with endocrine disrupting activity in the environment.
Assoc. Prof. Nives Ogrinc (Female, DES), PhD in chemistry, scientific counsellor with experience in stable isotope geochemistry, application of stable isotopes of light elements in food authentication, nutrient cycling, isotope hydrogeochemistry, linking of nutrient and trace metals (Hg) in the environment, lecturer at the Jožef Stefan International Postgraduate School.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Janez Ščančar (Male, DES), PhD in biology, senior researcher, Head of the Group for Inorganic Environmental Analytical Chemistry, lecturer at Jožef Stefan International Postgraduate School and University of Nova Gorica Research areas: speciation of organotin, Cr, Al, Cd, Pb, Fe and Zn in environmental and biological samples, Development of analytical procedures for the determination of Fe, Pt and Ru in different samples of cancer cells and tissues, biological availability of trace elements in sediments and soils, development of sample pre-treatment procedures for quantitative analysis of organic and inorganic compounds.
Dr. Polona Vreča (Female, DES), PhD in Geology, experience in stable isotope geochemistry, Quality Manager at the DES. Research topics: stable isotopes of C, N, O and H as tracers of environmental changes (research of water cycling and authentication of bottled water, research of biogeochemical cycling of C and N in lakes. She is responsible for implementation and maintenance of quality management system at the DES in the frame of accreditation according ISO/IEC 17025 gained at Slovene Accreditation in 2009 (certificate no. LP-090). She also collaborates with Metrology Institute of Republic of Slovenia in the frame of holders of national standards, amount of substance: soil and with European Association of National Metrology Institutes (EURAMET), Technical Committee for Quality (TC-Q). She has published more than 30 papers in peer-reviewed journals and more than 60 QA general and administrative procedures and reports.
Computer Systems Department (CSD) is primarily concerned with the design automation of computing structures and systems. Within this broad area, it concentrates particularly on meta-heuristic optimization approaches to engineering design and logistics problems as well as electronic system design and test. CSD also performs research in advanced ICT, aimed at acquiring, storing and managing data and knowledge to be used in the development of knowledge-based applications.
Assist. Prof. Barbara Koroušić Seljak (Female, CSD) is a senior researcher, contributing expertise in heuristic optimization and software modelling, in particular of eHealth systems. She is an Executive Director of EuroFIR AISBL and a member of the Slovenian Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism board of directors.
Department for Condensed Matter Physics (DCMP) is focused on the study of the structure and dynamics of disordered and partially ordered condensed matter at the atomic and molecular level with special emphasis on phase transitions. The purpose of these investigations is to discover the basic laws of physics governing the behaviour of these systems, which represent the link between perfectly ordered crystals on one side and amorphous matter, soft condensed matter and living systems on the other.
Prof. Maja Remškar (Female, DCMP), PhD in physics, and one of the pioneers in the field of nanotechnology in Slovenia and in general, scientific counsellor at the JSI. She is Lecturer at Jožef Stefan International Postgraduate School and at University in Ljubljana, invited professor at Notre Dame University, Indiana, US. Research areas: one and two-dimensional crystals, inorganic nanotubes, self-ordering of nanoparticles.
Department for Nanostructured Materials (DNM) focuses on research in the field of inorganic materials with specific physical properties that are a consequence of their structural and chemical phenomena at the nanostructural and atomic levels. The fields of research involve natural and manufactured ceramic materials as well as metals and intermetallic compounds. The basis of the research is to find relationships between the physical properties of a material and its structural and chemical properties by using electron microscopy techniques to reveal phenomena on the nanoscale.
Assoc. Prof. Saša Novak (F, DNM), PhD in Chemistry, scientific counsellor with experience in materials science and leader of the Group for Colloidal chemistry at the DNM. Research topics: development of new and improved nano(materials) and composites for biomedical and structural applications with the main stress in colloidal processing, characterization of potentially harmful inorganic nanoparticles (nano-TiO2).