Group Leader
Researchers & Assistants
Game theory, citizen science, statistical analyses of ecological metadata. Member of STEP CHANGE, PRO-COAST and BIG PICTURE projects. Co-developer of the SRNA citizen science app.
Žiga obtained a doctoral degree in Mathematical Sciences at UP FAMNIT, focusing on indirect reciprocity and behavioral strategy elicitation. He collaborated with the Fisheries Research Institute of Slovenia on lamprey data analysis.
Mammal ecology and conservation with a focus on ungulates. Uses ecological modelling to study spatial ecology, behaviour, and conservation of chamois under climatic and anthropogenic pressures. Collaborates on ungulate research across Croatia, Slovenia, Spain, and Italy.
Konstantinos earned his PhD at the University of Ioannina (Greece) on the ecology and conservation of the Balkan chamois, and holds an MSc in Crop Science from the Agricultural University of Athens. He has contributed to monitoring and conservation work in Greek protected areas and to citizen science for the Balkan chamois.
PhD in Computer Science. Hybridization between wild and domestic species. Machine learning for genetic marker identification and bioinformatic pipeline development.
Urška completed degrees in Bioinformatics and Nature Conservation and is pursuing Data Science. Involved in the P1-0386 Conservation biology research programme, teaching bioinformatics and genetics at UP FAMNIT.
PhD in Conservation Biology. eDNA analysis for wild ungulate ecology. Part of the BGE project. Integrates genetic, behavioural, and spatial data for population genetic dynamics.
Aja holds a bachelor’s and master’s in Conservation Biology from UP FAMNIT. She teaches conservation biology, bioinformatics and genetics and is part of the Biodiversity Genomics Europe (BGE) project.
Assistant professor in organic chemistry and biochemistry. Focuses on tick ecology and mammal diet analysis. Involved in BGE and BEPREP projects.
Alenka holds a Master’s in Nature Conservation from UP FAMNIT. Her thesis and publications focused on tick ecology and infestation. She works in the lab analysing the diet of different mammals.
Wildlife monitoring via camera traps and eDNA. BIG PICTURE and PRO-COAST. International research experience across Taiwan, Thailand, Saudi Arabia, Germany, Angola, and Peru.
Marko holds a master’s in environmental science from the University of Zagreb. He teaches organic chemistry and biochemistry and contributes statistical analyses in R and genetic analyses to the team.
Teaches bioinformatics and genetics. Camera trap fieldwork, hybridization and immunogenetics research. Key developer of the SRNA citizen science platform.
Luka holds a bachelor’s and master’s in Conservation Biology. He contributed to ungulate density estimation across Slovenia and was engaged in BIG PICTURE, PRO-COAST and STEP CHANGE.
WGS and metagenomics big data analysis. Previously at Seven Bridges Genomics developing CRISPR pipelines for Bristol Myers Squibb. Teaches Introduction to Bioinformatics.
Stefan holds a master’s in molecular biology from the University of Belgrade. His work focuses on extracting biologically meaningful insights from large-scale WGS and metagenomic datasets.
Laboratory molecular analyses and whole-genome sequencing. Research on alpine ibex inbreeding in Slovenia and common rock partridge genetics in the Balkans.
Urška holds a master’s in Nature Conservation from UP FAMNIT. Experienced in a range of laboratory techniques and genetic analyses, with a particular focus on whole-genome sequencing.
Research and teaching assistant. Teaches practical organic chemistry and biochemistry. Establishing an Oxford Nanopore sequencing workflow. Population genetics of chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra). Curates the group’s sample database and manages its social media.
Nikola holds a master’s in molecular biology from the University of Zagreb. Before joining UP FAMNIT he worked on DNA barcoding and phylogenetic studies of aquatic insects and cave spiders, faunistic spider projects, and speleological field research.
Administration
Project administrator and coordinator. Horizon Programme management, financial planning, and project applications. Supports PI Prof. Elena Bužan and the research group.
Lea holds a master’s in ethnology and cultural anthropology from the University of Ljubljana, and later specialized in tourism and rural development project coordination. She has worked in R&I for 3 years, mainly on the Horizon Programme.
Project manager responsible for the financial management of large-scale international research projects. Expertise spanning research, project management, and the financial and administrative implementation of EU-funded projects.
Sonja holds a PhD in Molecular Biology and Biochemistry from the University of Zagreb. She has worked as a postdoctoral researcher, a project advisor at the Ruđer Bošković Institute, a special advisor to Croatia’s Minister of Science and Education, and a senior advisor and National Contact Point at the Agency for Mobility and EU Programmes (Horizon Europe).
Works in the project office at the University of Primorska, providing support in project reporting, budgeting, financial planning, administration, and coordination of large-scale international and national research projects.
Tjaša completed her master’s studies in International Business at the School of Economics and Business, University of Ljubljana.