About

I lead the Smart Energy Materials Group as Associate Professor in Materials Chemistry at the Department of Chemistry of the University of Turku in Finland since September 2024, as well as at the Adolphe Merkle Institute since September 2020 as Swiss National Science Foundation PRIMA Fellow and Assistant Professor at the University of Fribourg in Switzerland. I obtained my PhD in Chemistry at the Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences of ETH Zurich with Prof. F. Diederich in 2017 and I have been a postdoctoral researcher and scientist in the Laboratory of Photonics and Interfaces with Prof. M. Graetzel at EPFL. I have been recognized by a number of fellowships and awards. More information on my education, experience, service, and recognitions is detailed below.

Education

Doctor of Sciences (Dr.Sc.) at the Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, ETH Zurich, Switzerland (defense: July 19, 2017) on “Photoredox-Switchable Molecular Grippers: Design, Synthesis, and Spectroscopic Investigation” with Prof. François Diederich

Oct 2013 – July 2017

Master of Science (M.Sc.) in Chemistry at the Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, ETH Zurich in Switzerland (GPA 5.65/6)

Sep 2011 – May 2013

Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) in Chemistry at the Faculty of Chemistry, University of Belgrade, Serbia (GPA 10/10) as Best student of the generation

Oct 2007 – Sep 2011

Experience

Associate Professor at the Department of Chemistry of the University of Turku in Finland

Since Sep 2024

Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Science and Medicine of the University of Fribourg in Switzerland

Since Jan 2021

Group Leader at Soft Matter Physics, Adolphe Merkle Institute, University of Fribourg, Switzerland as SNSF-funded PRIMA Fellow and associated PI of the NCCR Bioinspired Materials program

Since Sep 2020

Scientist at the Laboratory of Photonics and Interfaces (LPI), EPFL, Switzerland working on the molecular engineering of organic materials for dye-sensitized and hybrid perovskite solar cell devices with Prof.  Michael Graetzel

Oct 2017 – Sep 2020

Doctoral Candidate at the Laboratory of Organic Chemistry, Diederich Research Group, ETH Zurich, Switzerland on supramolecular chemistry of molecular grippers controlled by physical stimuli with the support of the SNSF-funded project No. 140211 “Structure and Function of Supramolecular Systems by Design” of Prof. François Diederich

Oct 2013 – Aug 2017

Industrial Internship at F. Hoffmann-La Roche, Basel, Switzerland, with Dr. Matthias Nettekoven working on the utility of photochemistry in medicinal chemistry through molecular design and synthesis

May – Aug 2013

Visiting Researcher at the Department of Chemistry, University of Houston, USA, with Prof. Ognjen Miljanić working on dynamic self-sorting of combinatorial libraries of aromatic imines

July – Oct 2010

Undergraduate Research Project in the Diederich Research Group, ETH Zurich, Switzerland, working on the design, synthesis, and characterization of redox-active resorcinarenes

Sep – Dec 2012

Undergraduate Research Project in the Carreira Research Group, ETH Zurich, Switzerland, working on the synthesis and characterization towards 5-spyrocyclopropane isoxazolidines

May – July 2012

Service

Member and Executive Board (since 2023) (SYA). Establishing the Swiss Young Network for Science Policy and Diplomacy (SYNESPOD)

Since Dec 2022

Member and Co-Leader of the Science Advice Working Group (GYA). Contributing to the international transdisciplinary dialogue on global issues with a particular focus on science policy and science diplomacy

Since Jun 2022

Faculty of the University of Fribourg (UniFR).
Contributing to the Council at the Faculty of Science and Medicine of the University of Fribourg in Switzerland

Since Apr 2021

Networks Team Leader at European Young Chemists’ Network (EYCN). Leading a team of 15 young scientists with the aim to support and empower young chemists through international actions and partnerships

Mar 2019 – Mar 2021

Laboratory Manager, Laboratory of Photonics & Interfaces, EPFL (LPI). Responsible for the equipment, organization, and safety of a laboratory with 20 researchers and students in the Laboratory of Photonics and Interfaces

Aug 2018 – Sep 2020

Laboratory Manager, Diederich Research Group, ETH Zurich (LOC). Responsible for the equipment, organization, and safety of an organic chemistry laboratory with 4–5 researchers and 6 students at ETH Zurich

Jan 2014 – Jul 2017

Committee of the Society for Women in Natural Sciences (WiNS). Committee member (2015, 2017) and president (2016); organization of events in the Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences at ETH Zurich

Jan 2015 – July 2017

Honours & Awards

Dec 2023

Distinguished/Young Scientist Award – GCDM

Dec 2023

Helvetica Lectureship at the SCS Fall Meeting

Aug 2023

JSP Fellow at the Bürgenstock Conference

May 2023

Nomination to the Academia.Net

Jan 2023

Finalist of the Women Interactive Materials Award (WIMA)

Oct 2022

Elected member of the Swiss Young Academy

May 2022

Elected member of the Global Young Academy

Feb 2022

Zeno Karl Schindler / EPFL Award for research contribution to sustainable development

Nov 2021
Dec 2020

Green Talent Awardee 2020

Aug 2020

Featured in the 1 Million Women in STEM Initiative

July 2020

Best Presentation Award at the NanoGe Fall Meeting 2019

Nov 2019

Helvetica Prize of the Swiss Chemical Society

Aug 2019

Element of the Periodic Table of Younger Chemists, IUPAC

June 2019

CAS Future Leader 2019, American Chemical Society, USA (details, C&EN News)

May 2019

Best Presentation Award, Swiss Snow Symposium, Saas Fee, Switzerland

Jan 2019

Special Award of the Dean for Exceptional Performance, EPFL

Dec 2018

Best Presentation Award, Swiss Chemical Society Fall Meeting, EPFL

Sep 2018

Dositeja Fund for Young Talents Scholarship for International Studies for six
consecutive years: 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, and 2016.

Dec 2011 – Dec 2016

Scholarship Award for Master studies, ETH Zurich

Oct 2013

Best Presentation Award, Student Symposium at F. Hoffmann-La Roche in Basel

July 2013

Serbian Chemical Society Award for the Best Students, University of Belgrade

Dec 2012

Eurobank EFG Laureate, Scholarship for Distinguished Serbian Students

Dec 2011

Best Student of the Class at the Faculty of Chemistry, University of Belgrade

Oct 2011

Studenica Foundation Fellowship

Nov 2009 – Nov 2011

Hemofarm Foundation Fellowship

Nov 2009 – Nov 2011

Serbian Ministry of Science and Education Fellowship

Nov 2008 – Nov 2010

Đoka Vlajković Foundation Fellowship

Nov 2008 – Nov 2009

Best Student Award, Požarevac School of Mathematics and Natural Sciences

June 2007

Award for research in Chemistry, Youth Bios Olympiad, St. Petersburg, Russia

Sep 2007

Vuk Karadžić Awards for Special Achievements During Education

June 2007

Commendation from His Royal Highness Aleksandar II Karađorđević

June 2007

Award at the State Competition in Physics, Physics Olympiad qualification

Apr 2007