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
Master of Science (M.Sc.) in Chemistry at the Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, ETH Zurich in Switzerland (GPA 5.65/6)
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
Experience
Associate Professor at the Department of Chemistry of the University of Turku in Finland
Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Science and Medicine of the University of Fribourg in Switzerland
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
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
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
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
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
Undergraduate Research Project in the Diederich Research Group, ETH Zurich, Switzerland, working on the design, synthesis, and characterization of redox-active resorcinarenes
Undergraduate Research Project in the Carreira Research Group, ETH Zurich, Switzerland, working on the synthesis and characterization towards 5-spyrocyclopropane isoxazolidines
Service
Member and Executive Board (since 2023) (SYA). Establishing the Swiss Young Network for Science Policy and Diplomacy (SYNESPOD)
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
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
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
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
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
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
Honours & Awards
Distinguished/Young Scientist Award – GCDM
Helvetica Lectureship at the SCS Fall Meeting
JSP Fellow at the Bürgenstock Conference
Nomination to the Academia.Net
Finalist of the Women Interactive Materials Award (WIMA)
Elected member of the Swiss Young Academy
Elected member of the Global Young Academy
Zeno Karl Schindler / EPFL Award for research contribution to sustainable development
Featured in Women Scientists at the Forefront of Energy Research, ACS Energy Letters
Green Talent Awardee 2020
Featured in the 1 Million Women in STEM Initiative
Best Presentation Award at the NanoGe Fall Meeting 2019
Helvetica Prize of the Swiss Chemical Society
Element of the Periodic Table of Younger Chemists, IUPAC
CAS Future Leader 2019, American Chemical Society, USA (details, C&EN News)
Best Presentation Award, Swiss Snow Symposium, Saas Fee, Switzerland
Special Award of the Dean for Exceptional Performance, EPFL
Best Presentation Award, Swiss Chemical Society Fall Meeting, EPFL
Dositeja Fund for Young Talents Scholarship for International Studies for six
consecutive years: 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, and 2016.
Scholarship Award for Master studies, ETH Zurich
Best Presentation Award, Student Symposium at F. Hoffmann-La Roche in Basel
Serbian Chemical Society Award for the Best Students, University of Belgrade
Eurobank EFG Laureate, Scholarship for Distinguished Serbian Students
Best Student of the Class at the Faculty of Chemistry, University of Belgrade
Studenica Foundation Fellowship
Hemofarm Foundation Fellowship
Serbian Ministry of Science and Education Fellowship
Đoka Vlajković Foundation Fellowship
Best Student Award, Požarevac School of Mathematics and Natural Sciences
Award for research in Chemistry, Youth Bios Olympiad, St. Petersburg, Russia
Vuk Karadžić Awards for Special Achievements During Education
Commendation from His Royal Highness Aleksandar II Karađorđević
Award at the State Competition in Physics, Physics Olympiad qualification