Main Focus

  • Materials for Energy
  • Applications of Synchrotron and Neutron Radiation in Materials Science
  • Degradation of Materials
  • Biomaterials for Biomedical Applications
  • Bioinspired Materials and Coatings
  • Geochemistry with Isotope Analysis
  • Sustainable Reprocessing & Recycling of Raw Materials
  • Environmental Remediation
  • Nanoscience
  • Cryogenics
  • Materials Science
  • Statistics
  • Surface Science and Spectroscopy
  • AFM Microscopy (C-AFM, MFM, EFM, SKPFM, current AFM, piezoelectricity)
  • Curriculum Vitae

    Positions 

    2024-present: Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions PostDoc Fellow

    2024-present: Group Leader of Surface Science for Future Materials (acronym SURFACEs)

    2023-2024: Alexander von Humboldt PostDoc Fellow 

    Education

    2018-2022 PhD in Nanosciences and Nanotechnologies, International Postgraduate School Jozef Stefan, Ljubljana, Slovenia

    2016-2018 MSc in Sustainability, Society and Environment, Biogeochemistry Module, University of Kiel, Germany

    2013-2015 MSc in Marine Geosciences, Geochemistry module, University of Kiel and GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel, Germany

    2010-2013 BSc in Geology, Geochemistry Module, University of Ljubljana, Slovenia

    Awards

    2024-2026 Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Award PostDoc Fellow

    2023-2024 Alexander von Humboldt Award PostDoc Fellow

    2023 Award for Distinguished Women in Cryogenics and Superconductivity

    2023 Award Women Engineers You Should Know

    2023 Editor´s Choice Award for Publication

    2018-2022 ARRS Scholarship Young Researcher

    Volunteering

    2024-present: Member of MSCA Working Groups:

    • Policy (achieving impact on policy)
    • Sustainability (foster sustainable initiatives, actions, and measures)
    • Bridging Science and Business (promoting the need to bridge science and industry)
    • Genders, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (GEDI)

    2024 - 2025: Group Leader of Diversity and Equality PostDos Working Group

    2023 - 2024: External PostDoc Representative

    2023- 2024: GO Department PostDoc Representative

    Collaborations

    I collaborate with European and international partners:

    • Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Germany
    • University of Kiel, Germany
    • Synchrotron Elettra and FERMI, Italy
    • Budapest Neutron Centre, Hungary
    • Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI), Switzerland
    • Nanocenter, Slovenia
    • Jozef Stefan Institute, Slovenia
    • National Instiute of Chemistry, Slovenia
    • Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO), Australia
    • University of Sydney, Australia
    • kiutra, Germany
    • Senai FIEMG, Brazil
    • National Research Council of Italy (CNR)
    • Forschungszentrum Jülich, Germany
    • InnoRenew CoE, Slovenia
    • Tehnische Hochschule Georg Agricola, Germany
    • Zollverein - UNESCO, Germany
    • Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Germany

    Further activities

    • Co-founder of M.S.C.A. (Mind, Soul, Curiosity and Advocacy) STEMinist initiation (volunteering)
    • Ally of 2SLGBTQ+ and Disability Ally
    • Women, Minorities and STEMinist Week 2024 and 2025 main organiser (volunteering)

    Moto

    "One’s scientific soul (essence) is not determined by their scientific field nor their research interest, but by their capability to connect different aspects and views into a combined harmony of scientific results and ideas," this is my main motivation and state-of-mind that have driven me to become a STEMinist and researcher. My passion is to find out the truth, which is out there to be found.

    Women and Minorities in STEM

    STEMinist Perspectives: Patricia and Charu with MSCA


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