NIB

(last update: January 2025)

ALL PUBLICATIONS COBISS: https://bib.cobiss.net/bibliographies/si/webBiblio/bib201_20250307_151808_a6536803.html

EDUCATION
2006   PhD in Biology and Biotechnical Sciences
          The University of Ljubljana, Biology (Ecology), Slovenia
          mentor: Bojan Sedmak
2001   B.Sc. &M.Sc. (University diploma)
          University of Ljubljana, Biotechnical Faculty, Study of Microbiology, Slovenia

CURRENT POSITIONS
2021–    Leader of the working unit Ecotoxicology inside the Department of Genetic Toxicology and Cancer Biology at National Institute of Biology, Slovenia
2019–    Scientific affiliation: Senior Research Associate at the Department of Genetic Toxicology and Cancer Biology, National Institute of Biology, Slovenia
2015–    Academic affiliation: Assistant professor in the field of Microbiology at the University of Ljubljana, Biotechnical Faculty, Slovenia

MANAGEMENT FUNCTIONS AND ABILITIES
- 2021-today: head of the working unit Ecotoxicology at the Department of Genetic Toxicology and Cancer Biology, National Institute of Biology, Slovenia
- 2008-2023: leader at NIB of the project activities in the frame of the Contract with the Ministry of Defense of Slovenia, an expert in the case of an attack with biological weapons and means of mass destruction as well as conventional terrorist means
- 2018-2021: Interreg Alpine Space project Eco-AlpsWater (the role of scientific communication manager, WP leader, steering committee member)
- 2021-2024: leader of the promotion of citizen science concept with digital platform www.ciano.si and many educational YouTube videos
- 2012-2024: promotion of science through the publication of popular articles for newspapers and popular science magazines, interviews for various
media, exhibitions for the general public and popular scientific lectures at various occasions (Researcher’s night, House of experiments,
conferences) ...
- 2012-2018: for the needs of the Environmental Agency (ARSO) I managed projects for regular annual biological monitoring of the ecological quality of inland waters for the biological element phytoplankton and phytobenthos, furthermore, I managed several expert opinions for ARSO on environmental questions regarding cyanobacterial issues or ecotoxicological testing (applicative projects)
- 2012-2017: for contracting authorities (Cinkarna Celje, Kemis) I managed projects for biological monitoring and testing of acute toxicity
(applicative projects)

SUPERVISION OF GRADUATE STUDENTS AND POSTDOCTORAL FELLOWS
- Number of PhD Student mentorship: 2 (Tinkara ROZINA and Maša JABLONSKA
- Master Student (co)mentorship: (Maša KOROŠEC, Sara MILAVEC, Maja ŽENKO, Tilen NOTERSBERG, Nika ŽALEC, Karin LEBEN, Maša
ZUPANIČIČ, Nikolaj MAVREK, Maruša KERENČIČ, Barbara DOMEVŠČIK, Eva CERKVENIK)
- Student (co)mentorship: (Janja ZABUKOVNIK, Anja HAJSAN, Anja ZAKRAJŠEK, Neža LESJAK)
- High School research (co)mentorship: (Martin ZADRAVEC, Manca ČRNIČ, Eva SKELEDŽIJA, Aleksandra KRAJNC, Anja PAVŠIČ, Petra ZADRAVEC) -> 50% were AWARDED; see section AWARDS

TEACHING ACTIVITIES
- 2014-2025: conducting practical exercises on the topic of "Microbial diversity and identification of algae and cyanobacteria" for undergraduate students of Microbiology at the University of Ljubljana
- 2018: conducting a practical exercise on the topic of »Ecotoxicology« for postgraduate students of Veterinary sciences at the University of Ljubljana
- 2011-2012: conducting practical exercises on the topic of "Genetic toxicology" for undergraduate students of the University of Nova Gorica

INSTITUTIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES
2021–         Head of the work unit Ecotoxicology at NIB
2021–         Public Relations Committee, NIB
2019–         Biological Library Inventory Commission, NIB
2018–         Deputy for Patent Commission, NIB
2018–         Archivist deputy in GLP lab, NIB
2017–         Member of the Business Committee, NIB
 
MEMBERSHIPS OF SCIENTIFIC SOCIETIES
2022–2025 - core group member of experts in "Water and Biodiversity" at Water Europe
2024–2028 - Member of CYANOACTION COST action (ES 23160)2021–         Member of Slovenian Microbiological Society
2020–         Associated Member of University of Ljubljana, Biotechnical Faculty, Study of Microbiology, Slovenia
2018–2021  Member od DNAquaNet COST action (CA 15219)
2019–         Member of FEPS (Federation of the European Phycological Societies)
2019–         Member of international group The Science Advisory Board
2016–2018  Representative of Slovenia for phytobenthos biological element within the group Ecostat as part of a working group of the Water Framework Directive - Phase 3 intercalibration
2012–2016  Member of CyanoCOST action (ES 1105)
2021–Editorial Board of Acta Biologica Slovenica, Slovenia
2021–Member of Slovenian Microbiological Society
2020–Associated Member of University of Ljubljana, Biotechnical Faculty, Slovenia
2019– Member of FEPS (Federation of the European Phycological Societies)
2016–2018 Representative of Slovenia for phytobenthos biological element within the group Ecostat as part of a working group of the Water
Framework Directive

MAJOR COLLABORATIONS
2018–2023   International collaborations (scientific project): Rainer Kurmayer, Limnological Centre Mondsee, University of Innsbruck, Austria; Nico Salmaso, Fondazione Edmund Mach, Italy; Isabelle Domaizon, INRAE, France
2015–2023   Collaboration with national public bodies (projects and expertise): Ministry of Environment, Slovenian Environment Agency, Slovenian Water Agency, and Ministry of Defence
2010–2020   Collaborations with companies: Water Management Bureau Maribor d.o.o., Cinkarna Celje d.o.o., Kemis d.o.o., Arhel & Etabo d.o.o., and municipalities Ljubljana, Bled and Vrhnika

AWARDS
- 2024: Maruša KERENČIČ (Eleršek was a mentor of her MSc and Maruša is a member of my research team) was awarded as the most successful
microbiologist at the University of Ljubljana
- 2022: Tina Eleršek (and her young researcher) Maša Zupančič received the Environmental Award for environmentally friendly service, awarded by
Eko Sklad and Časnik Finance, for the Ciano SLO platform
- 2021: Prometheus award for excellence in science communication awarded by Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts for "V vrtincu sprememb"
- 2021: Co-author of “The best paper” in Journal Toxins in 2020 (MANTZOUKI, Evanthia … ELERŠEK, Tina, et al. Toxins, 2018, 10, 4, 1-24) …
[COBISS.SI-ID 4909903]
- 2021 - 2024: as a (co)mentor of 3 high school research projects, we were awarded with 3 Krka Prize for young researchers (Martin ZADRAVEC,
Manca ČRNIČ, Petra ZADRAVEC)
- EQAT international certificate for identification and quantification of phytoplankton and phytobenthos species (2011, 2013, 2015 and 2016)
- 2015: 3rd place at the Competition for Best Short Video on Science, Science on the Road: knowledge and ideas in draft [COBISS.SI-ID 3123791]
- 2014: Prometheus award for excellence in science communication awarded by Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts for monograph about
Cyanobacteria
[COBISS.SI-ID 273862656]

SHORT DESCRIPTION OF THE EU COORDINATING PROJECT DiMark (https://www.alpine-space.eu/project/dimark/)
Alpine lakes are facing anthropogenic challenges led by touristic pressures and eutrophication, worsening over time with climate change. Frequent cyanobacterial and algal blooms caused by eutrophication make waters unsuitable for drinking, recreation, and industry. Blooms are accompanied by decreased biodiversity and oxygen depletion, posing a risk to water ecosystem; cyanotoxins in blooms pose also a health risk. The challenges mentioned above can be addressed using novel satellite-based solutions and improved cooperation between academia and decisionmakers. The project objective is to improve freshwater management, using novel ecosystem-based approaches for climate change adaptation and disaster risk prevention.
The project will develop two innovative ready-to-use solutions: (1) an online visualisation tool with maps of the Alpine area for inspecting and comparing the water state, based on important freshwater markers, and (2) a model for cyano-risk prevention, enabling sustainable lake management while minimising health risk. Solutions will be developed using a multi-stakeholder co-development process, including academia, policy, SME, NGO and citizen stakeholders. The DiMark Transnational Network and Alpine lakes management strategy will enhance the sustainability of project results. The innovative aspect of the DiMark project is linking freshwater markers to satellite data. Establishing these links in a transnational approach is essential because some countries have experts for satellite data analyses, while others have experts for freshwater markers. In addition, water state depends on watersheds stretched across more countries (including border Alpine lakes). The project's main beneficiaries will be national/regional lake managers, decision makers and citizens who will experience better water quality and safety. Main results/changes are: (i) improved water quality, (ii) better response in case of water disaster management and (iii) improved lake biodiversity. More can be found at: https://www.alpine-space.eu/project/dimark/. More review and meta-analysis publications (as a first author) will soon be published.

MORE LINKS TO ACHIEVEMENTS
1) COBISS: https://bib.cobiss.net/bibliographies/si/webBiblio/bib201_20250307_151808_a6536803.html
2) ORCID iD 0000-0003-3296-3808
3) Resserach gate; https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Tina-Elersek
4) LinkedIn; https://si.linkedin.com/in/tina-eler%C5%A1ek-83755639
5) Citizen science portal: www.ciano.si