SHORT CV

Jun. 2019 - today: Scientific Associate

Mar. 2016 - Jun. 2019: Research Assistant

Oct. 2011 - Feb. 2016: Young researcher mentored by prof. dr. Jadran Faganeli and co-mentored by dr. Ingrid Falnoga. Title of doctoral dissertation: Composition and complexation of colloidal organic matter in coastal sea (Gulf of Trieste)

2007 - 2011: Undergraduate study of chemistry at the Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Technology (UL)

2003 – 2007 High School: Gimnazija Koper

COLLABORATION

ARRS PROJECTS

2018 - 2021 - Drivers that structure coastal marine microbiome with emphasis on pathogens – an integrated approach 2017 - 2020 - Stable isotopes in the study of the impact of increasing CO2 levels on C and Hg cycling in coastal waters

2014 - 2017 - Vegetation and hydrology of Ljubljansko barje in the past, present and future - a consequence of succession, human impact or climatic fluctuations?

EU PROJECTS 2018

2018 – 2022 - GoJelly – a gelatinous solution to plastic pollution (H2020) https://gojelly.eu/

2018 – 2022 - CHANGE - CHAlleNging Gender (In)Equality in science and research (H2020) https://www.change-h2020.eu/index.php

2014 – 2017 - SMS - Sensing toxicants in Marine waters makes Sense using biosensors (FP7-OCEAN 2013.1) http://www.project-sms.eu/

2013 – 2016 - EMODnet – Chemistry: European marine observation and data network (DG MARE)

2013 – 2016 - BALMAS: Ballast water management system for Adriatic Sea protection (Adriatic IPA Cross-border cooperation 2007-2013)

OTHER COLLABORATION

6 – 10. 4. 2016 Participation in oceanographic campaign SEAquest: Meso- and Sub-mesoscale Physico biogeochemical Dynamics in a Coastal NW Mediterranean Sea: Quantifying and Understanding Ecosystem Structure and Transport

7.1. – 3.3.2019 Research work within the framework of FEBS Short-term Fellowship at Dept. of Limnology & Bio-Oceanography University of Vienna, under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Gerhard J. Herndl

FIELD OF RESEARCH

Biogeochemistry – Since the PhD, my research area is focused on biogeochemical cycling of organic matter (mainly dissolved) in the coastal seas in connection with metals (metalloids).

Applied research – My current focus of research is focused on the research in the framework of GoJelly international project (H2020), where I am dedicated to the chemical characterization of mucus (and its stability) and jellyfish biomass from different species. The goal of the project is make added value products from jellyfish biomass (fertilizers, fish feed, collagen (cosmetics, nutrition) and food). The mucus released from jellyfish is an interesting biomaterial, which could be used to capture microplastic particles.

Analytical techniques:

• TOC and TN analysis using TOC-L Shimadzu

• Amino acid analysis using  High pressure high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)

• Inorganic nutrient analysis using SEAL QuAAtro39 – SFA Analyzer

• Elemental analysis (CHNS, Vario MICRO Cube - Elementar)

SELECTED (NEWER) PUBLICATIONS

BRATKIČ, Arne, KLUN, Katja, GAO, Yue. Mercury speciation in various aquatic systems using passive sampling technique of diffusive gradients in thin-film. Science of the total environment, 2019, vol. 663, str. 297-306. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.01.241

KRAUS, Romina, GRILLI, Federica, SUPIĆ, Nastjenjka, JANEKOVIĆ, Ivica, BRAILO, Marina, CARA, Magdalena, BRATOŠ CETINIĆ, Ana, CAMPANELLI, Alessandra, COZZI, Stefano, D'ADAMO, Raffaele, DJAKOVAC, Tamara, DUTOUR SIKIRIĆ, Mathieu, FLANDER-PUTRLE, Vesna, FRANCÉ, Janja, JOKSIMOVIĆ, Danijela, KLUN, Katja, KOLITARI, Jerina, KRALJ, Martina, KUŠPILIĆ, Grozdan, MARINI, Mauro, MATIĆ, Frano, MIKUS, Josip, NINČEVIĆ GLADAN, Živana, PANSERA, Marco, PEĆAREVIĆ, Marijana, PRECALI, Robert, PRUSINA, Ivana, RELITTI, Federica, SANTUCCI, Angela, SPECCHIULLI, Antonietta, ŠKALIC, Denis. Oceanographic characteristics of the Adriatic Sea - support to secondary HAOP spread through natural dispersal. Marine pollution bulletin, 2018, 27 st. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2018.10.062

KLUN, Katja, ŠKET, Primož, FALNOGA, Ingrid, FAGANELI, Jadran. Variation in colloidal organic matter composition and aggregation in coastal waters (Gulf of Trieste, Northern Adriatic Sea). V: The 21st International Symposium on Environmental Biogeochemistry, Oct. 13-18 2013, Wuhan, China, (Geomicrobiology journal, ISSN 0149-0451, Vol. 32, iss. 7, (2015)). New York: Crane, Russak. 2015, vol. 32, iss. 7, str. 609-615. https://doi.org/10.1080/01490451.2014.943855

KOGOVŠEK, Tjaša, TINTA, Tinkara, KLUN, Katja, MALEJ, Alenka. Jellyfish biochemical composition: importance of standardised sample processing. Marine ecology, Progress series, 2014, vol. 510, str. 275-288. https://doi.org/10.3354/meps10959 

  Link to COBISS, a Slovenian database containing all my publications