SHORT CV

Links to my projects and overall work:

Research gate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Tinkara_Tinta

Google scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=uL43BEcAAAAJ&hl=en

Personal web page: tinkaratinta.com

Education:

- Graduate studies: (2006 - 2011) – Environmental Science Graduate Study Programme, University of Nova Gorica, Slovenia

- Dissertation: Bacterial community structure and function in the Gulf of Trieste with some application studies, defensio: 8.12.2011, Supervisor: prof. dr. Valentina Turk, Title: Ph.D in Environmental Sciences (title awared on 31.5.2012)

- Undergraduate studies: (2001 - 2006) - University Undergraduate Programme Biochemistry, Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Technology, University of Ljubljana, Slovenia

- Bachelor's thesis: Impact of the fishfarm on the planktonic bacterial community in the pelagial of the Bay of Piran, 26.9.2006, Supervisors: Prof. dr. Matic Legiša in Prof. dr. Valentina Turk, Title: B. Sc in Biochemistry (‘old type’ of B. Sc. which is equivalent to the current Bologna M.Sc.), cum laude

Scientific titles and Professional experience:

- 2020-: Scientific Associate, Marine Biology Station Piran (MBP), National Institute of Biology (NIB), Slovenia (full time position)

- 7/2018-7/2020: Post Doctoral Researcher, Microbial Oceanography Lab, Department of Limnology and Bio-Oceanography, University of Vienna, Austria (full time position)

- 1/2015-6/2018: Scientific Associate, Marine Biology Station Piran (MBP), National Institute of Biology (NIB), Slovenia (full time position)

- 11/2016-5/2017: Scientific Associate, Department of Biotechnology and Systems Biology, NIB, Slovenia (part time position)

- 4/2012-1/2015: Assistant with PhD, MBP, NIB, Slovenia (full time position)

- 10/2007-4/2012: Young researcher, MBP, NIB, Slovenia (full time position)

Academic titles and Teaching experience:

- 2010-2012: Assistant for Environmental Microbiology course, Faculty for Environmental Sciences, University of Nova Gorica, Slovenia (part time position)

- 2008-2011: Assistant for Microbial Biology course, Faculty of Mathematics, Natural Sciences and Information Technologies Koper, University of Primorska, Slovenia (part time position)

Research experience abroad:

- 7/2018-7/2020: MSCA-IF Fellow in the laboratory of Prof. Dr. G. J. Herndl, University of Vienna, Austria

- 10/2013-2/2014: Postdoctoral Fulbright Scholar in the laboratory of Prof. Dr. F. Azam, Scripps Institution of Oceanography (Scripps SIO), UC San Diego (UCSD), USA

- 2/2011-3/2011: Visiting PhD student in the laboratory of Prof. Dr. F. Azam, Scripps SIO, UCSD, USA

- 9/2008-12/2008, 1/2010, 4/2009-6/2009: FEMS research scholar/Visiting PhD student in the laboratory of Prof. Dr. J. Piškur, Lund University, Sweden

COLABORATIONS

Involvement in national and international research projects:

- Decay of an invasive ctenophore blooms as a perturbation to the coastal marine microbial community - from molecules to ecosystem - an integrated interdisciplinary approach (ARRS J7-2599)), role: PI

- Drivers that structure coastal marine microbiome with emphasis on pathogens – an integrated approach (ARRS J1-9157) project (-6/2021), participating researcher

- MIDAS (MSCA-IF-EF-ST-2017, No 793778) (7/2018-7/2020), role: PI

- Microorganisms in petola and mud from Secovlje salterns (3/2018-7/2018), participating researcher

- GoJelly BG-07-2017 (1/2018-7/2018), participating researcher

- National Research program P1-0237 Coastal Sea Research: (1/2009-7/2018, 2021-), participating researcher

- BALMAS IPA project's (2013-2016), participating researcher

- MARINE STRATEGY: (2011-2015), participating researcher

- MedCis: DG ENV/MSFD Second Cycle/2016 (2017-2018), participating researcher

- ActionMed DG ENV/MSFD Action Plans/2014 (2015-2017), participating researcher

- EU FP7 IP PERSEUS: (2012-2015), participating researcher

- Participation in 'Ocean Sampling day' campaign (MICRO B3 EU FP7 No 287589) (2013-2015)

- National research project J4-4300 ARRS: Genes behind aroma compounds in wine (2011-2014) , participating researcher

- Slovenian - Croatian bilateral project: Enclosed marine systems as laboratory for biological phenomena (2012-2013), participating researcher

- Slovenian - Argentinean research cooperation project: Jellyfish blooms and the possibilities for commercial use (2012-2014), participating researcher

- Slovenian - Japanese joint project: Slovenian - Japan cooperative studies on problematic jellyfish blooms: mechanisms and mitigation (2012-2014), participating researcher

- Slovenian - Russian cooperation project: Comparative analyses of gelatinous zooplankton outbreaks in the Adriatic and Black Seas (2012-2014) participating researcher

Examples of participation in industrial innovation:

- Involved in the process of development of gene treatment Zolgensma® with company Avexis (Novartis) by measuring concentrations of genetically modified viruses for gene therapy using ddPCR and Q-PCR, at Department of Biotechnology and Systems Biology, NIB, Slovenia (2016-2017)

- Involved in ECO/10/277396/SI2.601543 (Eco-Innovation 2010) project entitled Marine debris removal and preventing further litter entry – Marine Clean (2011-2014)

- Involved in EU FP7-KBBE-2010-4_RADAR project entitled Rationally Designed Aquatic Receptors integrated in label-free biosensor platforms for remote surveillance of toxins and pollutants (2011-2014)

FIELD OF RESEARCH

I'm a marine microbial ecologist investigating microbial community dynamics during natural and anthropogenic perturbations in marine environment. My research focuses on the interactions between bacteria and jellyfish and the implications for the biogeochemical cycles in the ocean. I have a multidisciplinary scientific background with B.Sc. in Biochemistry and Ph.D. in Environmental Sciences with more than 10 years of full time research experience in the field of marine microbial ecology.

OTHER ACTIVITIES

Participation in workshops/programs:

- Participation in Mentoring program for postdocs of the University of Vienna, organized by Gender Equality and Diversity unit at Univerisity of Vienna (2019-2020)

- Euromarine Open Science Exploration (EMOSE) 2017: Inter-comparison of marine plankton metagenomic methods workshop (recieved Euromarine's funding support), September 2017

Organisation of International conferences:

- Member of organizing committee of 52^nd Marine Biology Symposium (EMBS52), organized by MBP, NIB, Piran, Slovenia, 25-29.9.2017

- Involved in the organization of 11th Symposium of Aquatic Microbial Ecology (SAME 11), organized by MBP, NIB, Piran, Slovenia, 30.8- 4.9.2009

Other professional activities:

- - Reviewer for scientific journals: Science of Total Environment, Applied and Environmental Microbiology, Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, Marine Pollution Bulletin, Journal of Marine Microbiology, Hydrobiologia, Marine Biology, Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, Marine Drugs

- - Reviewer for National Science Foundation (NSF) US projects

Supervising and mentoring activities:

Throughout my career I was a mentor, co-mentor, working mentor and tutor of over 13 BSc, 4 MSc and 3 PhD students.

Prizes and Awards:

- MSCA-IF-EF-ST fellowship for project entitled Microbial degradation of jellyfish-derived substrates, at University of Vienna, Austria (2018-2020)

- PostDoctoral Fulbright fellowship for project entitled Marine bacteria and aggregates interactions at microscale, at Scripps Institution of Science, UCSD, USA (2013-2014)

- FEMS research fellowship for project Marine microorganisms as a source of novel genes and enzymes for green chemistry, at Lund University, Sweden (2008)

- Excellent in Science award by Slovenian Research Agency (2015)

- Best Post Doc talk award at Symposium of Aquatic Microbial Ecology16 symposium, Postdam, Germany, (1-6.9.2019)

Invited Scientific Talks:

- 'Do microbes feed on jellyfish in the ocean and why should we care?' at Science Talk 2019 event, March 2019, University of Vienna

- 'Contribution of biochemistry and molecular biology towards development of marine microbial ecology field' at Faculty of chemistry and chemical technology, University of Ljubljana, Slovenia, April 2018

- 'Novel approaches in marine microbial ecology - from community to single cell', at University of Nova Gorica, Slovenia, March 2017

Work in expert committees within and outside the country:

- Member of Slovenian Microbiological and Slovenian Biochemical Society

- Elected Member of managing committee of Slovenian Microbiological Society (2016-2018)

Outreach and communication activities:

- Participant at competition Falling Walls Lab -MSCA Actions, European Research & Innovation Days, with pitch talk Breaking the wall of jellyfish-degrading bacteria, Brussels, Belgium, 26.9.2019

- Invited speaker:

- at the Workshop on writing MSCA applications organized by Slovenian Ministry for Education, Science and Sport, Ljubljana. 15.6.2017

- at the Workshop on opportunities for mobilities of researchers organized by University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, 26.4.2018

- Interview (interviewee):

- Article Jellyfish researchers want you to start thinking about these creatures for your next meal. Horizon: the EU Research and Innovation magazine, 18.6.2019

- Article Study of interaction between marine microorganisms and organic matter essential to understanding state of marine environment. Slovenian Press Agency. Video clip: https://youtu.be/cQkgHA_V5bA

- Lecture for general public: Impact of anthropogenic pressures and climate change on marine microorganisms, at event Excellent in Science 2015, organised by Slovenian Research Agency, http://videolectures.net/znanostnacesti_odlicni_v_naravoslovju_1del/, 2.12.2015

- Television broadcast:

- Malej, A., Ramšak, A., Tinta, T., Vodopivec, M., Makovec, T. Will there be jellyfish in our sea this year? RTV SLO 1, TV show 'Ugriznimo znanost', http://4d.rtvslo.si/arhiv/ugriznimo-znanost/174410305, 9.6.2016

- Tinta, T., Rotter, A., Neubauer, S. How to decrease number of jellyfish in the sea? RTV SLO 1 TV Slovenija, TV show 'Dnevnik', http://4d.rtvslo.si/arhiv/dnevnik/174495851, 10.10.2017

- Organization of workshops at yearly Open day event of MBP, NIB, Slovenia (2011-2014)

- Participation in the Researchers' Night 2013 at MBP, NIB, Slovenia (ReNATECH project, EU FP7), 27.9.2013

- YouTube videos:

- Dead-Jellyfish-eating Bacteria. 2018. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dwpL6JKGvzc&feature=youtu.be&fbclid=IwAR0HvicTuzG6t1_8BJHWhB0_iB5tXFXYKvbtD5HUZNcxee3pfWdhQkthtSM

- The MIDAS Project. 2018. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UsqZNoKImOI&feature=share

Licences:

- Boat licence. Licence to operate VHF GMDSS station. Advanced open water diver licence (PADI).

SELECTED (NEWER) PUBLICATIONS

Publications:

I have published 22 original scientific articles (8-times as first author) and presented my work 38-times at national/international scientific conference (14-times as first author).

Recent selected publications in peer-reviewed scientific journals (chronologically):

1. Tinta T., Zhao Z., Escobar A., Klun K., Bayer B., Amano C., Bamonti L., Herndl G.J. Microbial processing of jellyfish detritus in the ocean. Frontiers in microbiology, 2020, https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2020.590995/abstract, DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.590995.

2. Malfatti F., Lee C., Tinta T., Pendergraft M.A., Celussi M., Zhou Y., Sultana C.M., Rotter A., Axson J.L., Collins D.B., Santander M.V., Anides Morales A.L., Aluwihare L.I., Riemer N., Grassian V.H., Azam F., Prather K.A. Detection of Active Microbial Enzymes in Nascent Sea Spray Aerosol: Implications for Atmospheric Chemistry and Climate. Environmental Science & Technology Letters, 2019, 6 (3), 171-177, doi: 10.1021/acs.estlett.8b00699

3. Tinta T., Kogovšek, T., Klun, K., Malej, A., Herndl, G.J., Turk, V. Jellyfish-Associated Microbiome in the Marine Environment: Exploring Its Biotechnological Potential. Mar. Drugs 2019, 17, 94.

4. Kos Kramar M., Tinta T., Lučić D., Malej A., Turk V. Bacteria associated with moon jellyfish during bloom and post-bloom periods in the Gulf of Trieste (northern Adriatic). PLoS ONE, 2019, 14(1): e0198056. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0198056

5. Varkitzi I., Francé, J., Basset, A., Cozzoli, F., Stanca, E.,; Zercvoudaki, S.; Giannakourou, A., Venetsanopoulou, A., Mozetič, P.; Tinta, T., Skejić, S.; Vidjak, O., Cadiou, J.F.,; Kalliopi Pagou. Pelagic habitats in the Mediterranean Sea: A review of Good Environmental Status (GES) determination for plankton components and identification of gaps and priority needs to improve coherence for the MSFD implementation. Ecological Indicators, 2018, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2018.07.036

6. Bratkič, A., Tinta, T., Koron, N., Ribeiro Guevara, S., Begu, E., Barkay, T., Horvat, M., Falnoga, I., Faganeli, J. Mercury transformations in a coastal water column (Gulf of Trieste, northern Adriatic Sea). Marine Chemistry, 2018, doi: 10.1016/j.marchem.2018.01.001

7. Cabrini, M., Cerino, F., De Olazabal, A., Di Poi, E., Fabbro, C., Fornasaro, D., Goruppi, A., Flander-Putrle, V., Francé, J., Gollasch, S., Hure, M., Lipej, L., Lucić, D., Magaletti, E., Mozetič, P., Tinta T., Tornambè, A., Turk, V., Uhan, J., David, M. Potential transfer of aquatic organisms via ballast water with a particular focus on harmful and non-indigenous species: a survey from Adriatic ports. Marine pollution bulletin, 2018, doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2018.02.004

8. Luna, G. M., Manini, E., Turk, V., Tinta T., D'errico, G., Baldrighi, E., Baljak, V., Buda, D., Cabrini, M., Campanelli, A., Perini, L., et al. Status of faecal pollution in ports : a basin-wide investigation in the Adriatic Sea. Marine pollution bulletin, 2018, doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2018.03.050

Link to COBISS, a Slovenian database containing all my publications: