YCN Representative - Croatia

Marina Monika Marić

YCN representative for Croatia

PhD student at the University of Zagreb Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Croatia

mmaric2@fkit.unizg.hr 

My name is Marina Monika Marić, and I am a PhD student from Croatia. I began my doctoral studies in 2023 at the University of Zagreb Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Technology under the supervision of Prof. Anamarija Rogina. During my PhD, I was awarded a BAYHOST scholarship for a one-year research stay in Bavaria, where I joined the University of Erlangen–Nuremberg and enrolled in a double-degree PhD program at the Institute of Biomaterials under the co-supervision of Prof. Aldo R. Boccaccini.

My research focuses on borate-based bioactive glasses as an inorganic component in chitosan-based composite materials for bone tissue regeneration applications. While silicate-based bioactive glasses, such as 45S5 Bioglass®, have demonstrated excellent bioactivity, borate-based bioactive glasses have gained increasing attention due to their enhanced degradation rate and ability to promote angiogenesis and tissue regeneration. The aim of my work is to deepen the understanding of borate bioactive glass nanoparticles and their composites, exploring their potential for advanced biomedical applications.

In addition to my research activities, I am involved in teaching practical courses in Physical Chemistry at the University of Zagreb. I have also gained international experience through a 1-month stay in Poland (funded by Horizon Europe, EngVIPO project) and participation in a „Splendid Jiangsu 2025“ summer school programme in China. I am a member of the Croatian Ceramic Society and actively engaged in science outreach activities, promoting STEM education among elementary and high school students.

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