Jovana Ćurčić is a PhD candidate and Research Assistant in the Group for Molecular Microbiology at the IMGGE. She obtained her BSc in Molecular Biology and Physiology from the Faculty of Biology, University of Belgrade in 2020, and her MSc in Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology from the same faculty in 2021. That same year, she started her doctoral studies in Molecular Microbiology and Biotechnology at IMGGE.

Her PhD research focuses on the discovery and characterization of novel lactonases—quorum quenching (QQ) enzymes with the ability to disrupt bacterial communication and reduce virulence. The research further explores how enzymes from extreme environments can be applied in biotechnology and medicine. Research activities include the identification, expression, and purification of novel QQ enzymes, the investigation of their biochemical properties, antibiofilm, anti-quorum-sensing, and antivirulence potential, as well as their synergistic effects with antibiotics and safety profiles. These studies are performed both in vitro and in vivo, using Caenorhabditis elegans as an in vivo model system for evaluating the safety and efficacy of innovative formulations.

A particular emphasis of her work is on developing innovative non-antibiotic approaches to prevent biofilm formation and reduce implant-associated infections. Beyond academia, her research highlights the translational potential of alternative antimicrobial and antivirulence strategies for industrial applications, biomedical device functionalization, and future clinical practice.