EDUCATION

2015 - PhD in Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biology (FB), University of Belgrade (UB)
(Thesis: Impact of variants in coding and noncoding regions of disease-causing and modifier genes on phenotype of patients with hyperphenylalaninemia)
2010 - Diploma (equivalent to M.Sc.) in Molecular biology and physiology, FB, UB 

RESEARCH EXPERIENCE

2021 - Research Associate Professor at Laboratory for Molecular Biomedicine, Institute of Molecular Genetics and Genetic Engineering (IMGGE), UB
2016 - 2021 - Assistant Research Professor at Laboratory for Molecular Biomedicine, IMGGE, UB
2012 - 2016 - Research Assistant at Laboratory for Molecular Biomedicine, IMGGE, UB
2011 - 2012 - Junior Researcher at Laboratory for Molecular Hematology (today Laboratory for Molecular Biomedicine), IMGGE, UB
2012 - 2014 - Visiting researcher at Centro de Biologia Molecular “Severo Ochoa”, Universidad Autonoma, Madrid, Spain 
2011 - Visiting researcher at Centro di Ricerca M. Tettamanti, Universita di Milano-Biccoca, Monza, Italy  

OTHER ACTIVITIES

• 2016-2020 - Teaching experience at postgraduate courses in Molecular biology at the Faculty of Biology, University of Belgrade (courses “Molecular genetics of human diseases” and “Molecular hematology”
• 2011-2019 - Participant in numerous science and education popularization events (projects “Little School of DNAlogy” organized by MESTD and European projects Researchers' Night), manifestations such as “DNA day” and “Scholar the Molecular” (organized by IMGGE, UB)
• 2011-2019 - Participant in project “Rare diseases: Molecular Pathophysiology, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Modalities and Social, Ethical and Legal Aspects”, working group dedicated to the effect of genetic variants on the phenotype and individualized therapy of rare diseases patients (MESTD, RS, III 41004)
• 2020-2021 - Participant in project “Nutrigenetics and status of vitamin D, zinc and selenium in Serbian population: are we ready for COVID-19? „Pokreni se za nauku“ program
• 2020-2021 - Participant in project “Analysis of the synergistic effect and therapeutic potential of small molecules in patients with recurrent pulmonary infections” (Innovation Fund, Republic of Serbia, PoC 5269)
• 2012-2013 - Participant in project “Molecular basis of organic acidurias in Serbia and application of new therapeutic strategies based on genotype” - scientific and technological cooperation program between Republic of Serbia and Kingdom of Spain (451-03-02635/2011-14/14, PRI-AIBSE-2011-1126)
• 2013-2016 - Participant in project “Strengthening the Research Potential of IMGGE through Reinforcement of Biomedical Science of Rare Diseases in Serbia – en route for innovation – SERBORDISinn“ (EU-FP7-REGPOT, 316088)
• 2018-2019 - Participant in project Researchers’ Night – “Science in Motion for Friday Night Commotion - SCIMFONICOM” (H2020-MSCANIGHT-2018-818747)
• 2019-2023 - Participant in project "European Network for Innovative Diagnosis and Treatment of Chronic Neutropenias (EuNet-INNOCHRON)”, COST ACTION 18233

RESEARCH INTEREST

Research in molecular biomedicine focused on molecular genetic basis of rare diseases, especially genetics of inborn errors of metabolism (hyperphenylalaninemia, organic acidurias and glycogen storage diseases) as well as other rare monogenic diseases. Identification and functional characterization of novel genetic variants in disease causing genes and also in genes contributing to modification of gene expression affecting patients’ phenotype; identification of novel modifier genes, aiming to better understand genotype-phenotype correlation, prediction of the disease outcome and individualization of therapy. Application of next generation sequencing technology (NGS) in research and diagnostics of diverse inborn rare diseases.