Sara Trifunović is a PhD candidate at the IMGGE, in collaboration with the Mediterranean Institute for Life Sciences in Split, Croatia. Her research focuses on the molecular mechanisms of electronic cigarette toxicity, with an emphasis on mitochondrial function, ribosome integrity, and intercellular communication in lung epithelial cell and fibroblast models. In her work, she primarily applies proteomic and transcriptomic approaches to investigate cellular stress responses and identify potential biomarkers of exposure to toxic substances.

She obtained her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Biochemistry at the Faculty of Chemistry, University of Belgrade, where she worked on projects related to immunoproteomic characterization of pollen allergens from linden and ragweed. The results of her research have been published in journals such as Respiratory Research, Antioxidants, Food Chemistry, and Clinical and Experimental Allergy.

She has presented her findings at conferences, including the European Respiratory Society and BelBi, thereby contributing to a better understanding of environmental factors affecting lung function. She is also engaged in educational activities through the organization of workshops and proteomics schools. Her scientific interests include oxidative stress, xenobiotic metabolism, and mechanisms of intercellular communication.

Outside of science, she enjoys music, traveling, and literature.