prof. dr. sc. Goran Klobučar

Teaching

undergraduate

• Animal Structure and Function (279401) - Lecturer in charge
• Bioassays (40889) - Lecturer in charge

graduate

• Biomimetics (240550) - Lecturer in charge
• Biomonitoring (53457) - Lecturer in charge
• Ecotoxicology (44539) - Lecturer in charge
• Evolution of Animal Organ Systems (74649) - Lecturer in charge
• Evolution of Animal Organ Systems (course held in English) (172455) - Lecturer in charge

integrated undergraduate and graduate

• General Zoology (171097) - Lecturer in charge

doctoral

• Biomarkers in Environmental Pollution Biomonitoring (151749) - Lecturer in charge

Biography

EDUCATION

PhD in Natural Sciences (Biology), University of Zagreb, 2001
Doctoral dissertation: Haemocytes of Freshwater Molluscs as Indicators of Metabolic Stress
Division of Zoology, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb
Supervisor: Prof. R. Erben

MSc in Natural Sciences (Biology), University of Zagreb, 1995

University Degree in Biology, major in Ecology, University of Zagreb, 1992
Faculty of Science

 

RESEARCH PROFILE

Research Areas

Ecotoxicology | Aquatic Ecology | Environmental Risk Assessment | Zoology | Astacology | Molecular Ecology

My research focuses on the biological effects of environmental pollution in freshwater, marine and terrestrial ecosystems, with particular emphasis on biomarker-based assessment, genotoxicity, ecotoxicology, and the relationships between molecular damage and responses at the organism and population levels.

Since 2014, an important part of my research has addressed the occurrence, effects and ecological risks of micropollutants in aquatic environments. This work integrates high-throughput chemical analysis with biological-effect data generated through in vitro, in silico and biomarker-based approaches.

A second long-standing research line concerns the biology, ecology, distribution, phylogeny and phylogeography of European freshwater crayfish (Astacidae) and their epibionts, particularly Branchiobdellida.

 

ACADEMIC LEADERSHIP AND SERVICE

Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb – Department of Biology

• Head of the Department of Biology, 2012–2014
• Assistant Head of the Department of Biology for Research, 2014–2015
• Deputy Head of the Division of Zoology, 2016–2020
• Head of the Undergraduate and Graduate Study Programme in Environmental Sciences, 2011–2012
• Member, Committee for the Development of the University Doctoral Programme in Biology, 2006–2007
• Member, Doctoral Programme Committee in Biology, 2010–2012
• Member, Quality Assurance Committee, Department of Biology, 2014–2016

University of Zagreb

• Member of the University Senate, 2017–2020
• Member of the Council of the Natural Sciences Area, 2017–2021
• Member of the Council Committee responsible for academic appointment criteria and confirmation of academic promotions, 2017–2021

Croatian Science Foundation

• Member of the Standing Committee for Biotechnology and Agriculture, 2013–2015

Ministry of Science, Education and Sports, Republic of Croatia

• Consultant to the Expert Working Group for the National Biology Curriculum, 2015–2016

 

RESEARCH PROJECT LEADERSHIP

International Projects – Principal Investigator / Co-Principal Investigator

2022–2023 | Chinese–Croatian Innovation Cooperation Project, Jiangsu Province
Co-Principal Investigator
Joint R&D and Application of a Battery of Bioassays for Toxicity Detection of Pollution in Freshwaters

2018–2019 | Croatian–Chinese Bilateral Research Project
Principal Investigator, Croatian team
Ministry of Science and Education, Republic of Croatia
Ecological Risk Assessment of Microplastic in Soils: Towards Developing a State-of-the-Art Biological Methods Toolbox

2014–2016 | Unity Through Knowledge Fund (UKF), Grant Agreement No. 12/13
Co-Principal Investigator
The Effects of Pollution on Rapid Evolution and Ecological Change in the Mediterranean Mussel (Mytilus galloprovincialis)

2011–2012 | Croatian–Montenegrin Bilateral Research Project
Principal Investigator
Ministry of Science, Education and Sports, Republic of Croatia
Implementation of Pollution Biomonitoring in Freshwater Environments (Skadar Lake Basin) Using Biomarkers and Bioassays

2002–2004 | Research Council of Norway, Project No. 150-463
Co-Principal Investigator
An Integrated Environmental Monitoring System for Croatian Freshwater, Estuarine and Coastal Marine Areas
Cooperation Programme with South-East Europe

National Projects – Principal Investigator / Co-Principal Investigator

2013–2014 | Ministry of Agriculture, VIP Programme
Principal Investigator
Optimisation of Accelerated Rearing of Juvenile Noble Crayfish (Astacus astacus)

2007–2014 | Ministry of Science, Education and Sports, Project No. 119-0982934-3110
Principal Investigator
Effects of Pollution on the Genetic Structure of Organisms in Aquatic Environments

1998–2000 | Ministry of Science, Republic of Croatia, Project No. 119-129
Principal Investigator
Monitoring the Status of Noble Crayfish Populations in Croatia

Nature Parks

2011 | Lake Vrana Nature Park
Principal Investigator
Biomonitoring of Pollution in Lake Vrana Using Caged Exposure of the Freshwater Mussel Unio pictorum

2008 | Žumberak–Samoborsko Gorje Nature Park
Co-Principal Investigator
Biological and Ecological Characteristics of Austropotamobius torrentium in Žumberak–Samoborsko Gorje Nature Park

2007 | Žumberak–Samoborsko Gorje Nature Park
Principal Investigator
Phylogenetic and Phylogeographic Characteristics of Austropotamobius torrentium from Žumberak–Samoborsko Gorje Nature Park in Relation to Croatia and the Dinarides

2003 | Lonjsko Polje Nature Park
Principal Investigator
Biomonitoring of the Genotoxic Effects of Pollution on Aquatic Organisms in Lonjsko Polje Nature Park – Preliminary Study

PARTICIPATION IN SELECTED INTERNATIONAL RESEARCH PROJECTS

PROOF Project No. 164419 – “Predfish”, 2005–2006
Principal Investigator: Prof. Ketil Hylland, University of Oslo, Norway

Unity Through Knowledge Fund – Cooperability
The Effects of Pollution on Invasion Success of a Freshwater Crustacean Invader
Principal Investigators: Sandra Hudina, University of Zagreb, and Dalma Martinović-Weigelt, University of St. Thomas, Minnesota, USA

PARTICIPATION IN SELECTED NATIONAL AND APPLIED RESEARCH PROJECTS

• Croatian Science Foundation, 2017–2021: Climate Change and Invasive Species – Assessing Their Impact on the Biodiversity of Native Freshwater Crayfish and Trout and Their Conservation
• Environmental Protection and Energy Efficiency Fund, 2015–2016: Project on optimisation of accelerated rearing of juvenile white-clawed crayfish (Austropotamobius pallipes)
• UNDP Croatia, 2011–2012: Breeding and Restocking of the Noble Crayfish, Astacus astacus, and White-Clawed Crayfish, Austropotamobius pallipes
• Croatian Waters, 2009–2011: Assessment of Water Quality Using Biotests
• Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration, 2007–2008: Calculation and Mapping of Critical Loads of Air Pollution to Surface Waters at Selected Locations in Croatia
• Žumberak–Samoborsko Gorje Nature Park, 2004: distribution of freshwater crayfish of the family Astacidae
• Lonjsko Polje Nature Park, 2003: annual cycle of Astacus leptodactylus
• Paklenica National Park, 2002: Astacus astacus populations
• Ministry of Development and Reconstruction, 1999: sustainable management and siting of shellfish aquaculture facilities
• Croatian Electric Power Company, 1998: monitoring and control of Dreissena polymorpha in the Dubrava Hydroelectric Power Plant

 

TEACHING EXPERIENCE

Extensive teaching experience at undergraduate, graduate and doctoral levels, encompassing zoology, ecotoxicology, biomonitoring, environmental sciences, biomimetics and evolutionary biology.

- Graduate-Level Courses

Ecotoxicology, 2008–present
Compulsory course, MSc programme in Ecology and Nature Conservation
Course coordinator

Biomonitoring, 2009–present
Elective course, MSc programme in Environmental Sciences
Co-coordinator

Biomimetics, 2022–present
Elective course, MSc programme in Experimental Biology
Co-coordinator

Evolution of Organ Systems in Animals, 2008–present
Elective course, MSc programme in Experimental Biology
Co-coordinator

Ecotoxicology, Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Technology, 2016–2017
MSc programme in Environmental Engineering
Course coordinator

Ecotoxicology, University of Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina, 2019–2022
Graduate Biology programme, Ecology and Nature Conservation
Course coordinator

- Undergraduate-Level Courses

General Zoology, 2005–present
Compulsory course, integrated Biology and Chemistry Education programme
Co-coordinator

Biotests, 2002–present
Elective course, undergraduate programme in Molecular Biology
Co-coordinator

Ecotoxicology, Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Technology, 2016–2017
Applied Chemistry and Chemical Engineering programmes
Course coordinator

Biology, 2004–2006
Chemistry and Chemistry Education programmes
Co-coordinator

General Zoology – Practical and Field Training, 1992–2003

Introduction to Zoology – Practical and Field Training, 1992–2003

- Doctoral and Postgraduate Teaching

Biomarkers in Environmental Pollution Biomonitoring, 2009–present
Doctoral Programme in Biology
Ecotoxicology, 2019–present
Postgraduate Programme in Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Geotechnical Engineering
 

RESEARCH SUPERVISION

• 6 completed doctoral dissertations
• 3 MSc theses
• 47 graduate theses
  • 33 as principal supervisor or co-supervisor
  • 14 as assistant supervisor

 

EDITORIAL AND PEER-REVIEW ACTIVITIES

Editorial Boards

• Toxics, Editorial Board Member, 2022–present
• Eco-Environment & Health, Editorial Board Member, 2023–present
• Journal of Xenobiotics, Editorial Board Member, 2026–present
• Croatian Journal of Fisheries, Editorial Board Member, 2013–2025
• Educatio Biologiae, Editorial Board Member, 2015–2020

Peer Review

Reviewer of scientific manuscripts for more than 60 international and national scientific journals.

Additional reviewing activities include:

• national and international research proposals
• conference proceedings
• book chapters
• university and school teaching materials
• biology examinations
• educational curricula
• expert reports

 

BOOKS AND TEACHING MATERIALS

University Textbook

Matoničkin I., Klobučar G.I.V., Kučinić M. (2010). Opća zoologija [General Zoology]. Zagreb: Školska knjiga. 467 pp.

University Textbook Chapter

Klobučar G., Štambuk A., Sauerborn Klobučar R. (2013). Biološke analize utjecaja onečišćenja na okoliš [Biological Analyses of the Effects of Pollution on the Environment]. In: Kaštelan-Macan M., Petrović M. (eds.), Analitika okoliša. Zagreb: HINUS and Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Technology, pp. 305–338.

University Teaching Material

Radić Brkanac S., Klobučar G. (2021). Aquatic Ecotoxicology. Erasmus+ Development of Master Curricula in Ecological Monitoring and Aquatic Bioassessment for Western Balkans HEIs – ECOBIAS.

Klobučar G., Lajtner J., Maguire I. (1997). Internal practical manuals for Introduction to Zoology and General Zoology.

EDITED VOLUMES

Besendorfer V., Klobučar G.I.V. (eds.) (2006). Book of Abstracts of the 9th Croatian Biological Congress. Zagreb: Croatian Biological Society 1885.

Jelaska S.D., Klobučar G.I.V., Šerić Jelaska L., Leljak Levanić D., Lukša Ž. (eds.) (2012). Book of Abstracts of the 11th Croatian Biological Congress. Zagreb: Croatian Biological Society 1885.

Klobučar G., Kopjar N., Gligora Udovič M., Lukša Ž., Jelić D. (eds.) (2015). Book of Abstracts of the 12th Croatian Biological Congress. Zagreb: Croatian Biological Society.

Maguire I. (2010). Slatkovodni rakovi – Priručnik za inventarizaciju i praćenje stanja [Freshwater Crayfish – Manual for Inventory and Monitoring]. Scientific editor: G. Klobučar. Zagreb: State Institute for Nature Protection.

 

SCIENTIFIC CONFERENCE ORGANISATION AND SERVICE

Selected activities include:

• Organising and Scientific Committee, 24th Symposium of the International Association of Astacology, Zagreb, 2024
• Local Programme Committee, 10th Eastern European Young Water Professionals Conference, Zagreb, 2018
• Organising Committee, FINSII – Freshwater Invasives Networking for Strategy, Zagreb, 2016
• Chair, Organising and Programme Committee, 12th Croatian Biological Congress, Sveti Martin na Muri, 2015
• Scientific Committee, 1st International Student Conference on Environmental Sciences (ISCES’15), Zagreb, 2015
• Scientific Committee, CrayCro Regional European Crayfish Meeting, Rovinj, 2013
• Chair, Scientific Committee, 11th Croatian Biological Congress, Šibenik, 2012
• Scientific Committee, 38th International Association for Danube Research Conference, Dresden, 2010
• Organising Committee, 38th Annual Meeting of the European Environmental Mutagen Society, Cavtat, 2008
• Vice-Chair, Organising Committee, 9th Croatian Biological Congress, Rovinj, 2006
• Scientific Committee, 8th Croatian Biological Congress, Zagreb, 2003

Evolutionary Biology Symposia

• Organising Committee, 1st Symposium on the Power of Evolutionary Thought – Prof. Lee Alan Dugatkin: From Bacterial Cooperation to Human Sociality, Sex and Conflict, Zagreb, 2016
• Organising Committee, 2nd Symposium on the Power of Evolutionary Thought – Prof. Robert Trivers and the Ideas That Changed the World, Zagreb, 2016

 

SCIENCE COMMUNICATION AND OUTREACH

• Member, National Committee for Biology Competitions, 2000–2016
• Chair of the National Committee for the Biology Competition, 2015
• Member of the initiating group for the Srećko Jelenić Award
• Participation in Croatian Radiotelevision programmes addressing ecotoxicological and environmental issues, 1994, 1997 and 2021
• Author or co-author of 16 popular-science articles

 

EDUCATIONAL AND PUBLIC-OUTREACH PUBLICATIONS

Bušić A., Klobučar G.I.V. (2010). Čovjek, zdravlje i okoliš [Humans, Health and the Environment]. Biology textbook for first-year vocational secondary-school students. Zagreb: Neodidacta.

Bušić A., Klobučar G.I.V. (2010). Čovjek i zdravlje [Humans and Health]. Biology textbook for first-year vocational secondary-school students. Zagreb: Neodidacta.

Bušić A., Klobučar G.I.V. (2010). Biologija [Biology]. Biology textbook for first-year secondary-school economics students. Zagreb: Neodidacta.

Klobučar G., Maguire I. (1998). Slikovni ključevi za određivanje životinja [Pictorial Keys for Animal Identification]. Croatian Ecological Society.

Maguire I., Klobučar G. (2003). Ugrožene autohtone vrste slatkovodnih rakova u Hrvatskoj sa ključem za njihovo određivanje [Threatened Native Freshwater Crayfish Species in Croatia with an Identification Key].

 

SCIENCE COMMUNICATION PROJECTS

Participation in projects of the Regional Environmental Center for Central and Eastern Europe:

• Education and Nature Conservation – An Active Approach: Pictorial Keys for Animal Identification, 1997–1998
• The Future of Native Decapod Crayfish Species in Croatia, 1999
• Karst Ponds – A Network of Aquatic Habitats, 2000

 

AWARDS

2003 Award for the Preservation of Natural and Cultural Heritage
Ford Motor Company
Awarded for the project Threatened Native Freshwater Crayfish Species in Croatia.

Scientific publications (CroRIS)

More information about publications

List of select publications

Malev, O., Lovrić, M., Stipaničev, D., Repec, S., Martinović-Weigelt, D., Zanella, D., Ivanković, T., Đuretec, V.S., Barišić, J., Li, M., Klobučar, G., 2020. Toxicity prediction and effect characterization of 90 pharmaceuticals and illicit drugs measured in plasma of fish from a major European river (Sava, Croatia). Environ Poll, 266: 115162.

Babić S, Barišić J, Stipaničev D, Repec S, Lovrić M, Malev O, Martinović-Weigelt D, Čož-Rakovac R, Klobučar G (2018) Assessment of river sediment toxicity: Combining empirical zebrafish embryotoxicity testing with in silico toxicity characterization. Sci Tot Environ, 643, 435-450.

Babić S, Barišić J, Višić H, Sauerborn Klobučar R, Topić Popović N, Strunjak-Perović I, Čož-Rakovac R, Klobučar G (2017) Embryotoxic and genotoxic effects of sewage effluents in zebrafish embryo using multiple endpoint testing. Wat Res, 115, 9-21

Jelić M, Klobučar GIV, Grandjean F, Puillandre N, Franjević D, Futo M, Amouret J, Maguire I (2016) Insights into the molecular phylogeny and historical biogeography of the white-clawed crayfish (Decapoda, Astacidae). Mol Phylogenet Evol, 103, 26-40

Klobučar GIV, Podnar M, Jelić M, Franjević D, Faller M, Štambuk A, Gottstein S, Simić V, Maguire I (2013) Role of the Dinaric Karst (western Balkans) in shaping the phylogeographic structure of the threatened crayfish Austropotamobius torrentium. Freshwater Biol 58: 1089-1105

Tkalec M, Štambuk A, Šrut M, Malarić K, Klobučar GIV (2013) Oxidative and genotoxic effects of 900 MHz electromagnetic fields in the earthworm Eisenia fetida. Ecotox Environ Safe 90: 7-12

Klobučar GIV, Malev O, Šrut M, Štambuk A, Lorenzon S, Cvetković Z, Ferrero EA, Maguire I (2012) Genotoxicity monitoring of freshwater environments using caged crayfish (Astacus leptodactylus). Chemosphere 87: 62-67

Klobučar GIV, Štambuk A, Šrut M, Husnjak I, Merkaš M, Traven L, Cvetković Ž (2011) Aporrectodea caliginosa, a suitable earthworm species for field based genotoxicity assessment? Environ Poll 159: 841-849

Klobučar GIV, Štambuk A, Hylland K, Pavlica M (2008) Detection of DNA damage in haemocytes of Mytilus galloprovincialis in the coastal ecosystems of Kaštela and Trogir bays, Croatia. Sci Tot Environ 405: 330-337

Klobučar GIV, Maguire I, Gottstein-Matočec S, Gelder S R (2006) Occurrence of Branchiobdellida (Annelida: Clitellata) on freshwater crayfish in Croatia. Ann Limnol -  Int J Lim 42, 4: 251-260

Klobučar GIV, Pavlica M, Erben R, Papeš D (2003) Application of the micronucleus and comet assays to mussel Dreissena polymorpha haemocytes for genotoxicity monitoring of freshwater environments. Aquat Toxicol 64:15-23

Professional memberships

MEMBERSHIP IN SCIENTIFIC SOCIETIES AND PROFESSIONAL ROLES

• Croatian Biological Society (HBD) — President, 2012–2016
• Croatian Ecological Society (HED) — Member of the Executive Board, 2008–2012
• International Association for Danube Research (IAD) — Member of the Executive Board, 2008–2011
• International Association of Astacology (IAA) — Member
• Biology Students Association (BIUS) — Member

List of select projects

Effects of environmental contamination on genetic structure of aquatic organisms

Effects of pollution on rapid evolution and ecological change in the Mediterranean mussel

Past employments

2019–present — Full Professor with tenure
Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb

2014–2019 — Full Professor
Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb

2009–2014 — Associate Professor
Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb

2004–2009 — Assistant Professor
 Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb

2002–2003 — Senior Research and Teaching Assistant
Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb

1995–2002 — Research and Teaching Assistant
Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb

1995 — Junior Research and Teaching Assistant
Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb