izv. prof. dr. sc. Mirela Sertić Perić

Title:	Associate Professor
Public phone number:	+385(0)1 4877 734
Internal phone number:	104
E-mail:	E-mail
Department:	Division of Zoology
Graduation year:	2005
PhD graduation year:	2011
Employed in this institution since:	2006

Teaching

undergraduate

• Connecting Biological Knowledge (279413) - Lecturer in charge

graduate

• Urban Ecology (213532) - Lecturer in charge

integrated undergraduate and graduate

• Basic Skills of Teaching Biology (208624) - Lecturer in charge
• Connecting Biological Knowledge (269823) - Lecturer in charge
• Sustainable Development in Teaching Natural Sciences (47308) - Lecturer in charge
• Teaching Methods in Biology (47168) - Lecturer in charge
• Teaching Methods in Biology (210180) - Lecturer in charge
• Teaching Practice in Biology (210185) - Lecturer in charge

doctoral

• Interdisciplinary Perspectives in Biology Education (283852) - Lecturer in charge
• Technology and Innovations in Biology Education (283850) - Lecturer in charge
• Trophic Level and Energy Flow in Ecosystem (151747) - Lecturer in charge

Biography

Education

2006 – 2011    

• Doctoral studies at the University of Zagreb, Faculty of Science, Department of Biology (module: Ecology, Environmental and Conservation Biology)
• Degree obtained: December 19th, 2011; Dr.sc. (Biology, Ecology)
• PhD-thesis title: “The Influence of Hydromorphological Factors on Macroinvertebrate Drift in Microhabitats of Waterfall Sites at Plitvice Lakes” (in Croatian)
• Cumulative numerical grade: 4.86

1999 – 2005  

• Undergraduate and graduate studies at the University of Zagreb, Faculty of Science, Department of Biology (pre-Bologna higher education system)
• Dual major: Biology and Chemistry
• Degree obtained: June 9th, 2005; biologiae et chemiae professor (equivalent to Masters degree)
• Diploma-thesis title: “Assessment of Genotoxicity in Freshwater Environment Using the Comet and Micronucleus Assays on Carp Erythrocytes”
• Cumulative numerical grade: 4.42

1995 – 1999

Language Grammar School (XVI. Grammar School, Zagreb, Croatia) (high school average grade: excellent)

Scientific publications (CroRIS)

Show publications in CRORIS

List of select projects

1. Science in Diplomacy Network: implementing multilateral policymaking in intersectoral, cross-disciplinary & strategic domains (SiDnet) (EU COST Action; CA24169) – Croatian Management Committee member (2025 – 2029)
2. Multidisciplinary towards sustainable public spaces (MY space) (institutional research project at the University of Zagreb, Faculty of Architecture) – collaborator (2025 – 2029)
3. Energy status of the macroinvertebrate community as a proxy for urban stream health (ESCAPE-US) (funded by Croatian Science Foundation) – collaborator (2025 – 2028)
4. On the edge of urban wetlands: Innovative methods of ecological research in the Significant Landscape of Savica (funded by Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts) – project leader (2015 – 2016)
5. Social-ecological approaches to inclusive and resilient public spaces (UNIC VIP Fund) – project leader (2025 – 2027)
6. Research implementation and development of a monitoring programme for the conservation status of aquatic invertebrates in the Savica Significant Landscape (funded by Public Institution Maksimir for the Management of Protected Areas of the City of Zagreb) – collaborator (2024)
7. Empowering the Water-Energy-Food Nexus by incorporating biodiversity and climate awareness (WatNex) (funded under the EEA and Norwegian Financial Mechanism - Fund for Bilateral relations) – project leader (2023 – 2024)
8. Network on water-energy-food nexus for a low-carbon economy in Europe and beyond (NEXUSNET) (EU COST Action; CA20138) – Croatian Management Committee member (2021 – 2025)
9. Study of physicochemical water quality parameters, macrozoobenthos composition, ichthyofauna (qualitative and quantitative status), and riparian and upland flora and vegetation in the Tounjčica River section (Kamenica Skradnička) (funded by private client) – project leader (2022)
10. Synecological STEM EDUcation in Klinča (UP.04.2.1.10. funded by European Social Fund) – collaborator (2021 – 2023)
11. Learning biology in epidemiologically adapted research environment (funded by Croatian Science Foundation) – collaborator (2021 – 2023)
12. Impact of restoration and drying on freshwater ecosystems (funded by University of Zagreb) – project leader (2020 – 2021)
13. Monitoring the recovery of periphyton and macrozoobenthos on tufa barriers in National Park Krka after the removal of the invasive 'tree of heaven' (Ailanthus altissima) (funded by National Park Krka, Croatia) – collaborator (2019 – 2020)
14. Science and Management of Intermittent Rivers and Ephemeral Streams (SMIRES) (funded by: EU COST Action; CA15113) – collaborator and Croatian Management Committee Substitute (2016 – 2020)
15. AQUAMAPMET – Accumulation, subcellular mapping and effects of trace metals in aquatic organisms (funded by Croatian Science Foundation) – collaborator (2015 – 2019)
16. Removal of the invasive ‘tree of heaven’ (Ailanthus altissima) and its influence on tufa deposition on natural substrates and dynamics of periphyton and macrozoobenthos (funded by National Park Krka, Croatia) – collaborator (2017 – 2018)
17. Linking biodiversity and ecosystem function via food web analysis within an alpine fluvial network (SNSF-funded "International Short Visit" project – duration 2 months) – collaborator (2017)
18. Urban stream ecology in Zagreb, Croatia: a pilot project (funded by Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts) – project leader (2015 – 2016)
19. EkoRaMa – Development of ecology, computer science and mathematics studies based on the Croatian Qualifications Framework (HR.3.1.15-0017, funded by European Social Fund) – collaborator (2015 – 2016)
20. Alpine food webs in a changing climate (funded by EAWAG and Swiss Government Scholarship for Foreign Students) – scholarship holder/main investigator (2013 – 2014)
21. Functional organization of plankton community in the Lakes Kozjak and Prošće as an indicator of ecological state of the Plitvice lakes hydrosystem (funded by Plitvice Lakes National Park) – collaborator (2009 – 2011)
22. Diversity and biological activity of glacial streams in Switzerland during the winter period (funded by Swiss Government Scholarship for Foreign Students) – scholarship holder/main investigator (2008 – 2009)
23. Implementation of functional organization of aquatic assemblages in environment valorisation (funded by Ministry of Science, Education and Sports of the Republic of Croatia, MZOS 119-0000000-1205) – collaborator (2007 – 2013)
24. Environmental monitoring and assessment program for surface waters in Croatia according to the EU Water Framework Directive (funded by Hrvatske vode - legal entity for water management in Croatia) – collaborator (2006 – 2008)
25. Role of current velocity in functional structuring of tufa-forming coenoses (funded by Ministry of Science, Education and Sports of the Republic of Croatia, MZOS 0119127) – collaborator (2002 – 2006)

Past employments

• Associate Professor at the University of Zagreb, Faculty of Science, Department of Biology (January, 2023 – ongoing)
• Assistant Professor at the University of Zagreb, Faculty of Science, Department of Biology (January, 2017 – December, 2022)
• Postdoctoral researcher and senior teaching assistant at the University of Zagreb, Faculty of Science, Department of Biology (September, 2014 – January, 2017)
• Visiting scientist (post-doc) at EAWAG (Dübendorf, CH) (September, 2013 – September, 2014) – funded by Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship for Foreign Scholars and Artists for Academic Year 2013-14
• Postdoctoral researcher and senior teaching assistant at the University of Zagreb, Faculty of Science, Department of Biology (January, 2012 – September, 2013)
• Junior researcher and junior teaching assistant at the University of Zagreb, Faculty of Science, Department of Biology (June, 2009 – January, 2012)
• Visiting junior scientist (PhD) at EAWAG (Dübendorf, CH) (July, 2008 – June, 2009) – funded by Swiss Government Scholarship for Foreign Students for Academic Year 2008-09
• Junior researcher and teaching assistant at the University of Zagreb, Faculty of Science, Department of Biology (May, 2006 – July, 2008)

• External teaching assistant at the University of Zagreb, Faculty of Science, Department of Biology, Division of Zoology (September, 2005 – May, 2006)