Draženka Komes, PhD

Biography

PERSONAL INFORMATION

Date of birth: 28th September 1974

Place of birth: Varaždin, Croatia

WORK EXPERIENCE

• Full Professor / Faculty of Food Technology and Biotechnology, University of Zagreb / January 2013 – onwards
• Associate Professor / Faculty of Food Technology and Biotechnology, University of Zagreb / April 2009 – January 2013
• Assistant Professor / Faculty of Food Technology and Biotechnology, University of Zagreb / December 2005 – April 2009
• Senior Teaching Assistant / Faculty of Food Technology and Biotechnology, University of Zagreb / July 2003 – December 2005
• Teaching Assistant / Faculty of Food Technology and Biotechnology, University of Zagreb / June 1998 – July 2003   

EDUCATION

• PhD in Food Technology / Faculty of Food Technology and Biotechnology, University of Zagreb / 2003
• Master's Degree in Biotechnology / Faculty of Food Technology and Biotechnology, University of Zagreb / 1998

TRAINING

• Julius-Kühn Institut – Quedlinburg, Germany / Analysis of volatile compounds (aroma) from fruits and vegetable products / 2008
• Julius-Kühn Institut – Quedlinburg, Germany / Analysis of volatile compounds (aroma) from medicinal herbs and plants / 2004

PROJECTS

• National project “Sustainable Production of Bioethanol and Biochemicals from Agricultural Waste Lignocellulosic Raw Materials”, supported by Croatian Science Foundation / associate / 2014 – 2018
• European FP7 project “Processing Raw Materials into Excellent and Sustainable End products while Remaining Fresh”, supported by European Commission / leader of a Work Package / 2010 – 2014
• European COST project “The Application of Innovative Fundamental Food-Structure-Property Relationships to the Design of Foods for Health,  Wellness and Pleasure”, supported by European Commission / national head (associate) / 2010 – 2014
• Lifelong learning program “Raising the Awareness on Healthy Food and Healthy Eating Among Children”, Leonardo da Vinci, supported by European Commission / associate / 2011 – 2013
• Bilateral Croatian-Serbian scientific project “Compositional Characterization of Extracts Isolated from the Lamiaceae Plants and Determination of their Antioxidative, Antilipemic and Antihypertensive Activity in vivo“, supported by Croatian Ministry of Science, Education and Sports / associate / 2011 – 2013
• National scientific project „The Stability of Alkaloids and Polyphenols in Products of Plant Origin”, supported by Croatian Ministry of Science, Education and Sports / leader / 2008 – 2013
• National scientific project “Preparation of Raw Materials and Determinations Fodstuffs Texture Properties”, supported by Croatian Ministry of Science, Education and Sports / associate / 2008 – 2013
• Bilateral Croatian-Serbian scientific project “Microincapsulation of Herbal Extracts Aimed for the Development of Functional Food Products”, supported by Croatian Ministry of Science, Education and Sports / leader / 2008 – 2010
• Development project „The Diet of Croatian Soldiers in 21^st Century”, supported by Croatian Ministry of Defense / leader / 2008 – 2010
• National scientific project “Creation and Retention of Native Aroma of Herbal Products” supported by Croatian Ministry of Science and Technology / associate/ 2002 – 2005
• National scientific project “Separation Processes in the Production of Biologically Valuable Food" supported by Croatian Ministry of Science and Technology / associate / 1998 – 2002

ORGANIZATIONAL SKILLS, COMMITTEES, BOARDS AND WORK GROUPS

• Head of the Laboratory for Technology of Carbohydrates and Confectionery Products / Faculty of Food Technology and Biotechnology, University of  Zagreb / 2008 – onwards
• Board for Scientific and Research activities / Faculty of Food Technology and Biotechnology, University of Zagreb / member / 2011 – onwards
• Management Board / Croatian Society of Food Technologists, Biotechnologists and Nutritionists / member / 2008 – onwards
• Board for Food Technology / Croatian Society of Food Technologists, Biotechnologists and Nutritionists / member / 2007 – onwards
• Organizational Board / national professional meeting Functional Food in Croatia / initiator and president / 2009 – onwards
• Organizational Board / 1st International Student Competition Ecotrophelia Croatia 2014 / initiator and president / 2014
• Scientific Board / 2nd International Congress on Food Technology, Quality and Safety / member / 2013 – 2014
• Scientific Board / 6th CEFood Congress / member / 2011 – 2012
• Organizational Board / 6th International Conference on Medicinal Mushrooms / member / 2010 – 2011
• Committee / setup of book regulations on changes and updates for coffee, coffee substitutes and their products / member / 2010
• Work group / professional opinion on the possibility of using Stevia Rebaudiana Bertoni for food purposes / Croatian Food Agency / member / 2009 – 2010
• Committee / setup of book regulations on sugars and methods for analyses of sugars aimed for food purposes / Croatian Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Rural Development / member / 2008 - 2009
• Committee / setup of book regulations on the methodology for determination of sugar quality / Croatian Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Rural Development / member / 2008 - 2009

AWARDS AND RECOGNITIONS

• Annual National Award for the Scientific Achievement in the field of Biotechnical Sciences – Food Technology / 2010
• Annual Award of the Croatian Academy of Technical Sciences / 2007
• Annual Award of the Society of University Teachers, Scholars and other Scientists in Zagreb / 2003
• Support of the Biotechnical Foundation of the Faculty of Food Technology and Biotechnology, University of Zagreb / 1999
• The Vice-Chancellor's Award of the University of Zagreb / 1997

OTHER ACTIVITIES, SKILLS AND COMPETENCES

• Teaching activities - coordinator and lecturer for a number of undergraduate, graduate and postgraduate modules at the Faculty of Food Technology and Biotechnology, University of Zagreb
• Mentorship for 1 defended Doctoral Thesis, 40 defended Master Thesis and 29 defended Bachelor Thesis and 3 students' researches awarded with the Vice-Chancellor's Award of the University of Zagreb (2006, 2011, 2014)
• Editorial Board / scientific journal Croatian Journal of Food Technology, Biotechnology and Nutrition / 2008 – onwards
• Reviewer for over 20 respectable scientific journals
• Proficient user of Microsoft Office programs, specific statistical analysis programs and operating sofware for HPLC (ChemStation) and GC
• Languages / English  - C1 level (speaking, writing and reading) / German – C1 level (speaking), B2 level (writing and reading)