Bojan Žunar, PhD
Contact information
| Phone: | + 385 1 4605 153 |
| Email: | bzunar@pbf.hr |
| Email: | bojan.zunar@pbf.unizg.hr |
Location: Laboratory for Biochemistry
Biography
Work Experience
- 2022 - Present: Assistant professor at the Faculty of Food Technology and Biotechnology in the Laboratory for Biochemistry, University of Zagreb.
- 2023 - Present: Visiting researcher at the Laboratory for Medical Sciences, Imperial College London, UK.
- 2020 - 2021: Researcher at the Centre for Molecular Biophysics (CBM, CNRS, Orléans, France).
- 2019 - 2020: Assistant professor at the Faculty of Food Technology and Biotechnology in the Laboratory for Biology and Microbial Genetics, University of Zagreb.
- 2017 - 2019: Postdoctoral Fellow at the Faculty of Food Technology and Biotechnology in the Laboratory for Biology and Microbial Genetics, University of Zagreb.
- 2012 - 2017: Research assistant at the Faculty of Food Technology and Biotechnology in the Laboratory for Biology and Microbial Genetics, University of Zagreb.
Participation in Research Projects
- Strengthening Synthetic Biology in the Croatian Research System through the Development of Humanized Biosensors and Microbial Factories for Detection and Production of Estrogen-like Compounds (croESTRO) (Principal Investigator, Ministry of Science and Education, NPOO.C3.2.R2-I1.06.0024, 2023–2026).
- Addressing copper pollution in South Europe by robustifying whole-cell copper biosensors through cell wall engineering (robustiCo) (Principal Investigator, Croatian Science Foundation, IP-2024-05-5224, 2024-2027).
- Modification of the Cell Wall of Probiotic Yeast for Effective Exposure of Sweet-Tasting Proteins on the Cell Surface: Next-Generation Low-Calorie Sweeteners (SWEET-YEAST) (Collaborator, Croatian Science Foundation, IP-2022-10-6851, Project Leader: Assoc. Prof. Igor Stuparević, PhD, 2023–2027).
- Biotechnological Application of Heterologous Protein Incorporation into Yeast Cell Walls (PRODIS) (Collaborator, Croatian Science Foundation, IP-2019-04-2891, Project Leader: Prof. Vladimir Mrša, PhD, 2020–2023).
- Tracking Pollutants in Water Currents with Bio-Sensors Built with Laminar Compounds and Yeast Strains (MONITOPOL) (Collaborator, La Région Centre Val de Loire, APR-IR Monitopol, 2017 00117247, Project Leader: Régis Guégan, 2020–2021).
- Sustainable Production of Biochemicals from Secondary Lignocellulosic Raw Materials (Biorefinery-NFLRM) (Collaborator, Croatian Science Foundation, IP-2018-01-9717, Project Leader: Prof. Božidar Šantek, PhD, 2018–2020).
- Sustainable Production of Bioethanol and Biochemicals from Waste Agricultural Lignocellulosic Materials (SPECH-LRM) (Collaborator, Croatian Science Foundation, IP-2013-11-9158, Project Leader: Prof. Božidar Šantek, PhD, 2014–2018).
- Enhancing the Competitiveness of Croatian Scientists in Molecular Biotechnology (Collaborator, European Structural Funds, HR.3.2.01-0074, Project Leader: Assist. Prof. Anamarija Štafa, PhD, 2014–2015).
- Palindromes in Genomes and Mechanisms of Gene Replacement in Yeast (Collaborator, Ministry of Science, Education, and Sports, MZT 0580477-2258, Project Leader: Assoc. Prof. Ivan Krešimir Svetec, PhD, 2012–2014).
Awards and Recognitions
- 2024: University of Zagreb Faculty of Food Technology and Biotechnology Award for a published scientific paper in the highest-ranked journal in the field of Biotechnology in the previous year (https://doi.org/10.1186/s12934-023-02183-2).
- 2023: Annual Award of the Croatian Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology for Young Scientists for 2022 (Croatian Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology).
- 2022: University of Zagreb Faculty of Food Technology and Biotechnology Award for a published scientific paper in the highest-ranked journal in the field of Biotechnology in the previous year (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bios.2022.114502).
- 2023: Annual Award for Young Scientists and Artists for 2022 (Association of University Teachers and Other Scientists in Zagreb).
- 2019: Bronze Medal at the International Innovation Fair ARCA 2019 for the innovation “Genetic Transformation of Yeasts of the Schwanniomyces Genus” (Authors: Matanović, A., Svetec Miklenić, M., Žunar, B., Štafa, A., Svetec, I. K.).
- 2016: Bronze Medal at the International Innovation Fair ARCA 2016 for the innovation “Efficient Genetic Transformation Procedure of Dekkera/Brettanomyces bruxellensis Yeast” (Authors: Svetec Miklenić, M., Žunar, B., Lončar, A., Nestić, D., Štafa, A., Svetec, I. K.).
- 2011: Rector's Award for the student paper “Interdependence of Intrachromosomal Recombination and Chromosome Duplication in Saccharomyces cerevisiae Yeast.”
- 2011: Dean's Commendation for Achievements in the 1st Year of the Master's Study Program “Molecular Biotechnology.”
- 2008: Dean's Award.
Education
- 2012 – 2017: Doctoral Studies in Biotechnology and Bioprocess Engineering, Faculty of Food Technology and Biotechnology, University of Zagreb.
- 2011: Master's Degree in Bio-Industrial Techniques, University of Orleans.
- 2011: Master's Degree in Molecular Biotechnology, Faculty of Food Technology and Biotechnology, University of Zagreb.
- 2009: Bachelor's Degree in Biotechnology Engineering, Faculty of Food Technology and Biotechnology, University of Zagreb.
Scientific Societies
- Croatian Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (since 2021)
- Croatian Association of Genetic Engineers (member since 2011)
- Croatian Microbiological Society (member since 2013)
- Croatian Society of Biotechnology (member since 2015)