Assist. Prof. Zorana Kovačević, Ph.D.

Personal data

• Date and place of birth: 10 December 1984, Split, Croatia

Academic education

• 2019 - PhD at University of Zagreb Faculty of Textile Technology; Postgraduate doctoral study program: Textile Science & Technology; Mentors: Prof. Sandra Bischof, PhD (University of Zagreb) and Prof. Mizi Fan, PhD (Brunel University)
• 2009 - BSc at University of Zagreb Faculty of Textile Technology; Course: Engineering and Design of Textile and Clothing; Mentor: Prof. Edita Vujasinović, PhD (University of Zagreb)

Employment

• 2020 - the scientific title of research associate
• 2020 - today - University of Zagreb Faculty of Textile Technology, Department of Textile Chemistry and Ecology - Postdoc
• 2009 - 2020 - University of Zagreb Faculty of Textile Technology, Department of Textile Chemistry and Ecology - Assistant

 Research secondments and training schools

• 2018 - 4-days stay at Sustainable textile school 2018 and Sustainable textile ambassador course, Chemnitz, Germany, Gherzi Textile Organization, Technical University Chemnitz and STFI
• 2013 - 3 months scholarship The British Scholarship Trust at Brunel University, London, UK 
• 2013 - 3 days stay at COST SKINBAD Training Summer School "Light, confocal and electron microscopy", Ghent, Belgium
• 2012 - 7 days stay at Institute for Natural Fibres and Medicinal Plants (INFMP), Poznan, Poland 
• 2010 - 2 months stay at Institute for Natural Fibres and Medicinal Plants (INFMP), Poznan, Poland 

Teaching activity

 Undergraduate study:

• Textile finishing
• Operations for textile finishing
• Dry finishing

Graduate study:

• High-performance textile finishing
• Leading of textile finishing process
• Contemporary methods of fibre identification

 Expertise

• High-performance textile finishing with an emphasis on flame retardant treatments
• Thermal characterization of materials
• Biocomposites materials
• Sustainability 
• SEM/EDS microscope techniques

Scientific-professional work

• 1 author book

• 1 chapter

• 6 original scientific papers

• 21 scientific paper published in the proceedings

• 5 abstracts published in the proceedings

List of the most important scientific papers

• Kovačević, Z., Krnčević, M., Katović, A., Katović, D.: Spanish Broom – a forgotten textile raw material, Tekstil 59 (2010) 9, pp. 410-421, ISSN 0492-5882 Q4
• Kovačević, Z., Bischof Vukušić, S., Zimniewska, M.: Comparison of Spanish broom (Spartium Junceum L.) and flax (linum usitatissimum) fibre, Textile Research Journal 82 (2012) 17, pp. 1786-1798, ISSN 0040-5175 Q1
• Kovačević, Z., Bischof, S., Fan, M.: The influence of Spartium junceum L. Fibres modified with montmorrilonite nanoclay on the thermal properties of PLA biocomposites, Composites Part B: Engineering 101 (2015) 1, pp. 122-130, ISSN 1359-8368 Q1
• Kovačević, Z., Bischof, S., Vujasinović, E., Fan, M.: The potential of nanoclay modified Spartium junceum L. fibres used as reinforcement in PLA matrix composites for automotive applications, International Journal of Nanotechnology 15 (2018) 8/9/10,pp.  695-700, ISSN 1475-7435 Q4
• Kovačević, Z., Bischof, S., Vujasinović, E., Fan, M.: The influence of pre-treatment of Spartium junceum L. fibres on the structure and mechanical properties of PLA biocomposites, Arabian Journal of Chemistry 12 (2019), pp. 449-463, Online published 2016, DOI: 10.1016/j.arabjc.2016.08.004, ISSN 1878-5352 Q1

Books and chapters

• Bischof, S., Kovačević, Z.: From Weed to Fabric, Zagreb: University of Zagreb Faculty of Textile Technology, 2013, ISBN 978-953-7105-50-1
• Kovačević, Z., Bogacz, E., Zimniewska, M., Bischof Vukušić, S.: New fibers in biocomposites, in: Young scientists in the protective textiles research, Bischof Vukušić, S. (ed), Zagreb: University of Zagreb Faculty of Textile Technology & FP7-REGPOT-2008-1229801: T-Pot, 2011, Chapter 7, 95-118, ISBN 978-953-7105-41-9

Projects (project associate)

• 117-1171419-1407, Alternative environmentally friendly processes and methods of chemical modification of cellulose, Ministarstvo znanosti, obrazovanja i športa Republike Hrvatske, Zagreb 2007-2012, Coordinator: Prof. Drago Katović, PhD
• FP7-REGPOT-2008-1-229801:T-Pot, Unlocking the Croatain Textile Research Potentials (01.03.2009.-31.08.2011.), Coordinator: Prof. Sandra Bischof Vukušić, PhD
• E! 5785 FLAMEBLEND, Improvement in the flame retardant properties of cotton and wool blends (30.06.2010.-30.06.2013.), Coordinator: Irena Petrinić, PhD Univerza v Mariboru, CRO coordinators: Prof. Tanja Pušić, PhD & Prof. Sandra Bischof Vukušić, PhD
• 380-181/102-12-72, Revitalisation of textile production of Spartium junceum L. – Development of autochthon Croatian product: From weed to fabric, University of Zagreb, Development Fund, (1 January 2012 - 31 March 2013), Coordinator: Prof. Sandra Bischof Vukušić, PhD
• HRZZ IP-11-2013, ADVANCETEX - Advanced textile materials obtained by targeted surface modification, Hrvatska zaklada za znanost, (1 September 2014 - 28 February 2019), Coordinator: Prof. Sandra Bischof, PhD
• KK.01.1.1.02.0024 MI-TSRC: Modernization of the infrastructure of the Textile Science Research Center (16 May 2018 -16 March 2021), ERDF, Coordinator: Prof. Sandra Bischof, PhD
• KK.01.1.1.04, BIOKOMPOZITI - Design of advanced biocomposites from energy sustainable sources (20 December 2019 -19 December 2022), ERDF, Coordinator: Prof. Sandra Bischof, PhD
• KK.05.1.1.02.0016, KLIMA - Production of food, biocomposites and biofuels from cereals in the circular bioeconomy (18 September 2019 -18 September 2023), ERDF, Coordinator: Prof. Tajana Krička, PhD (University of Zagreb Faculty of Agriculture)
• HRZZ IP-2020-02-7575, InWaShed-MP - Assessment of microplastic shedding from polyester textiles in washing process (1 February 2021 - 31 January 2025), Coordinator: Prof. Tanja Pušić, PhD

Short - term financial support of the University of Zagreb (support associate)

• TP012 An innovative modification of the complex system of Ink Jet printing on textiles, Coordinator: Prof. Sandra Bischof, PhD (2015)
• TP3/16 Functionalization and characterization of textile materials to achieve protective properties, Coordinator: Assist. Prof. Sandra Flinčec Grgac, PhD (2016)
• TP 1/17 Development of advanced nanobiocomposites reinforced with lignocellulose fibres, Coordinator: Prof. Sandra Bischof, PhD (2017)
• TP11/18 Influence of metal ions on fluorescent compounds in the washing process, Coordinator: Tihana Dekanić, PhD (2018)
• TP3/19 Influence of metal ions on washing effects, Coordinator: Tihana Dekanić, PhD (2019)
• TP10/20 Assessment of microplastic shedding from textiles in the washing process, Coordinator: Prof. Tanja Pušić, PhD (2020)

Intellectual property

• Registration of trademark: Spartium junceum L. trademark, State intellectual property office in Croatia, Z20130239A, 2013.

Awards and recognitions

• Dean's Award for the best student of the 4th year of study Textile Technology, course: Design and Engineering of Textiles and Clothing, 2007.
• Recognition for success during the study of Textile Technology, 2009.
• Recognition of DAAM International for the excellent organization of  5th ITC&DC conference which was held from 5 October to 8 October 2010.
• Recognition of DAAM International for the excellent organization of  6th ITC&DC conference which was held from 7 October to 10 October 2012.
• Dean's Award for Scientific Excellence during doctoral study Textile Science and Technology, 2013.
• Award of the Textile Science Research Center (TSRC) for the most successful scientific research work of a young researcher up to the age of 35 entitled "Nanobiocomposites reinforced with textile materials treated with flame retardants", 2016.