I’m a researcher working at the intersection of hydrogen technologies, materials science, and data science. I study how nanoscale structure controls catalyst performance and stability, and I enjoy translating complex results into a more accessible language.
I work at the Laboratory for Electrocatalysis at the National Institute of Chemistry in Ljubljana, Slovenia.
The main motivation behind my research is driving the progress of technologies that can benefit our society long-term. When not researching, I recharge by climbing, traveling, and learning foreign languages.
If any of that resonates, please explore my page and get in touch (see below)!
Skills
- Computers: Python, R, data analysis and visualisation, machine learning, image analysis.
- Communication: public talks, science writing, and collaboration in interdisciplinary teams.
- Languages: Slovene, English, German, Russian, and Croatian (conversational).
- Research: experimental and data-driven materials science, especially for hydrogen technologies (more).
Recognition
- Best personal academic website - Accessible SciComm award (2025) — The Academic Designer LLC.
- Best natural science lecture (2024) — publishing house Slovenska matica and The Association for Technical Culture of Slovenia.
- Best master’s thesis in sustainable chemistry (2022) — Slovenian Chemical Society.
- Best poster (2022) — Slovenian-Bavarian Summer School: Materials for Energy and Environmental Application.
Past experience
Before my Ph.D., I had a bunch of student jobs and projects. Here are some of them:
- I was a science communicator at a science center, Hiša eksperimentov, where I explained do-it-yourself experiments to visitors, led workshops, and developed new experiments for a traveling science exhibition.
- I joined an international program, Pioneers into Practice by EIT Climate-KIC. It included a work placement at a start-up company, PowerUp Fuel Cells OÜ, in Tallinn, Estonia, as well as project work on wastewater treatment, and several innovation workshops.
- I participated in a start-up accelerator with ReCatalyst (who later won the Slovenian start-up of the year award), organized by EIT RawMaterials.
- I developed machine learning algorithms for tumor tissue recognition on images of eye melanoma as part of a project at the Faculty of Mathematics and Physics, University of Ljubljana.
- I was an astronomy tutor at the Faculty of Mathematics and Physics, University of Ljubljana, and I led observations with small telescopes for groups of Physics students.
Education
- Ph.D. in Chemistry (2025), University of Ljubljana. Thesis: Crystal structure of platinum and iridium nanocomposite electrocatalysts
- M.Sc. in Physics (2021), University of Ljubljana. Thesis: Algorithms for image analysis of atomically resolved electron micrographs (in Slovene)
- B.Sc. in Physics (2019), University of Ljubljana; a semester abroad at TU Berlin.
If you have questions about my work, see a way to collaborate, or are interested in thoughtful science outreach (or just want to say hi), please get in touch! LinkedIn is also a good way to reach me.