Project cooperation
Interested in collaboration on plant-based solutions for a cleaner, sustainable world: seed priming, phytoremediation, green technologies.
- Early stage
- Partner looking for consortium
Author
Dunja Šamec
Assistant Professor
University North
Koprivnica, Croatia
14 profile visits
I study plant metabolites, their biosynthesis, and use in sustainable agriculture, combining molecular biology, metabolomics, and biotechnology.
My organisation
University North (UNIN) is one of the youngest (established in 2015.) and integrated public university situated in the northwestern Croatian macro-region, with two campuses in Koprivnica and Varaždin. This dual structure enables the seamless implementation of the university’s common mission, vision, goals and development strategy throughout northwestern Croatia. The institution is divided into departments and other organizational units and offers higher educational and professional study programs in its two centers,
University North is active in the field of higher education, scientific and artistic activities and professional work. This includes scientific research, artistic endeavors and development, with a special focus on research and study programs that are of strategic importance to Croatia. UNIN educational offer includes bachelor's, master's and postgraduate programs in seventeen departments and three locations. In addition, two postgraduate programs as joint cross-border doctoral programs are offered.
University North has over 5,000 students, 250 staff and 300 associates. As the largest integrated public college in northwestern Croatia, it offers thirty-one distinctive and practice-oriented study programs in the fields of technical sciences, biomedicine and health, biotechnical and social sciences. Strategic goal of the University is to become a modern European higher education institution recognized for its teaching and professional achievements and it actively seek global partnerships, knowledge exchange and intercultural understanding through cooperation with other universities, faculties, universities of applied sciences, institutions and business enterprises with the aim of improving teaching processes and programs and aligning curricula with the principles of the Bologna Declaration and generally accepted guidelines in the field of education. In addition, University North cooperates with various clinical institutions in Croatia and abroad and offers students valuable opportunities for professional development.
Quality management system, based on ESG and ISO standards, ensures excellence in study programs, student assessment, professional competence and the quality of teaching and administrative staff. It also covers learning resources, student support and access to information and public information.
University North strives to meet the needs, requirements and expectations of students, the business community and the wider public. It fulfills its commitments to state-of-the-art expertise, available resources and programs while adhering to the principles of higher education in the European area.
In University North activities, the Department of Food Technology will be involved. This department specializes in training students in the field of food technology, incorporating modern approaches and the latest knowledge from food technology and biotechnology into its program. Lectures and practical courses are conducted in a newly constructed building, which is equipped with state-of-the-art laboratories for student practice and research.
About me
Dunja Šamec was born in 1984 in Varaždin, Croatia, where she completed her secondary education. In 2008, she earned dual degrees in Food Engineering and Nutrition from the Faculty of Food Technology and Biotechnology, University of Zagreb. As a highly awarded student, she received the Rector’s and Dean’s awards, along with numerous scholarships and recognitions. Since 2009, she has been engaged in scientific research at the Department of Molecular Biology at the Ruđer Bošković Institute (IRB), where she obtained a PhD in Molecular Biosciences in 2013, earning the title of Doctor of Science (PhD) in Natural Sciences—Biology. During her doctoral studies, she participated in international training programs in Germany, the Czech Republic, and the United States, spending a total of one year abroad.
From 2014 to 2016, she specialized in plant metabolomics at Washington State University, USA, as a Marie Curie COFUND NEWFELPRO fellow, completing a 24-month research stay. Upon returning to Croatia, she secured a permanent research position at IRB, where she worked until 2021 before transitioning to a faculty position as an Assistant Professor in Biotechnical Sciences at University North. There, she teaches four courses and leads a research group focused on plant specialized metabolites, their biosynthetic pathways, and their potential applications in sustainable agriculture.
Throughout her career, she has led multiple national and international research projects funded by UKF, HRZZ, FP7, HORIZON, and university grants. She is currently the principal investigator of a Croatian Science Foundation (HRZZ) research project (UIP-2019-04-1018), an ERASMUS+ KA-202-HED project, and a University North research grant. Additionally, she has collaborated on numerous domestic and international research projects.
Beyond research, Šamec is actively involved in science communication and outreach, coordinating events such as IRB Open Days, European Researchers' Night in Zagreb, and the Science Festival at University North. She has also participated in various radio and television programs, earning the IRB Recognition Award in 2019 for her contributions to science popularization. She is a member of several national and international scientific and professional associations, serves on the Program Committee for Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions, and is a founding member and current Chair of the Marie Curie Alumni Association—Croatian Chapter. Since early 2025, she has also been a Climate Pact Ambassador.
To date, she has published 66 scientific papers in international journals, with the majority appearing in high-impact journals, often as a key author (first author, corresponding author, or both). For her scientific achievements, Šamec has received numerous awards, including the IRB Annual Awards (2019 & 2020), the National Award for Young Scientists (2015), and the Influential Croatian Women & Future Leaders Award in Science and Technology (2022).
In 2024, she was recognized in Stanford University’s database of the top 2% most-cited scientists worldwide, based on SCOPUS data, while still under 40. Several of her papers have been classified as Highly Cited Papers by Web of Science, contributing significantly to advancements in her field.
Skills
- Science
- plant biology
- teaching
- suistanable agriculture
- Functional Food