President Milanović Receives Young Scientists and Artists Awarded by the Association of University Teachers
The President of the Republic Zoran Milanović today welcomed young scientists and artists who received the annual awards from the Association of University Teachers and Other Scientists. Ten individuals were honoured for their outstanding achievements, nine in scientific fields and one in the arts.
The awardees presented their projects and research to President Milanović, who congratulated them and expressed gratitude to the Association for supporting and encouraging the work of young researchers. Eligibility for the Association’s Annual Award is open to applicants under 35 years of age at the time of submission who are employed at faculties, academies, or research institutes in Zagreb. The award recognizes excellence in scientific and artistic accomplishments across all disciplines.
The 2026 Annual Award winners include Nevio Barbača Čuljak, M.Econ., for his work “Idiosyncratic momentum factors: A path to improved risk-return trade-offs” in the social sciences, economics, at the Faculty of Economics; Lea Anastazija Fleger, M.A., for directing the opera “Nikola Šubić Zrinjski” in theatre arts (stage and media arts) at the Academy of Dramatic Arts; Dora Knežević, Ph.D., for her research “Phonological and speech motor abilities in children with childhood apraxia of speech” in social sciences, speech therapy, at the Faculty of Education and Rehabilitation; Natalia Smrkulj, Ph.D., for “Holocene paleoenvironmental changes recorded in the sediments of the karst Krka River estuary (eastern Adriatic coast, Croatia)” in natural sciences, geology, at the Croatian Geological Institute; Luka Stanić, Ph.D., for “The Role of Emotional Parentification in Linking Psychological Abuse and Parental Conflict to Adolescents’ Internalized Problems” in social sciences, social work, at the Faculty of Law; Elizabeta Šamec, Ph.D., for “Retrofitting of Apse Vaults in the Zagreb Cathedral After the 2020 Earthquake” in technical sciences, architecture and urbanism, at the Faculty of Civil Engineering; Andrea Usenik, Ph.D., for “Intrinsic fluorescence of calixarenes: the origin and applications” in natural sciences, chemistry, at the Faculty of Science; Dr. sc. Antonio Zandona for “Nicotinamide derivatives protect the blood-brain barrier against oxidative stress” in biomedicine and health, basic medical sciences, at the Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Medicine; Andrija Zaplatić, Ph.D., for “Advanced FE-based multimodal correlation analyses for the characterization of woven composite” in technical sciences, mechanical engineering, at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Naval Architecture; and Iva Zokić, M.Env.Eng., for “Sustainable Deacidification of waste cooking oil in a Karr column using deep eutectic solvent” in technical sciences, chemical engineering, at the Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Technology.
The Association of University Teachers and Other Scientists, established in 1919, is Croatia’s oldest continuous association of university professors and plays a key role in advancing the University of Zagreb and Croatian science.
Attending the meeting at the Office of the President were Assoc. Prof. Aleksandar Maršavelski, Ph.D., President of the Association; Prof. Alka Obadić, Ph.D., Vice-President; Prof. Emeritus Mladen Franz, Ph.D., Chair of the Annual Award Committee; Danijela Barić, Ph.D., Chair of the Supervisory Board; Assoc. Prof. Ivana Kanceljak, Ph.D., Secretary; Prof. Jasna Franekić, Ph.D., Member of the Court of Honour; and Administrative Secretary Hrvoje Tadić.
President Milanović was accompanied by his Adviser for Education, Jadranka Žarković.
PHOTO: Office of the President of the Republic of Croatia / Dario Andrišek