Dr. Margareta Kračun Kolarević

I obtained my MSc degree in 2011 from the Faculty of Biology, University of Belgrade (Serbia) and completed my PhD in 2017. During my PhD and subsequent postdoctoral work, I integrated concepts from eco(geno)toxicology, genotoxicology, microbiology of freshwater ecosystems, and hydroecology into my research endeavors. My primary focus lies in evaluating pollution effects in freshwater and marine ecosystems through genotoxicological bioassays, assessing DNA damage in various organism, and on assessment of water quality deterioration based on microbiological indicators of faecal pollution using quantitative methods, complemented by Microbial Source Tracking (MST) methodologies to identify pollution sources. I have collaborated with national and international research teams and participated in international river expeditions, which enriched my skill set that can be transferable to researchers interested in environment protection and established valuable collaborations and networks with renowned researchers and institutions. Sharing the same goal of environmental protection and sustainable waters use, the initialized collaborations gave me the opportunity to attend advanced trainings at the MU Vienna, TU Vienna, MU Gratz, NIB Slovenia, enhancing my professional capacities. I received a postdoctoral fellowship from the Ministry of Education, Science, and Technological Development of the Republic of Serbia in 2019 and supervised a doctoral dissertation recognized as the best in environmental protection in Serbia in 2022 (Foundation “Docent Dr. Milena Dalmacija”). Additionally, I am a member of Serbian Biological Society, Serbian Society for Water Protection, Serbian Genetic Society, Serbian Society for Microbiology and European Environmental Mutagenesis and Genomics Society (EEMGS).