Dr. Dragana Matić

EDUCATION
2018 PhD in Biology, Faculty of Biology, University of Belgrade
Thesis “Potential role of gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar L.) as a bioindicator of environmental pollution: the impact of cadmium chronic exposure on the development, midgut digestive enzyme activities, detoxification mechanisms and DNA damage level”
2008 M.Sc. in Molecular Biology and Physiology, Faculty of Biology, University of Belgrade

RESEARCH EXPERIENCE
2024- Senior Research Associate, Department of Insect Physiology and Biochemistry, Institute for Biological Research “Siniša Stanković” – National Institute of the Republic of Serbia (IBISS), University of Belgrade
2019-2024 Research Associate, Department of Insect Physiology and Biochemistry, Institute for Biological Research “Siniša Stanković” – National Institute of the Republic of Serbia (IBISS), University of Belgrade
2012-2019 Research Assistant, Department of Insect Physiology and Biochemistry, IBISS, University of Belgrade
2011-2012 Research Trainee, Department of Insect Physiology and Biochemistry, IBISS, University of Belgrade
2009-2011 Postgraduate Fellow, Center for Molecular Neurobiology Hamburg (ZMNH), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE), Germany

RESEARCH INTEREST
My research focuses on the effects of chemical and physical stressors on forest insects with the aim of investigating their bioindicator potential and identifying new biomarkers of exposure. I am particularly interested in the physiological responses of spongy moth (Lymantria dispar L.) larvae to cadmium treatment, taking into account the different exposure histories of spongy moth populations to environmental pollution.