Category: News

In the laboratory of the Faculty of Science, our associate dr.sc. Ivana Šola and postdoctoral student dr.sc. Ida Linić, performed the first preliminary HPLC chemical profiling of extracts and fractions of invasive plant species: Black locust, Jerusalem artichoke, Tree of heaven and Canadian goldenrod.

The results are already promising and we can’t wait for further analyses!

Solidago canadensis L. (Canadian goldenrod) is one of the species we are investigating in the project. Since now is the optimal period for sampling, we continued with the fieldwork. We are already a
well-established team, and with the help of our botanist Slavko Brana, everything is going smoothly. We are hardworking students, but the key point is that Slavko knows each plant individually.

Mirela Uzelac is a new member of our project team. From September the 1 st, she has been employed as PhD student on the project. Mirela will focus on determining the biological activity of extracts and fractions of four alien invasive plant species that we study in the project.

Welcome, Mirela!

It all started in the 18th century when the tree of heaven (Ailanthus altissima (Mill.) Swingle) was imported into Europe as an ornamental tree. Once an exotic addition to high society,
the garden has started spreading like a wildfire which needs to be controlled. We know that the best way to stop a fire is to take advantage of its attributes – to fight fire with fire- and that’s what our research plans on doing; taking advantage of the plants’ natural abilities to make them an asset. And this is where our NATURALLY story begins.

We invite everyone to read the whole story on the website of the Croatian Science Foundation at the link!

It is time for a sampling of the second of four invasive plant species that are the subject of the project investigation. Our advisor, a botanist of the Istrian Botanical Society, said the following: “Tree of heaven (A. altissima) is just in the right phase for our needs!” So, we didn’t waste time! Despite the hot summer day, we visited several central, eastern and northern Istria locations, which will be soon followed by a tour of southern and western Istria. Because, believe it or not, we are most efficient at operating temperatures above 30 °C ☺

We also installed the second part of the equipment provided by the project. Rotavapor was put into operation, quality control and user training were performed. We are especially pleased to use the new equipment as much as possible. That is why the previously installed mill is already in full operation!

We have open a job vacancy for the employment of postdoctoral student in the associate title and in the workplace, to work on the NATURALLY project (IP-2020-02-6899). The vacancy was published on 17 February 2021 in the Official Gazette 16/21, in Glas Istre, on the Institute’s official website (www.iptpo.hr), on the Institute’s bulletin board and through the Croatian Employment Service and the Euraxess Jobs Portal Team.

http://www.iptpo.hr/index.php/dokumenti/natjecaj-za-radna-mjesta

https://narodne-novine.nn.hr/clanci/oglasi/o8312116.htmlhttps://euraxess.ec.europa.eu/jobs/606287