FKKT

Full Professor of Environmental Engineering

• B. Sc. in Chemical Engineering (1993) at University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Technology,
• Ph. D. In Chemistry (1998) at University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Technology.

Employment:

• 1993-1995: Young Researcher at University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Technology, Chair of environmental chemistry
• 1995-2005: Teaching and Research Assistant at University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Technology, Chair of chemical, biochemical and environmental engineering
• 2005-2015: Assistant Professor at University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Technology, Chair of chemical, biochemical and environmental engineering
• 2015-2020: Associate Professor at University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Technology, Chair of chemical process, environmental andbiochemical engineering
• 2020: Full Professor at University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Technology, Chair of chemical process, environmental and biochemical engineering

Present Positions:

• Full Professor of Environmental Engineering (2020-present) at University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Technology.
• Head of the Chair of Chemical Process, Biochemical and Environmental Engineering at UL FKKT (2017-2021)
• Deputy Head of the Chair of Chemical Process, Biochemical and Environmental Engineering at UL FKKT (2021-2025 and 2025-2029)
• Vice dean at University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Technology FKKT for doctoral study and research: 2016 – 2021
• Dean at University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Technology FKKT: 2021-2025.
• Head of the Infrastructural Center of University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Technology: 2016 – 2021
• Head of the Programme board of the doctoral study of Environmental protection at University of Ljubljana: 2013- 2022 (13 faculties from UL involved)
• Deputy Head for the Technical sciences of the Programme board of the doctoral study of Environmental protection at University of Ljubljana: 2022- 2025 (13 faculties from UL involved)
• Head of the Programme board of the doctoral study of Environmental protection at University of Ljubljana: 2025- 2026 (13 faculties from UL involved)
• Head of the research group of Chemical Process, Environmental and Biochemical Engineering: 2014-2017.
• Head of the research group P2-0191 Chemical Engineering 2022-
• Deputy Head of the research group of Chemical Process, Environmental and Biochemical Engineering: 2017- 2025.
• Head of the 1^st Cycle of Chemical Engineering study at University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Technology: 2013 – 2017.
• Member of the Environmental Protection Council at Slovenian Academy of Science and Arts (SVI SAZU): 2022-.
• Academic lead of the EUTOPIA Learning community GLOBAL CONNECTIONS: TRANSDISCIPLINARY APPROACH at University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Technology.
• Member of the Project Council of EUTOPIA MOORE at University of Ljubljana: 2022-2026.
• Member of the Strategic Council of Water Research Center at University of Ljubljana (2024-)
• President of the Slovenian Chemical Society - SKD (2025-)
• Erasmus coordinator at UL FKKT for Erasmus+ programme at Department of Chemical Engineering and Technical Safety (2025-2029)
• Member of Commission for Research and Development at UL FKKT (2023-2025 and 2025-2029).
• Member of Commission for Doctoral Study at UL FKKT (1021-2025 and 2025-2029).

Research Fields:

• Treatment of industrial and municipal wastewater: Development and use of advanced oxidation processes in combination with conventional methods of treatment of wastewaters especially for the removal of micropollutants and priority pollutants from the landfill leachates, industrial and municipal wastewater and sewage sludge. Initiation of research in the field of homogeneous and heterogeneous Fenton oxidation, various ozonation techniques (H ₂ O ₂, UV, Fe ²⁺_, adsorbents). Process optimization and monitoring using a combination of chemical and biological methods. Introducing ecotoxicological tests with terrestrial and aquatic organisms to assess environmental impacts and environmental risks.
• Sustainable solid waste management: Development of landfill leachate treatment techniques and methods of sustainable disposal of municipal waste. Development of innovative techniques for reducing waste in the paper industry, notably through efficient and sustainable recycling of laminated paper based on environmentally friendly enzyme techniques. Improvement of material and energy utilization of solid bio-waste with pretreatment of waste sludge, to improve their potential for production of biogas. The use of biowaste for the production of biochar, its activation and characterization, and research of its use in wastewater treatment and micropollutants removal processes. Determining the effectiveness of Solid Waste Management Policies.
• Microplastics: research related to microplastics in surface waters. Development of methods for determining the influence of microplastics on higher plants. Determination of removal effectiveness of microplastics in conventional sewage treatment plants.
• Life Cycle Assessment (LCA): Assessment of the environmental impact of different products and processes using computational tools.

Pure quotes (october 2025):

• WoS: 1636
• Scopus: 2034
• H10: 20

Participation and leadership of research projects:

• Z2-3538 “Optimization of biological wastewater treatment plant using biodegradability and toxicity studies” (leader): 2001–2004.
• L4-3068 “The use of white rot fungi for degradation of synthetic dyes” (participation): 2001–2004.
• P2-0150 “Integrated approach to water pollution prevention” (participation): 2005–2012.
• P2-0191 “Chemical Engineering” (participation): 2009–2023.
• L2-6686 “Adhesion bonding systems with improved surface activity” (parcipitation): 2004– 2007.
• Slovenia-Slovakia project "Methodology for evaluation of biotreatability improvement of heavily polluted wastewaters after chemical treatment" (leader): 2006-2008.
• Slovenia-Slovakia project "Degradation of selected harmful compounds by ozonation" (leader): 2011-2012.
• Slovenia-USA project "Advanced Oxidation Processes (AOPs) for Removal of Endocrine Disruptive Chemicals (EDCs)" (leader): 2011-2012.
• Slovenia-Romania project "Advanced oxidation processes for removal of hazardous pollutants from landfill leachate" (leader): 2012-2013.
• IP ERASMUS Project 2012-2015: “Green Chemistry” (coordinator).
• Erasmus  KA2-HE-14/15 project Environmental protection and Natural Disasters (participant-coordinator)
• Slovenia-USA project "Development of a Treatability Protocol for Contaminants of Emerging Concern (CECs)" (leader): 2015-2016.
• N2-0129: Interactions of microplastics with floating plants: 1. 10. 2019―30. 9. 2021(participant).
• J2-2491: Impact of microplastics on constructed wetland: 1. 9. 2020 – 31. 8. 2023 (participant).
• Head of the Research Programme Chemical Engineering (2023-) financed by ARIS. National Research and Innovation Agency.
• Project BG05M2OP001-2.016-0013 "Modernization, digitalization and internationalization of education at the University of Chemical Technology and Metallurgy, Bulgaria (participant).
• GREEN STEM PROJECT 1. 04. 2023 - 31. 08. 2024 (SOUTH-WEST UNIVERSITY NEOFIT RILSKI BLAGOEVGRAD, Bulgaria, TRAKYA UNIVERSITESI Turkey Edirne, University of Ljubljana, Slovenia and PANEPISTIMIO IOANNINON Greece).
• NOO ULTRA Project al University of Ljubljana: Pilot projects for the renewal of higher education for a green and resilient transition, which is part of the Higher Education Reform of the Recovery and Resilience Mechanism (participant).

International Experiences - selection:

• October 2007 (30 days): Visiting researcher at Slovak University of Technology Faculty of Chemical and Food Technology, Department of Environmental Engineering, Slovakia.
• September 2008 (30 days): Visiting researcher at Slovak University of Technology Faculty of Chemical and Food Technology, Department of Environmental Engineering, Slovakia.
• February 2010 (5 days): Visiting professor (ERASMUS Teaching Exchange) at Brno University of Technology, Faculty of Chemistry, Institute of Chemistry and Technology of Environmental Protection, Czech Republic.  
• October 2010 (4 days): Visiting professor (ERASMUS Teaching Exchange) at Trondheim Technical University, Norway.
• February 2011 (5 days): Visiting professor (ERASMUS Teaching Exchange) at Gediminus Technical University in Vilnius, Lithuania.
• September 2011 (30 days): Visiting researcher at Tulane University, School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, USA.
• March 2012 (5 days): Visiting professor (ERASMUS Teaching Exchange) at Slovak University of Technology Faculty of Chemical and Food Technology, Department of Environmental Engineering, Slovakia.
• September 2012 (30 days): Visiting researcher at Tulane University, School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, USA.
• IP ERASMUS (Green Chemistry): Lecturer and Organiser of Summer School Green Chemistry – A Chalenge for European Universities: 10. – 23. 3. 2013, Berlin.
• Erasmus teaching exchange 13.-17.5.2013: University of Gdansk, Faculty of Chemistry. Gdansk.
• IP ERASMUS (Green Chemistry): Lecturer and Organiser of Summer School Green Chemistry – A Chalenge for European Universities:: 31. 3. – 13. 4. 2014, Malta.
• April 2015 (5 days): Visiting teacher at Slovak University of Technology Faculty of Chemical and Food Technology, Department of Environmental Engineering, Slovakia.
• Head of Summer School – programme leader »International Summer School Environmental protection«, 27. 6. – 17. 7. 2016, Ljubljana.
• Erasmus teaching exchange (5 days) 2016, Instituto Politechnica de Lisboa (IPL), Instituto Superior de Engenharia de Lisboa (ISEL), Lisbon.
• September 2016 (15 days): Visiting researcher at Tulane University, School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, USA.
• Erasmus teaching exchange (5 days) 2017, University of Brescia, Faculty of Chemistry, Italy.
• January to April 2018 (90 days): Visiting teacher and researcher at Slovak University of Technology Faculty of Chemical and Food Technology, Department of Environmental Engineering, Slovakia (Funded by Slovenian Ministry of Science and Education).
• Erasmus teaching exchange (5 days) 2018, University of Science, Faculty of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Lisbon.
• June to July 2019 (30 days): SAIA Scholarship (National Scholarship Program of the Slovak Republic, Scholarships for International Students, PhD Students, University Teachers, Researchers and Artists) for a 30-day visit to the Slovak Technical University, Faculty of Chemical and Food Technology, Department of Environmental Engineering, Bratislava, Slovakia.
• Erasmus teaching exchange (5 days) 2020, Jagellonian University, Faculty of Chemistry, Krakow, Poland.
• June to July 2020 (30 days): SAIA Scholarship (National Scholarship Program of the Slovak Republic, Scholarships for International Students, PhD Students, University Teachers, Researchers and Artists) for a 30-day visit to the Slovak Technical University, Faculty of Chemical and Food Technology, Department of Environmental Engineering, Bratislava, Slovakia.
• June to July 2022 (30 days): SAIA Scholarship (National Scholarship Program of the Slovak Republic, Scholarships for International Students, PhD Students, University Teachers, Researchers and Artists) for a 30-day visit to the Slovak Technical University, Faculty of Chemical and Food Technology, Department of Environmental Engineering, Bratislava, Slovakia.
• Erasmus teaching and research visit (5 days), 2022 Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, Department of Chemistry.
• Erasmus teaching and research visit (6 days), 2022 Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, Department of Chemistry.
• Erasmus teaching and research visit (6 days), 2022 at Slovak Technical University, Faculty of Chemical and Food Technology, Department of Environmental Engineering, Bratislava, Slovakia.
• Erasmus teaching and research visit (3 months), 2023, Prof. Assen Zlatov University of Burgas, Bulgaria in the framework of Project BG05M2OP001-2.016-0013.
• Erasmus teaching and research visit (8 days), 2024 at Kasetsart University Bangkok, Thailand
• Erasmus teaching and research visit (7 days), 2024 at National Technical University of Athens, School of Chemical Engineering/Unit of Environmental Science and Technology, Athens, Greece.
• Erasmus teaching and research visit (7 days), 2024 at Trakya University, Edirne, Turkey.
• Erasmus teaching and research visit (7 days), 2024 at Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egipt.
• Erasmus teaching and research visit (6 days), 2024 at Slovak Technical University, Faculty of Chemical and Food Technology, Department of Environmental Engineering, Bratislava, Slovakia.
• Visit at Stellenbosch University, Republic of South Africa (9 days), 2024 as academic lead of of the EUTOPIA Learning community GLOBAL CONNECTIONS: TRANSDISCIPLINARY APPROACH at University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Technology.
• Visit at University of Ruanda, Ruanda (5 days), 2025 as academic lead of of the EUTOPIA Learning community GLOBAL CONNECTIONS: TRANSDISCIPLINARY APPROACH at University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Technology and member of the Water Research Center at University of Ljubljana.
• ·June to July 2024 (30 days): SAIA Scholarship (National Scholarship Program of the Slovak Republic, Scholarships for International Students, PhD Students, University Teachers, Researchers and Artists) for a 30-day visit to the Slovak Technical University, Faculty of Chemical and Food Technology, Department of Environmental Engineering, Bratislava, Slovakia.
• Erasmus teaching and research visit (5 days), 2025 at Slovak Technical University, Faculty of Chemical and Food Technology, Department of Environmental Engineering, Bratislava, Slovakia.
• Erasmus teaching and research visit (5 days), 2025 at Kyoto Institute of Technology, Japan.
• Erasmus teaching and research visit (5 days), 2025 at Makarere University, Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, Kampala, Uganda.

Involvement in International Scientific Courses:

• Intensive Short Course on Ecotoxicology, Ljubljana, Slovenia, Tempus JEP 4724-93/2 project, 1994.
• Contaminated Sediment Assessment (A short course presented at the 6th Annual Meeting of SETAC Europe), Taormina, Italy, 1996.
• EWPCA (European Water Pollution Control Association) workshop on Legislation and Water Quality Management,  Zagreb, Croatia, 1996
• 7th International Summer School Waste-Wastewater-Water: Trends, Problems and Solutions in Europe, Weimar, Germany, 1999.
• EURO Summer School BioIMED: Biofilms in Industry Medicine and Environmental Biotechnology, University of Ireland, Galway, 2003.
• Workshop on Classic and Emerging Environmental Contaminants: from Lakes to Oceans, EAWAG, Duebendorf, Switzerland, 2005.

Membership of professional bodies:

• Member of EWA (European Water Association)
• Member of SDZV (Slovenian Water Pollution Control Association)
• Member of IWA (International Water Association)
• Member of Slovenian Nuclear Society
• Member of Slovenian Chemical Society (Member of Government Board 2021-2025. President of the society 2025-2030)

Involvement in Courses for University Teachers:

• 8th Summer School How to encourage active study at universities, Slovenia, 1999.
• 9th Summer School Teacher as the leader of active study, Slovenia, 2000.
• Seminar Examination and Assessment of students, Slovenia, 2001.
• 12th Summer School Setting up problems to motivate students, Slovenia, 2004.
• Different courses related to on-line teaching and assessment (March – June 2020)
• Seminar Application of Advanced teaching methods in university education, Slovenia, 2007.
• Winter School How to encourage active study at universities, Slovenia, 2009.

Involvement in international summer schools, seminars and workshops in the last period:

• UL FKKT Summer School of Chemical Sciences for students: June 29 - July 2, 2015
• International Summer School 2016 for doctoral students in the framework of ERASMUS + project KA2-HE-14/15 (title Environmental Protection and Natural Disasters).
• International Summer School 2017 for doctoral students in the framework of ERASMUS + project KA2-HE-14/15 (title Environmental Protection and Natural Disasters).
• Challenges of ecological remediation of former industrial sites: lecture at University of Ljubljana Summer School on Sustainable Heritage 2023, Industrial Heritage for a Sustainable Future: Adaptive Reuse, 26-30 June 2023, Faculty of Architecture UL, hybrid event.
• ·Advanced oxidation processes for removal of pharmaceuticals from waters and wastewaters: trends and perspectives: invited lecture at The 3rd Veterinary Technology & Nursing International Seminar
• "Engaging Sciences for Animal Health Innovation", organized by Faculty of Veterinary Technology, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, Thailand 15-16 December 2021, virtual meeting.

Teaching activities: 2005 -

Bologna 1st Cycle Programmes

• Introduction to environmental engineering (study programme of Chemical engineering at UL, FKKT)
• Industrial processes and sustainable development (study programme of Chemical technology at UL, FKKT)
• Environmental protection I (study programme of Technical safety at UL, FKKT)
•  Practical course in chemical engineering (study programme of Chemical engineering at UL, FKKT)
• Safety at work (study programme of Applied Physics at UL FMF)
• Fundamentals of sustainable chemistry (study programme of Chemical Technology at ZL FKKT)

 Bologna 2nd Cycle Programmes

• Environmental protection technologies processes (study programme of Chemical engineering at UL, FKKT)
• Industrial ecology and clean technology (study programme of Chemical engineering at UL, FKKT)
• Bioremediation technologies (study programme of Chemical engineering at UL, FKKT)
• Environmental risk (study programme of Technical safety at UL, FKKT)

 Bologna 3rd Cycle Programmes

• Selected topics in environmental engineering (study programme of Chemical sciences at UL, FKKT)
• Chemistry and environmental technology engineering (study programme of Environmental protection at UL)
• Waste management (study programme of Environmental protection at UL)
• Industrial ecology (study programme of Environmental protection at UL)

Mentoring

75 diplomas (university and 1st Bologna degree), 59 diplomas (pre- Bologna MSc program and 2nd Bologna MSc degree), 24 master's degrees, 3 doctorates (3 doctorates in progress).

Mentoring of student awards Nina Pekolj (Krka Prize 2012), Tjaša Milenkovič (Saubermacher Environmental Prize 2012), Ema Lampelj (Saubermacher Environmental Prize 20 15), Katja Strnad (August Kuhar Prize 2015), Blaž Jančič (1^st place at Tehnologijada 2022, Croatia), Anja Vehar ((Saubermacher Environmental Prize 2023).