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General Information

Full Name Nikolina Šoštarić
Email n.sostaric [at] tudelft [dot] nl
Phone +31 15 27 84055
Languages English, Croatian, Dutch, French

Education

  • 2021
    Ph.D. in Bioscience Engineering
    KU Leuven, Belgium
    • Thesis Modelling protein network effects of mutations and post-translational modification in yeast (pdf)
  • 2015
    M.Sc. in Chemistry
    University of Zagreb, Croatia
    • Specialization in biochemistry and physical chemistry
    • Master thesis Preparation of yeast isoleucyl-tRNA synthetase system for kinetical characterization
  • 2013
    B.Sc. in Chemistry
    University of Zagreb, Croatia

Experience

  • 2023 -
    Assistant Professor (emphasis on education)
    Faculty of Applied Sciences and Kavli Institute, TU Delft, The Netherlands
  • 2021 - 2023
    Postdoctoral Researcher
    Sanquin and Oncode Institute, The Netherlands
    • T cell differentiation, Monika Wolkers
    • Global translational analysis of human CD8+ T cells
    • RNA-seq and proteomics data, classification using machine learning, analysis of 3D microscopy images
  • 2017 - 2021
    Ph.D. Researcher
    Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, KU Leuven, Belgium
    • Computational systems biology, Vera van Noort
    • Modelling effects of post-translational modifications on protein interactions using molecular dynamics
    • Multi-omics analysis of ethanol tolerance in yeast
  • 2015-2016
    Ph.D. Researcher
    Faculty of Medicine (Biomedical Sciences), KU Leuven, Belgium
    • Molecular bacteriology, Anastassios Economou
    • SecA protein dynamics using smFRET microscopy

Boards

  • 2024 -
    • Delft Young Academy board (current co-chair)
  • 2024 -
    • Bioengineering Institute organizing committee, TU Delft
  • 2024 - 2025
    • Teaching Academy Panel, TU Delft
  • 2023 - present
    • TU Delft Nanobiology Board of Studies
  • 2023 - present
    • Bionanoscience department Education dossier

Professional Training

  • 2024
    • TU Delft Blended Course Design Bootcamp, Dordrect
  • 2024
    • University Teaching Qualification (UTQ), Risbo, Erasmus University Rotterdam
  • 2024
    • MicroLab "How to integrate formative assessment into your course", Risbo, Erasmus University Rotterdam
  • 2021
    • Machine Learning for Bioinformatics and Systems Biology, BioSB course, Amsterdam
  • 2017 - 2021
    • Arenberg Doctoral School courses, KU Leuven, Belgium
  • 2019 - 2020
    • Exploitation of Research - Technology & Knowledge Transfer, KU Leuven, Belgium
  • 2017
    • Let's talk science! - summer school in science popularization, Ghent, Belgium
  • 2014
    • Research Summer School in Statistical Omics, Split, Croatia

Science Outreach & Volunteering

  • 2013 -
    Summer School of Science S3/S3++
    • Science popularization project for high school students
    • Student mentor, project coordinator, camp organizer
  • 2019 - 2021
    Scientist in me!
    • Science communication competition for high school students
    • Organizer and jury member
  • 2019
    KU Leuven STEM University
    • Science popularization initiative of KU Leuven
    • Workshop coordinator
  • 2018 - 2020
    RSG Belgium
    • Belgian student bioinformatics community
    • Vice president, organizer of symposia and hackathons
  • 2010 - 2015
    Student mentor
    • Teaching high school students advanced topics in chemistry
  • 2009 - 2011
    Magic in Science
    • Science popularization workshops for preschoolers

Funding

  • 2024
    TU Delft - IIT Delhi seed funding
    • A joint project with Sachin Kumar (IIT Delhi).
  • 2021
    Step into science, a framework for continuous development of scientific thinking in high schools
    • European Social Fund, project value 173.717,00 EUR
  • 2017 - 2021
    Personal Ph.D. fellowship - fundamental research
    • Research foundation - Flanders (FWO)
  • 2016
    International mobility grant for a short stay abroad
    • Research foundation - Flanders (FWO). Support for visit to Zernike Institute.
  • 2016
    Travel grant
    • KU Leuven First Contact Initiatives. Support for visit to Zernike Institute.

Honors and Awards

  • KU Leuven KICK Challenge Impact Award for best student business plan for a scientific start-up, 2021
  • Medal for Excellence in M.Sc. studies, 2015
  • Award for Excellence in B.Sc/M.Sc. studies, 2013/2015
  • Rector's Award for student scientific research, 2013
  • Special Rector's Award for the volunteering science popularization work, 2011

Conferences

  • ICAB conference AI and Higher Education, Wageningen, The Netherlands, 2024
  • Computational Structural Biology, EMBO Workshop, Heidelberg, Germany, 2023
  • The Complex Life of RNA, EMBL Symposium, Heidelberg, Germany, 2022
  • Dutch RNA Conference, Leiden, The Netherlands, 2022
  • 6th European Student Council Symposium, virtual conference, 2020
  • Applied Bioinformatics in Life Sciences 3rd edition, Leuven, Belgium, 2020
  • Modularity of Signaling Proteins and Networks, EMBO Workshop, Seefeld in Tirol, Austria, 2018
  • 24th Croatian Meeting of Chemists and Chemical Engineers, Zagreb, Croatia, 2015