Dr Ana Mayer Kansky Awards bestowed for the third time at the UL

In July 1920, Dr Ana Mayer Kansky defended the first doctoral dissertation in the history of the University of Ljubljana. She was also one of the first 100 women in the world to earn a doctorate. In his address, Prof. Dr Gregor Majdič, Rector of the University of Ljubljana, recalled: “She had to battle many prejudices and much opposition. In the end, just before completing her doctorate, she was forced to leave her original alma mater, the University of Vienna, due to the collapse of the Austro-Hungarian monarchy. She found a new space for her research work at the newly founded University of Ljubljana, where she successfully defended the first doctoral thesis in July 1920. Although the situation is of course much different today, doctoral studies still demand a great deal of time, effort, dedication and the support and understanding of those close to you. Doctoral studies and research are never jobs that can simply be left behind in the office or the laboratory. Research is part of life, but it also often brings the satisfaction of discovering new worlds.” He congratulated the award winners and urged them not to lose momentum in a society that increasingly undervalues science: “You are the ones who’ll take on the responsibility of leading science and society from your mentors and professors in the years and decades to come.”

The keynote speaker, Prof. Dr Vesna Žabkar from the UL School of Economics and Business, emphasised the importance of mentorship, solidarity and social responsibility in scientific work: “When you receive this award, you also receive a voice. Use it boldly: speak out about science and art in public, defend the integrity of research, and draw attention to the social or environmental challenges your findings reveal. Maintain curiosity and solidarity. Academia is not a race between individuals, but a relay of ideas.”

Dr Matej Perovnik

Dr Matej Perovnik (UL Faculty of Medicine) received the award for his doctoral thesis entitled Identification of specific metabolic brain patterns of common dementias and their application to computer-aided differential diagnostic tools (biomedicine and biotechnics). The thesis was supervised by Prof. Dr Maja Trošt and co-supervised by Prof. Dr Robert Jeraj.

This doctoral thesis explores the brain metabolism and the characteristic neural networks associated with various neurodegenerative dementias. By analysing FDG PET brain images, the research team identified disease networks characteristic of each form of dementia. These networks can be quantified in individual patients, paving the way for personalised medicine and enabling earlier, more accurate diagnosis, disease tracking and progression prediction, and, eventually, better responses to disease-modifying treatment. The results of this doctoral research have contributed to the development of international guidelines for the analysis of metabolic brain imaging.

Dr Faris Kočan

Dr Faris Kočan (Faculty of Social Sciences, UL) received the award for his doctoral thesis entitled Securitisation of Europeanisation as a source of ontological insecurity in Republika Srpska (social sciences), supervised by Prof. Dr Ana Bojinović Fenko and co-supervised by Assoc. Prof. Dr Rok Zupančič.

The doctoral thesis investigates Europeanisation (i.e. EU accession) as a source of securitisation in the Republic of Srpska (RS), where, instead of fostering desecuritisation, it reinforces ethno-national antagonisms. Through a constructivist analysis of three key political processes in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) between 2005 and 2016, the study shows how political elites in the RS have instrumentalised European integration to strengthen both the political identity of the RS and the ethnic identity of Serbs within it.

Dr Aleša Bricelj

Dr Aleša Bricelj (Faculty of Pharmacy, UL) received the award for her doctoral thesis entitled Design, synthesis and evaluation of chimeric molecules for induced degradation of proteins involved in pathogenesis of malignancies (natural sciences), supervised by Assoc. Prof. Dr Izidor Sosič and co-supervised by Prof. Dr Marko Anderluh.

The doctoral thesis is based on the premise that drug design has traditionally focused on developing modulators of protein function. However, only around 15% of the human proteome is pharmacologically accessible for classical active pharmaceutical ingredients. To address this limitation, researchers are turning to alternative therapeutic modalities, among which proteolysis-targeting chimera (PROTAC) are gaining increasing attention. These tripartite compounds utilise the ubiquitin–proteasome system to selectively degrade target proteins involved in the pathogenesis of various diseases, including cancer, thus offering a novel approach to treatment.

Dr Duje Kodžoman

Dr Duje Kodžoman (UL Faculty of Natural Sciences and Engineering) received the award for his doctoral thesis entitled Emotional fashion design resulting from including five senses (arts). The thesis was supervised by Prof. Dr Alenka Pavko Čuden and co-supervised by Prof. Dr Anja Podlesek.

In his doctoral research, the author explores the influence of sensory perceptions (sight, smell, touch, hearing and taste) on emotional responses within the context of fashion design. The three-stage research process included online studies, sensory testing and garment design. The results reveal that vision plays a central role in the perception of attractiveness. The work opens new avenues for the development of fashion, merging art and science into an emotionally responsive design practice.

Dr Katja Klinar

Dr Katja Klinar (Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, UL) received the award for her doctoral thesis entitled The application of thermal switches and thermal diodes in a system with cyclical temperature change (engineering). The thesis was supervised by Prof. Dr Andrej Kitanovski and co-supervised by Assoc. Prof. Dr Ciril Arkar.

In devices and systems with cyclical temperature change, heat flow can be regulated using thermal switches and diodes, similarly to how electric current is controlled by electronic components. This doctoral thesis explores their application in magnetic cooling, a promising alternative to vapour-compression cooling. Through both numerical analyses and experimental work, the researcher examined fluidic thermal switches and solid-state thermal diodes, and constructed a prototype. The findings mark progress in the development of this technology and highlight its potential for broader thermal management applications.