Dina Stanic

Detection of microbial contamination and air quality testing using microbiological air sampler in different industrial environments. Identification of organisms to genus and species level by colony morphology and biochemical testing. Working within an ISO/IEC 17025:2005, ISO 14001:2005, ISO 9001:2008 and OHSAS 18001:2008 quality management systems.

• The activities were performed in an accredited lab, meaning that all activities followed prescribed procedures, and had to be accurately documented in lab note books • Investigated gene expression in marine diatoms by qRT-PCR upon exposure to different classes of herbicides and heavy metals with the final aim to identify biomarkers for water quality assessment • Performed RNA extraction • Microarray data analysis using DAVID and KEGG

• Involved in several projects concerning mechanisms of active uptake of metals, metal toxicity and metal detoxification in photosynthetic organisms • Key methods: UV/VIS- Absorbance and Fluorescence Spectroscopy, Elemental Analysis (ICP-MS, GF-AAS), Fluorescence Kinetic Microscopy, Confocal Microscopy, HPLC

Worked on setting up a new microbiology laboratory. Main responsibilities: • Preparing and organizing laboratory materials and tools, supervising the ordering and delivery of new supplies, and assessing new equipment • Training personnel on laboratory functions • Overseeing of clean up and proper disposal of biological materials

• Designed, planned and performed experiments related to the effect of rising atmospheric CO2 levels and global warming on phytoplankton communities • Presented experimental findings (poster/oral presentations) • Wrote projects, organized, planned and designed experiments for B.Sc and M.Sc students

• Identified and described new marine cyanobacterium species using cutting edge molecular techniques and classic microbiological techniques • Performed DNA extraction and purification, End-Point PCR, LH-PCR • Used ELISA and HPLC to detect and quantify cyanotoxins • Responsible for bacterial culture collection maintenance, isolation and identification of new bacterial strains, and assessment of new equipment

• Responsible for creating high quality database (data entry and quality control) for software which can predict possible toxicological effects of new drugs and other chemicals in the early development • Provided guidance and help to customers with ToxWiz, a software solution for predicting toxic endpoints and for elucidating mechanisms of toxicity • Responsible for selecting, managing and training staff

Identified and described new marine cyanobacterium species using cutting edge molecular techniques