Celebrating Dr. sc. Mia Knjaz Successful Doctoral Defense in Oceanology

The field of oceanology continues to expand our understanding of marine ecosystems, driven by dedicated researchers who explore the complex interactions within our oceans. One such PhD candidate, Mia Knjaz, has recently reached a significant milestone by successfully defending her doctoral dissertation. Her work sheds light on the molecular mechanisms behind how eukaryotic phytoplankton respond to environmental stressors in the Northern Adriatic ecosystem. This achievement not only marks a personal triumph but also contributes valuable knowledge to marine science in general.

Overview of the Doctoral Dissertation

The dissertation titled Molecular Mechanisms of the Eukaryotic Phytoplankton Physiological Response to Stressors in the Northern Adriatic Ecosystem explores how phytoplankton cells detect and react to environmental challenges at a molecular level. This includes examining changes in gene expression, protein activity, and cellular processes that enable phytoplankton to survive or fail under stress.

Key aspects of the research include:

• Identification of specific molecular pathways (transcriptomes) activated during stress conditions

• Analysis of physiological changes in phytoplankton transcriptomes/metatranscriptomes exposed to different nutrient conditions and environmental shifts

• Insights into how these molecular responses impact phytoplankton growth and survival and which metabolic pathways are activated in situ and in experimental conditions

  
  

This detailed approach provides a clearer picture of the resilience and vulnerability of phytoplankton populations, which is essential for predicting ecosystem responses to environmental changes.

The Doctoral Defense Event

Mia Knjaz’s defense took place on August 26, 2025, at the Department of Geology and Paleontology, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb. The event was held in Lecture Hall 008, Horvatovac 102b, a venue known for hosting significant academic presentations.

The examining committee consisted of distinguished experts in marine biology and oceanology:

• Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sunčica Bosak from the University of Zagreb, Faculty of Science, Department of Biology

• Dr. Mirta Smodlaka Tanković, Senior Researcher at Ruđer Bošković Institute, CIM, Rovinj

• Dr. Rade Garić, Senior Researcher at the Institute of the Sea and the Coast, University of Dubrovnik

  
  

An alternate committee member was Assoc. Prof. Dr. Maja Mucko from the University of Zagreb, Faculty of Science, Department of Biology.

The presence of such a knowledgeable panel highlights the significance of Mia’s research and the rigorous evaluation process she underwent.

Acknowledging the Achievement

This work was funded by the Croatian Science Foundation (HRZZ) Projects: Molecular Life Strategies of Phytoplankton in the Northern Adriatic ADRILife (UIP-2020-02-7868).

The University of Zagreb and

the reviewers are acknowledged for rewarding Mia Knjaz with PhD title.