Dr. Bozena Futoma-Koloch | Immunology and Microbiology | Best Faculty Award

University of Wroclaw | Poland

Dr. Bożena Futoma-Kołoch is an accomplished microbiologist whose research integrates microbial pathogenesis, antimicrobial resistance, and host–pathogen interactions, with a particular focus on Salmonella enterica. She is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Microbiology at the University of Wrocław, where she has built a coherent and internationally recognized research program grounded in molecular microbiology, immunology, and environmental microbiology. Her scientific work has substantially advanced understanding of how environmental stressors especially disinfectants, antiseptics, and human serum—shape bacterial virulence and survival. A central theme of her research is the phenomenon of cross-resistance, whereby exposure to biocides influences bacterial tolerance to antibiotics and serum-mediated immune defenses. Through detailed phenotypic and proteomic analyses, Dr. Futoma-Kołoch has demonstrated that changes in outer membrane proteins (OMPs) play a pivotal role in mediating resistance to serum complement, antibiotics, and disinfectants. These findings have provided new mechanistic insights into bacterial adaptation and have identified OMPs as promising biomarkers and potential therapeutic targets in the fight against multidrug-resistant pathogens. Her habilitation work, “Effect of disinfectants and serum on the phenotype associated with virulence in non-typhoid Salmonella enterica strains” (2024), represents a significant milestone, consolidating years of systematic research into how chemical and immunological pressures modulate virulence-associated traits. This research has strong translational relevance for public health, food safety, and infection control, particularly in the context of increasing antimicrobial resistance and widespread biocide use. Dr. Futoma-Kołoch is also actively engaged in interdisciplinary and applied research. Dr. Futoma-Kołoch’s scholarly output includes influential review articles that are widely cited and shape current thinking on bacterial virulence, serum resistance, and antimicrobial defense mechanisms. Her leadership in international collaborations, participation in COST Actions, and service as an editor and reviewer for high-impact journals further attest to her standing in the global microbiology community. Overall, her research profile reflects originality, continuity, and significant impact on both basic science and applied infectious disease research.

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Assoc. Prof. Dr. Vesna Vučurović | Biotechnology | Best Researcher Award

University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Technology Novi Sad, Department of Biotechnology, Serbia.

Prof. Vesna Vučurović is a distinguished researcher in bioethanol technology, food biotechnology, yeast technology, adsorption, and biomaterial characterization. she is currently an Associate Professor at the Faculty of Technology Novi Sad, University of Novi Sad. With extensive expertise in microbiological processes and industrial biotechnology, she has significantly contributed to the advancement of renewable energy sources, fermentation technologies, and sustainable material development.

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🎓 Education

Prof. Vesna Vučurović earned her BSc & MSc in Technological Engineering (1996-2003) from the University of Novi Sad, researching beer barley quality. She completed her Magister degree (2003-2007) with a thesis on bioethanol production from grains, achieving a perfect score (10.00). Her PhD (2007-2012) focused on optimizing alcoholic fermentation of molasses and sugar beet juice using immobilized Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells, contributing to advancements in bioethanol technology and sustainable fuel production.

🏢 Experience

Prof. Vesna Vučurović has been a dedicated academic at the Faculty of Technology, University of Novi Sad since 2003. She began as a Senior Technical Assistant & Teaching Assistant (2003-2005), progressing to Trainee Teaching Associate (2005-2008) and Teaching Associate (2008-2014). She was later promoted to Assistant Professor (2014-2019) and currently serves as an Associate Professor (2019-Present).

🔬 Research Interests

Bioethanol Technology – Renewable energy production and biofuels

Food Biotechnology – Fermentation processes and food processing innovations

Yeast Technology – Yeast cultivation and metabolic engineering

Adsorption – Applications in environmental remediation and material development

Biomaterial Characterization – Enhancing materials for industrial and medical use

🏆 Awards & Recognitions

Contributor to multiple national and international research grants

Peer reviewer for high-impact journals like Journal of Cleaner Production, Waste and Biomass Valorization, Biomass Conversion and Biorefinery, Fermentation (MDPI), Foods (MDPI), Polymers (MDPI), and Environmental Engineering and Management Journal

Member of the Serbian Chemical Society, Chemical Society of Vojvodina, and Serbian Society for Microbiology

📚 Selected Publications

🔹 Bioethanol Production from A-Starch Milk and B-Starch Milk as Intermediates of Industrial Wet-Milling Wheat Processing
Fermentation, 2024-03 | DOI: 10.3390/fermentation10030144
Contributors: Aleksandra Katanski, Vesna Vučurović, Damjan Vucurovic, Bojana Bajić, Žana Šaranović, Zita Šereš, Siniša Dodić

🔹 Influence of yeast extract enrichment on fermentative activity of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and technological properties of spelt bread
Chemical Industry and Chemical Engineering Quarterly, 2022 | DOI: 10.2298/ciceq200915016v
Contributors: Vesna Vučurović, Vesna Radovanovic, Jelena Filipović, Vladimir Filipovic, Milenko Kosutic, Nebojsa Novkovic, Vuk Radojevic

🔹 Bioethanol Production from Spent Sugar Beet Pulp—Process Modeling and Cost Analysis
Fermentation, 2022-03 | DOI: 10.3390/fermentation8030114
Contributors: Damjan Vucurovic, Bojana Bajić, Vesna Vučurović, Rada Jevtić-Mučibabić, Siniša Dodić

🔹 The impact of enological products for tartaric stabilization on wine filterability
Chemical Industry and Chemical Engineering Quarterly, 2021 | DOI: 10.2298/ciceq200913003p
Contributors: Vladimir Puskas, Uroš Miljić, Vesna Vučurović

🔹 The effect of yeast extract addition on bread quality parameters
Journal of the Serbian Chemical Society, 2020 | DOI: 10.2298/jsc191024137f
Contributors: Vesna Vučurović, Vladimir Filipovic, Jelena Filipovic, Vesna Vucurovic, Vesna Radovanovic, Milenko Kosutic, Nebojsa Novkovic, Natasa Vukelic

Bozena Futoma-Koloch | Immunology and Microbiology | Best Faculty Award

Dr. Bozena Futoma-Koloch | Immunology and Microbiology | Best Faculty Award

University of Wroclaw | Poland

Featured Publications