Research Professor
Sonja Veljović Jovanović
Phd in Biological Sciences
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Research area
- Plant Biology and Physiology, Photosynthesis,
- Photosynthesis, Antioxidative metabolism
- Plant Stress Physiology
- Prooxidants and oxidative stress
Skills
- CO2 and H2O measurement with an infrared gas analyzer
- measuring photosynthesis using the modulated chlorophyll fluorescence method;
- isolation of chloroplasts, apoplasts, cell walls;
- determination of: metabolites, prooxidants, antioxidants and polyphenolic compounds;
- determination of: metabolites, prooxidants, antioxidants and polyphenolic compounds;
Work experience:
- Research Professor, Institute for Multidisciplinary Research, Belgrade University, Department of Life Sciences, 2007-
- Assoc Prof, Department of Biophysics, Centre for multidisciplinary studies of Belgrade University, since 1996-2007;
- Postdoc position – June to Dec 1999, 2000; IACR-Rothamsted, Harpenden, UK c/o Prof C Foyer (Royal Society Fellowship)
- PhD student, Julius-von-Sachs-Institute for Biosciences, University of Wurzburg, Germany, c/o Prof U. Heber Dec 1990 – july 1992 (Financial support: Science Council of Serbia and Leibniz program of the Deutsche Forschungsegmeinschaft
- Research Assistant, Centre for multidisciplinary studies of Belgrade University 1991, 1992-1996
Short Visits:
- Kyushu Dental University, Kitakyushu, Japan ( 2013)
- University of Hamburg, Biocenter Klein Flottbek and Botanical Garden, Germany (septembar ) c/o Prof Sabine Lüthje
- September 2008; Nov-Dec 2007; Oct-Nov 2004.Dipartimento di Chimica e Biotecnologie Agrarie, Università degli Studi di Pisa Collaboration between Pisa University and Belgrade University, c/o Prof Flavia Navari-Izzo,
- July to Sept. 2003; Technical University of Munchen, Dept of Phytopathology, Freising-Weihenstephan, c/o Prof E.F.Elstner (DAAD – German Academic Exchange service
- Feb, March 1998 Department of Biology, Dental Kyushu College, Japan, c/o Prof U Takahama
Education:
- PhD (Plant Physiology) Belgrade University, 1995
- MSc Biology (Plant Physiology) Belgrade University, 1989
- BSc Biology (Molecular Biology and Pysiology) Faculty of Biology of Belgrade University, 1985
Awards and certificates:
- Grant of Royal Society Fellowships (1999, 2000)
- Leibniz program of the Deutsche Forschungsegmeinschaft, 1992
- Grant of DAAD – German Academic Exchange Service, 2013;
- Postdoctoral scholarship of the Italian Ministry for University and Science (MIUR), within the framework of inter-university cooperation
- DFG Postdoctoral Fellowship – Germany
- Grant of Science Council of Serbia ,1991
- 2004: Best researcher award in biology, Serbian Ministry of Science
Other professional activities
Special contribution
- Developing the field of plant stress physiology and biochemistry within the Department of Life Systems Sciences, implementing knowledge acquired in foreign laboratories. In the period 2011-2019 (as Director of the Institute), SVJ contributed to the improvement of the scientific infrastructure (space and equipment) of the Institute.
- Contribution to the education of the Institute’s doctoral candidates who are now successful independent scientists at foreign and other Serbian scientific institutions, who have continued their cooperation with their home Institute.
- Through publications in renowned scientific journals from the SCI list (to which the Institute for Multidisciplinary Research, in addition to the University of Belgrade, is affiliated), SVJ has contributed to excellence in science and the Institute’s recognition on a global scale (high citation rate and cumulative impact factor).
- Посебан доприос СВЈ се огледа у подстицању мултидисциплинарне сарадње између одсека и стимулисању научног подмлатка да конкурише за нове пројекте, што је резултовало заједничким мултидисциплинарним публикацијама, патентима и пројектима последњих година.
Courses taught:
- Biological basis of cell biophysics, at the Centre for multidisciplinary studies of Belgrade University (2001-2007);
- Mechanisms of plant response to abiotic stress, PhD studies at the Faculty of Biology, Belgrade University, (2014-2020)
- Biological basis of cell biophysics, PhD studies of the Multidisciplinary studies (Biophisics) of Belgrade University (2013-)
Editorial and Reviewer’s activity (journals, books, projects):
- Reviewer for the journals: Journal of Experimental Botany, Annals of Botany, Plant Science, Physiologia Plantarum, New Phytology, Environmental and Experimental Botany….
Memberships:
- Member of the Management Committee in the COSTaction FA0906 UV-B growth 2010 to 2014
- The Federation of European Societies of Plant Biology (FESPB)
- Serbian Plant Physiology Society (SPPS)
- Society for Free Radical Research (SFRR),
- Serbian Society of Biologists (SBS);
Current:
- 2019–2021: Bilateral project between Serbia and Croatia: “Investigation of the regulatory role of TROL protein in the distribution of electrons in the UV-B induced mechanism of flavonoid andanthocyanin accumulation in Arabidopsis thaliana leaves“, PI
- 2019–202(0)1: DAAD bilateral project between Serbia and Germany: “Barley genotypes with contrasting tolerance to biotic and abiotic stresses: Do chloroplast derived redox signals mediate the trade-off strategy“, PI
- 2020–2022: Bilateral project between Serbia and Slovenia: “The usage of silicon fertilisation in order to mitigate the oxidative stress and to improve the resilience of barley subjected to UV and Drought “, participant
- PROMIS project of the Science Fund: “LEAPSyn-SCI – Proteins involved in late embryogenesis: structural characterization and interaction with α-synuclein”, led by Dr. Marija Vidović
Past:
- Project of the Ministry of Science, No. 143020: “Regulation of antioxidant metabolism in plants during growth, pathogen infection and abiotic stress; the role of mineral nutrition and transport, signaling and resistance mechanisms” – 2010, project leader
- Project of the Ministry of Science, No. 143020: “Regulation of antioxidant metabolism in plants during growth, pathogen infection and abiotic stress; the role of mineral nutrition and transport, signaling and resistance mechanisms” – 2010, project leader
- Project of the City Secretariat for Environmental Protection of the City of Belgrade: “Investigating the impact of (plant) biofilters in zones of high pollution in the territory of the City of Belgrade” – 2011–2013, manager
- Project of the City Secretariat for Environmental Protection of the City of Belgrade: “Application of bioindicators of oxidative stress in plants in the assessment of ecotoxicological risk in zones of high pollution in the territory of the City of Belgrade” – 2012–2015, manager
- 2018–2019: Bilateral project between Serbia and France: “Regulation of carbon and nitrogen fluxes from the primary to the secondary metabolic pathways in response to high light stress in variegated leaves“, participant
- Croatian Science Foundation Project (HRZZ-IP-2014-09-1173): “Investigating new mechanisms of alternative electron distribution in photosynthesis” – 2018–2019, led by Dr. Hrvoje Fulgosi from the Ruđer Bošković Institute in Zagreb
- Živanović, B., Milić Komić, S., Tosti, T., Vidović, M., Prokić, Lj., Veljović Jovanović, S. (n.d.) „Leaf Soluble Sugars and Free Amino Acids as Important Components of Abscisic Acid—Mediated Drought Response in Tomato.“ Plants 9(9): 1147.
- Veljović-Jovanović, S., Vidović, M. and Morina, F. (2017.) „Ascorbate as a key player in plant abiotic stress response and tolerance.“ In Ascorbic Acid in Plant Growth, Development and Stress Tolerance, pp. 47–109. Springer, Cham.
- Vidović, M., Morina, F., Prokić, Lj., Milić-Komić, S., Živanović, B., Veljović Jovanović, S. (2016.) „Antioxidative response in variegated Pelargonium zonale leaves and generation of extracellular H2O2 in (peri)vascular tissue induced by sunlight and paraquat.“ Journal of Plant Physiology 206: 25–39.
- Vidović M., Morina F., Milić S., Zechmann B., Albert A., Winkler B., Veljović Jovanović S. (2015.) „UV-B component of sunlight stimulates photosynthesis and flavonoid accumulation in variegated Plectranthus coleoides leaves depending on background light.“ Plant, Cell and Environment 38(5): 968–979.
- Kukavica, M., S. D. Veljović Jovanović, Menckhoff, Lj., Lüthje, S. (2012.) „Cell wall-bound cationic and anionic class III isoperoxidases of pea root: biochemical characterization and function in root growth.“ Journal of Experimental Botany 63(12): 4631–4645.
- Morina, F., Jovanović, Lj., Mojović, M., Vidović, M., Panković, D., Veljović Jovanović, S. (n.d.) „Zinc‐induced oxidative stress in Verbascum thapsus is caused by an accumulation of reactive oxygen species and quinhydrone in the cell wall.“ Physiologia Plantarum 140(3): 209–224.
- Kukavica, B., Mojović, M., Vučinić, Ž., Maksimović, V., Takahama, U., Veljović Jovanović, S. (2009.) „Generation of hydroxyl radical in isolated pea root cell wall, and the role of cell wall-bound peroxidase, Mn-SOD and phenolics in their production.“ Plant and Cell Physiology 50(2): 304–317.
- Veljovic-Jovanovic, S., Noctor, G. and Foyer, C.H. (2002.) „Are leaf hydrogen peroxide concentrations commonly overestimated? The potential influence of artefactual interference by tissue phenolics and ascorbate.“ Plant Physiology and Biochemistry 40(6–8): 501–507.
- Veljovic-Jovanovic, S.D., Pignocchi, C., Noctor, G. and Foyer, C.H. (n.d.) „Low ascorbic acid in the vtc-1 mutant of Arabidopsis is associated with decreased growth and intracellular redistribution of the antioxidant system.“ Plant Physiology 127(2): 426–435.
- Veljovic-Jovanovic, S., Bilger, W. and Heber, U. (n.d.) „Inhibition of photosynthesis, acidification and stimulation of zeaxanthin formation in leaves by sulfur dioxide and reversal of these effects.“ Planta 191(3): 365–376.