Research Associate
Jelena Jovanović
M.Sc. Eng. Technology
Research area
- Biomaterials and their innovative applications.
- Encapsulation techniques and controlled release of bioactive components.
- Design and development of sustainable, eco-friendly materials for active packaging, biopesticides, and biomedical applications.
- Formulation of biopolymer-based emulsions, films, and coatings incorporating encapsulated active agents (essential oils, plant extracts, nanoparticles) for antimicrobial, active and intelligent packaging purposes.
Skills
Work on devices: Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), Zetasizer ZSU3100, FT-IR spectrometer, UV-VIS spectrophotometer, Thermal analysis (TGA/DTG, DSC).
Work experience:
- 2023-present: Research Associate, University of Belgrade-Institute for Multidisciplinary Research.
- 2020-2023: Research Assistant, Institute for Multidisciplinary Research, University of Belgrade.
- 2017-2020: Research Trainee, Institute for Multidisciplinary Research, University of Belgrade.
Education:
- 2016: Ph.D. in Biotechnology, Faculty of Technology and Metallurgy, University of Belgrade.
- 2014: M.Sc. in Technology – Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Technology and Metallurgy, University of Belgrade.
- 2013: B.Sc. in Biochemical Engineering and Biotechnology, Faculty of Technology and Metallurgy, University of Belgrade.
Other professional activities
Memberships:
- Serbian Society for Ceramic Materials
- Center for Green Technologies
Current:
- “A new approach for multiple gas sensing with high sensitivity and selectivity” (MULTISENSE), (No. 7069), (2023–present), financed by the Science Found of the Republic of Serbia, project participant.
- “Piezoelectric biopolymer-based composites for biomedical applications”, (No. 337-00-110/2023-05), (2023–present), bilateral cooperation with Institute “Jožef Stefan”, Slovenia, financed through Serbian-Slovenian bilateral cooperation, project participant.
Past:
- “New biopesticides based on nanoencapsulation and slow release of active components for control of gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar) and root pathogens in forests and nurseries” (PestFreeTree), (No. 6693), (2023–2025), financed by the Science Found of the Republic of Serbia, project participant.
- ”Food freshness indicators based on natural pigments”, financed by SAIGE“, (2024-2025), Funded by SAIGE, project participant.
- “Microstructural and mechanical characteristics of concrete with the addition of renewable materials”, (No. 337-00-205/2019-09/42), (2019–2021), Bilateral project with the Republic of Croatia, project participant.
- “Testing of modification of materials for plasticization of Al-profiles for obtaining photovoltaic coating”, (2020) Project of the Innovation Fund of the Republic of Serbia, project participant.
- “Active packaging: Biodegradable coatings/films based on agricultural by-products”, 1067, Project of the Innovation Fund of the Republic of Serbia (2018), project participant.
- “0-3D nanostructures for application in electrical engineering and renewable energy sources: synthesis, characterization, processing”, III45007, Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development of the Republic of Serbia (2017-2020), project participant.
- Jovanović J., Ćirković J., Radojković A., Mutavdžić D., Tanasijević G., Joksimović K., Bakić G., Branković G., Branković Z., „Chitosan and pectin-based films and coatings with active components for application in antimicrobial food packaging”, Progress in Organic Coatings, 158 (2021), ISSN: 0300-9440, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.porgcoat.2021.106349. (Национална категорија: M21a).
- Jovanović J., Ćirković J., Radojković A., Tasić N., Mutavdzic D., Brankovic G., Branković, Z., „Enhanced stability of encapsulated lemongrass essential oil in chitosan-gelatin and pectin-gelatin biopolymer matrices containing ZnO nanoparticles”, International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 275(2):133335, (2024), doi: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.133335. (Национална категорија: M21a).
- Ćirković J., Radojković A., Jovanović J., Perać S., Branković , Milenković I., Milanović S., Dobrosavljević J., Tadić V., Žugić A., Brankovic G., „Encapsulated Thuja plicata essential oil into biopolymer matrix as a potential pesticide against Phytophthora root pathogens”, International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 278(3):134684, (2024), doi: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.134684. (Национална категорија: M21a).
- Milanović S.D., Simović N., Dobrosavljević J., Milenković I.L., Branković Z., Ćirković J., Radojković A., Perać S., Jovanović J., Tadić V., Žugić A., Branković G., Bioactivity of the Tree of Heaven Leaf Extracts Incorporated into Biopolymer Matrix Against Spongy Moth Larvae, Forests, 2025, 16(2):375. doi:10.3390/f16020375. (Национална категорија: M21a)
- Simović N., Dobrosavljević J., Milenković I.L., Branković Z., Ćirković J., Radojković A., Perać S., Jovanović J., Tadić V., Žugić A., Branković G., Milanović S.D., Enhancement of Bioactivity of Common Ash and Manna Ash Leaf Extracts Against Spongy Moth Larvae Using a Chitosan–Gelatin Biopolymer Matrix, Forests, 2025, 16(5):774. doi:10.3390/f16050774. (Национална категорија: M21a)
- Jovanović J., Krnjajić S., Ćirković J., Radojković A., Popović T., Branković G., Branković Z., „Effect of encapsulated lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus L.) essential oil against potato tuber moth Phthorimaea operculella“, Crop Protection 123 (2020), ISSN: 0261-2194, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cropro.2020.105109. (Национална категорија: M21).
- Jelić S.T., Ćirković J., Jovanović J., Novaković T., Podlogar M., Mitrić J., Branković G., Branković Z., High Efficiency Solar Light Photocatalytic Degradation of Mordant Blue 9 by Monoclinic Bivo4 Nanopowder, Materials Chemistry and Physics, 2025, 333:130341. doi:10.1016/j.matchemphys.2024.130341. (Национална категорија: M21)
- Đikanović D., Jovanović J., Kalauzi A., Dragišić-Maksimović J., Radotić K., Effects of Silicon Concentration and Synthesis Duration on Lignin Structure: A Spectroscopic and Microscopic Study, Biopolymers, 2025, 116(1):e23640. doi:10.1002/bip.23640. (Национална категорија: M21)
The published international patent application:
- Branković Z., Ćirković J., Radojković A., Branković G., Jovanović J., Krnjajić S., Veljović S.: Biopolymer emulsions for active packaging, manufactured devices and other applications, Publication Number: WO/2020/055277, Publication Date: 19.03.2020., (Национална категорија: M93).