September 2026 was a particularly memorable month for Sanja, as two of her PhD students, Andrijana Bilić and Milinko Perić, successfully defended their doctoral dissertations within just two weeks at the Faculty of Sciences, University of Novi Sad.
Both dissertations represent years of dedicated research, scientific collaboration and continuous learning. Although their research topics were different, they shared an important characteristic: the integration of experimental investigations with theoretical and computational approaches to address complex scientific problems.
For Sanja, these successful defences represent not only important academic achievements, but also the culmination of years of mentorship, collaboration and shared scientific work.
Andrijana Bilić: Understanding the Stability and Photodegradation of Organic Compounds
On September 7, 2026, Andrijana Bilić successfully defended her PhD dissertation entitled:
“Stability and Photodegradation of Pharmacologically Active Components and Bioregulators: Experimental and Theoretical Analysis”
Andrijana completed her doctoral research under Sanja’s supervision at the Department of Chemistry, Biochemistry and Environmental Protection, Faculty of Sciences, University of Novi Sad.
Her dissertation combined experimental chemistry, photodegradation studies and theoretical modeling based on atomistic calculations to investigate the stability and transformation of pharmacologically active compounds and bioregulators.
By connecting experimental observations with molecular-level calculations, Andrijana’s research provides valuable insights into the behavior, reactivity and degradation pathways of environmentally relevant organic compounds.
This interdisciplinary approach is particularly important in environmental chemistry, where understanding the molecular mechanisms behind chemical transformations can contribute to better interpretation of experimental results and the development of more effective environmental protection strategies.
Andrijana’s successful defence marked the completion of an important stage of her scientific development and represents a valuable contribution to the research activities of the EMOS research group.
Milinko Perić: Connecting Materials Science, Atomistic Modeling and Machine Learning
Within the same two-week period, Milinko Perić also successfully defended his doctoral dissertation, entitled:
“Development of Metal Oxide and Composite Materials with Applications in Analytical Chemistry, Ecology, and Agriculture”
Milinko completed his PhD under the joint mentorship of Sanja and Dr. Gordana Tamindžić, Senior Research Associate at the Institute of Field and Vegetable Crops in Novi Sad.
His research brought together an exceptionally broad range of scientific approaches, including materials synthesis, physicochemical characterization, atomistic calculations, statistical analysis and machine learning.
By combining experimental and computational methods, Milinko investigated metal oxide and composite materials from complementary perspectives, connecting their preparation and observed properties with molecular-level understanding and data-driven analysis.
The dissertation also demonstrated the practical relevance of these materials in analytical chemistry, environmental research and agriculture, highlighting the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration in addressing real-world scientific challenges.
Milinko’s professional experience at the BioSense Institute and the Institute of Field and Vegetable Crops further contributed to the interdisciplinary character of his doctoral research.
His successful defence represents an important achievement and demonstrates how experimental materials science, computational chemistry and machine learning can be integrated into a coherent research framework.
A Special Milestone in Scientific Mentorship
Completing a PhD is a demanding journey that requires persistence, creativity, critical thinking and the ability to overcome numerous scientific challenges.
For a mentor, accompanying students through this journey is one of the most meaningful aspects of academic work. It involves much more than supervising research activities: it includes discussing ideas, solving problems together, encouraging independent thinking and supporting the gradual development of young researchers into independent scientists.
The successful defences of Andrijana and Milinko, taking place within such a short period, therefore represent a particularly special milestone in Sanja’s academic career.
Both dissertations also reflect the interdisciplinary research philosophy developed within the EMOS research group, where experimental investigations are complemented by computational modeling and modern data-analysis methods.
Most importantly, these achievements celebrate the dedication, scientific curiosity and hard work of two young researchers who have successfully completed one of the most challenging stages of their academic education.
Congratulations to Dr. Andrijana Bilić and Dr. Milinko Perić!
We wish them both continued success, exciting scientific challenges, fruitful collaborations and many new achievements in their future research careers.
For Sanja, September 2026 will certainly remain a month to remember – two successful PhD defences, two new doctors of science, and two wonderful reasons to celebrate.
Photo gallery from Andrijana's PhD defense
Photo gallery from Milinko's PhD defense
