Team
Every project is driven by people, ideas and motivation. Meet the KlimEd team through their roles, research interests and short video statements.
Photo: Siniša Bužan
The people behind KlimEd
Mirela Holy, PhD
Senior scientific advisor
Mirela Holy, PhD
Senior scientific advisor
Mirela Holy explores the connections between climate change, migration, public policy and communication. Her work combines scientific research, experience in environmental protection and strategic communication, with particular emphasis on how society understands and shapes responses to environmental and migration challenges.
Research interests
Video statement
Detailed academic profile
Education
2025 – Titled Full Professor in the interdisciplinary scientific field
of science: Communication Sciences and Sociology, VERN' University
2024 – Senior Scientific Advisor in the interdisciplinary scientific
field of science: Communication Sciences and Sociology, Institute for
Migration Research (IMIN)
2020 – Assistant Professor, academic title and position of Assistant
Professor in the interdisciplinary scientific field of science,
Philology, Information and Communication Sciences, and Sociology, VERN'
University
2005 – PhD in Humanities (Literary Science), doctoral dissertation
titled "Mythical Aspects of Ecofeminism", Faculty of Humanities and
Social Sciences, University of Zagreb
2000 – Master of Humanities (Literary Science), master's thesis titled
"Structural Mythical Elements in Negative Science-Fiction
Utopias/Dystopias", Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences,
University of Zagreb
1996 – Graduated in Ethnology and Comparative Literature, thesis titled
"Analysis of Three Tibetan Myths and an Attempt to Compare Them with the
Book of Revelation by John in the New Testament", Faculty of Humanities
and Social Sciences, University of Zagreb
1990 – Fashion Designer (School of Applied Arts and Design, Zagreb)
Employment and professional experience
2025 – Institute for Migration Research, Senior Scientific Advisor
2016 – 2024 – VERN' University, Head of the study programs Business
Communication Management, Human Resources Management, Sustainable
Tourism Development Management, and Cyber Communication and Network
Science
2012 – 2016 – Croatian Parliament, Member of Parliament
2012 – Ministry of Environmental and Nature Protection, Minister
2008 – 2011 – Croatian Parliament, Member of Parliament
2005 – 2008 – Maksima komunikacije, Executive Director
2001 – 2005 – Ministry of Environmental Protection, Physical Planning
and Construction, Minister’s Cabinet Secretary, Expert Associate
1999 – 2000 – Dubrava Public Open University, Event and Campaign Manager
Current and completed projects
2026 – Institute for Migration Research: Climate Migration in Education:
Innovative Educational Media for Understanding Intersectional Crises
(KlimEd), Principal Investigator, 15 January 2026 – 14 January 2029,
funded by the Croatian Science Foundation
2024 – Ivo Pilar Institute of Social Sciences: Dynamics and Challenges
of Migration, Re-migration and Immigration in the Republic of Croatia –
DinamiRH, researcher, 01/01/2024 – 31/12/2027, funded by the European
Union – NextGenerationEU
2024 – Institute for Migration Research: From Real to Virtual Migrations
– VrtualM, researcher, 01/01/2024 – 31/12/2027, funded by the European
Union – NextGenerationEU
Realised projects:
2019 – 2021 – Horizon Europe: Hedegaard, Connie; Mysiak, Jaroslav; Lera
St. Clair, Asunción; Scicluna Bartoli, Mark; Cornieti, Mathieu; Freitas,
Helena; Holy, Mirela; Jacob, Daniela; Murray, Virginia; O’Connor, Kevin
et al. (2020). Proposed Mission: A Climate Resilient Europe: Prepare
Europe for climate disruptions and accelerate the transformation to a
climate resilient and just Europe by 2030. Report of the Mission Board
for Adaptation to Climate Change, including Societal Transformation,
2020. doi:10.2777/175419 KI-02-20-435-EN-C. Horizon Europe, national
lead for Croatia and Slovenia, 2019–2021, Horizon Europe
2020 – EUPRERA Report Vol 2., No. 2. Women in Public Relations in
Croatia. Creative Media and Communications Research Ltd, 4 Cobden Place,
LS12 5LJ, Leeds, United Kingdom: Project Report. Creative Media and
Communications Research Ltd., co-lead researcher, 2020, Leeds Beckett
University
2023 – The Institute of Economics, Zagreb: Budak, Jelena, Rajh, Edo and
Holy, Mirela (2023). Public Perception of Creative and Cultural
Industries in Croatia. EIZ Working Papers, EIZ-WP-2302. Zagreb: The
Institute of Economics, external collaborator, 2023
2024 – EUPRERA: Geiger Zeman, Marija; Miletić, Geran Marko; and Holy,
Mirela (2024). Women and Workplace Culture in Public Relations and
Communication Industries in Croatia. EUPRERA Report Vol 5., No. 1.,
Topić, M. (ed). Leeds/Brussels: Creative Media and Communications
Research Ltd. & EUPRERA. ISSN 2633-2353, researcher, 2024, EUPRERA
2020 – 2022 – Ivo Pilar Institute of Social Sciences: Body, Health,
Prevention: Media-Constructed Discourses and the Lived Culture in the
Age of New ‘Bio-Realities’, external collaborator, 01/12/2020 –
30/11/2022, Ivo Pilar Institute of Social Sciences, Zagreb
Selected bibliography
Books:
Apokalipsa (1991)
Mitski aspekti ekofeminizma (2007)
Komunikacijske (strategije) magije (2012, co-author Sonja Hodak)
Vražica nosi Pradu, a bogovi konfekciju (2017)
Kraljevstvo Onkraja (2017)
Agencije za odnose s javnošću, University textbook (2019)
Creativity 360 Degrees: Exploring the Dynamics of the Creative
Industries in Southeast Europe / Mirela Holy; Jelena Budak; Rino Medić
(Eds.), (2025)
Propaganda slavnih (2025) – in print
Teaching
2005 – present – VERN' University
Courses:
Public Relations and Media Studies program:
- Public Relations Agencies
- Communication Ethics and Corporate Social Responsibility
Cyber Communication and Network Science program:
- Mass Media, the Internet and Audiences
- Fundamentals of Marketing and Public Relations
- Social Media and Blogs
- Network Science in the Cyber Society
- Integrated Campaign Planning
- Online Political Activism and Guerrilla Communication Tactics
- Politics and Manipulation
Business Communication Management program:
– The Role of Media and Politics in the Sustainable Development of
Small Communities
- Introduction to Integrated Communications
- Manipulation and Communication
– New Sustainable Trends – Promotion of Fashion, Tourism, and Civil
Society
- Integrated Business Communication Strategies
Sustainable Tourism Development Management program:
- Sociology of Tourism
Elective courses across graduate programs:
- Guerrilla Communication
- Creating and Managing the Image of Celebrities
- Media and Public Relations in Tourism
- Business Communication and Protocol
Marija Geiger Zeman, PhD
Senior scientific advisor
Marija Geiger Zeman, PhD
Senior scientific advisor
Marija Geiger Zeman explores the social and cultural dimensions of sustainability, everyday life and gender relations. Her work combines sociological approaches, qualitative research and critical theoretical perspectives to understand communities, social change and sustainable ways of living.
Research interests
Video statement
Detailed academic profile
Education
2008 – PhD in Social Sciences (Sociology), Faculty of Humanities and Social
Sciences, University of Zagreb
2005 – Master of Social Sciences (Sociology), Faculty of Humanities and
Social Sciences, University of Zagreb
1997 – Professor of Sociology, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences,
University of Zagreb
Employment and professional experience
Since 2007 – Ivo Pilar Institute of Social Sciences, Zagreb
Current and completed projects
2026 – Institute for Migration Research: Climate Migration in Education:
Innovative Teaching Media for Understanding Intersectional Crises (KlimEd),
research associate, 15 January 2026 – 14 January 2029, funded by the
Croatian Science Foundation
2024 – Ivo Pilar Institute of Social Sciences: Dynamics and Challenges of
Migration, Re-migration and Immigration in the Republic of Croatia
(DinamiRH), research associate, 1 January 2024 – 31 December 2027, funded
by the European Union – NextGenerationEU
2024 – Ivo Pilar Institute of Social Sciences: Transformation of Local
Communities in the Republic of Croatia: Global Challenges and Development
Potentials (LozaRH), research associate, 1 January 2024 – 31 December 2027,
funded by the European Union – NextGenerationEU
Realised projects:
2024 – European Public Relations Education and Research Association
(EUPRERA): Women and Workplace Culture in Public Relations and
Communication Industries in Croatia, research associate, 2024, funded by
EUPRERA
2023 – Ivo Pilar Institute of Social Sciences and Leeds Beckett University:
Women and Veganism, lead researcher for the Croatian section of the project
2020-2022 – Ivo Pilar Institute of Social Sciences: Body, Health,
Prevention: Media-Constructed Discourses and the Lived Culture in the Era
of New "Bio-Realities", external associate, 1 December 2020 – 30 November
2022
2016 – COST Association Action CA15122: Reducing Old-Age Social Exclusion:
Collaborations in Research and Policy (ROSEnet), member of the Management
Committee
2014-2016 – COST Association Action IS1402: Ageism – A Multi-National,
Interdisciplinary Perspective, member of the Management Committee
2013-2014 – Ivo Pilar Institute of Social Sciences: Socio-Cultural and
Gender Aspects of Ageing in Croatia, project leader, funded by the Adris
Foundation
2013 – Ivo Pilar Institute of Social Sciences: Roma Early Childhood
Inclusion (RECI), research associate
2009 – Ivo Pilar Institute of Social Sciences: The Gendered Experiences of
Homelessness in Croatia, research associate
2007-2013 – Ivo Pilar Institute of Social Sciences: Sustainable Development
of Croatia, research associate
2006-2007 – Faculty of Law, University of Zagreb: Welfare and Values in
Europe: Transitions Related to Religion, Minorities and Gender, research
associate
2004-2006 – Ivo Pilar Institute of Social Sciences: Conceptualisation of
Sustainable Development in Croatia, research associate
Selected bibliography
Topi?-Rutherford, Martina; Geiger Zeman, Marija (ur.) (2026). Food and
Sustainability: Communication, PR and the Culture of Responsibility. Leeds:
Emerald Publishing Limited.
Geiger Zeman, Marija; Chmiel, Michal; Holy, Mirela (ur.) (2025). Beauty
Industry: Gender, Media and Everyday Life. Leeds: Emerald Publishing
Limited.
Geiger Zeman, Marija; Zeman, Zdenko (2010). Introduction to the Sociology
of (Sustainable) Communities, Zagreb: Ivo Pilar Institute of Social
Sciences.
Teaching
2017-2018 – Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of
Zagreb, Department of Sociology, course: Sociology of Gender
2016-2018 – Faculty of Textile Technology, University of Zagreb, course:
Sociology of Culture
2016-2019 – VERN' University, Business Communications Management programme,
course: Popular Culture and Media Literacy
2010-2013 – Faculty of Architecture, University of Zagreb, School of
Design, course: Sociology of Culture
2009-2013 – Croatian Studies, University of Zagreb, Department of
Sociology, course: Sociology of Local Communities
Marko Turk, PhD
Senior research associate
Marko Turk researches educational processes, the academic profession and competence development in different educational contexts. His work connects pedagogy, higher education, European education policies and the well-being of early-career researchers with mobility, migration and change in contemporary education.
Research interests
Video statement
Detailed academic profile
Education
2015. University of Zagreb, Faculty of Teacher Education, PhD in Social
Sciences, field of Pedagogy, branch of higher education pedagogy
2012. The University of British Columbia and Croatian Academic and
Research Network, Postgraduate Specialisation Programme, Instructional
Design in Online Teaching
2007. University of Rijeka, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences,
MA in Pedagogy/ Educational Sciences and Philosophy
Employment and professional experience
2024. Institute for Migration and Ethnic Studies, Senior Researcher
2022. – 2024. PAR University of Applied Sciences, Rijeka, Vice-dean for
Internationalisation and Research, Professor of Professional Studies,
Interdisciplinary Sciences, Educational Sciences – Pedagogy and
European Studies
2021. – 2023. University of Tomsk, Department of Didactics and Online
Learning, Russia, Visiting Associate Professor, Social Sciences,
Pedagogical Sciences
2020. – 2022. University of Tyumen, School of Advanced Studies, Russia,
Associate Professor, Social Sciences, Pedagogical Sciences
2019. – 2020. PAR Business School Rijeka, Assistant Professor, Social
Sciences
2009. – 2018. Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences in Rijeka,
Junior
Assistant, Senior Assistant, Assistant Professor, Social Sciences,
Pedagogy
2009. – 2011. Academy of Applied Arts in Rijeka, Teaching Assistant,
Social
Sciences, Pedagogy
2008. – 2009. Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences in Rijeka,
Teaching
Assistant, Social Sciences, Pedagogy
2007. – 2009. Rectorate of the University of Rijeka, University
Foundation
Head of the Office
Current and completed projects
– "Well-being and Mental Health of Early Career Researchers in Croatia
– A Longitudinal Study" (ECR-WELL), research project funded by the
Croatian Science Foundation (HRZZ), researcher, 2023 – ongoing
– "Ethnographies of Islandness – Island Migrations, Mobilities, and
Identifications" (ETNOTOK), research project funded by the Institute
for Migration and Nationalities (IMIN), researcher, 2024 – ongoing
– "Competencies of School Pedagogues: Retrospective, Current State,
and Future Perspectives", research project funded by IMIN, principal
investigator, 2024 – ongoing
– "European Dual Studies University (EU4Dual)", Erasmus+ project,
researcher, 2022 – ongoing
– "Promoting Healthy Digital Teaching and Learning in Higher
Education" (HealthyMindEd), Erasmus+ project, collaborator, 2024 –
ongoing
Realised projects:
Scientific Projects
– "Experimental Approaches in Higher Education", research project of
the Russian Academy of Sciences and the Russian Ministry of Science
and Higher Education, researcher, 2020–2022
– "Student-Centered Teaching: Preconditions for Implementation in the
National Higher Education System", research project, University of
Rijeka, principal investigator, 2017–2018
– "The Academic Profession in the Knowledge Society", research
project, University of Rijeka, researcher, 2016–2017
– "The European Dimension in Education: Approaches and Challenges",
research project, University of Rijeka, doctoral candidate,
postdoctoral fellow, researcher, 2013–2018
– "Competency Profile of the Academic Profession: Between New Demands
and Opportunities", research project funded by the Croatian Science
Foundation (HRZZ), doctoral candidate, postdoctoral fellow,
2014–2017
– "The Academic Profession and Social Expectations: Challenges of the
Civic Mission of the University", EUROCORE/EUROHES/ project by the
European Science Foundation and HRZZ, doctoral candidate, 2009–2011
– "The University and the External Environment in the Context of
European Integration Processes", research project funded by the
Ministry of Science, Education and Sports (MZOS), research assistant
/ doctoral candidate, 2007–2013
Research-Professional Projects
– "Innovative Support for Promoting Refugee Entrepreneurship in
Tourism (INSPIRE)", Erasmus+ project, national partner lead and
researcher, 2023–2024
– "Quality of Interaction of the Virtual Auditorium – VIRTUAL
AUDITORIUM", Erasmus+ project, national partner lead and researcher,
2023–2024
– "Supporting Inclusion and Diversity in Teaching (SIDIT)", Erasmus+
project, expert associate, 2021–2023
– "Basic Economic and Financial Skills of Youth for Building an
Economy That Works for People (BEFS)", researcher, 2021–2022
– "Modernisation of the System of VET Teachers’ Professional
Development", ESF project, ASOO, education policy expert, 2018–2019
– "Modernisation of Higher Education Institutions through Enhancement
of Human Resources Management Function", Erasmus+, AZVO, researcher
– expert in education policy, 2016–2018
– "Emphasis on Developing and Upgrading of Competencies for Academic
Teaching", Erasmus+, MZO, researcher – expert in higher education
teaching policy, 2016–2018
Professional Projects
– KOZMOK HKO Project, University of Applied Sciences Velika Gorica,
consultant – associate, 2019–2022
– CISUR – Strengthening Judicial Cooperation in the Application of the
Succession Regulation in Croatia and Slovenia, Croatian Law Centre,
Faculty of Law in Zagreb, Institute for Peace Studies Ljubljana,
associate for qualitative methodology, 2019–2020
– Modernisation of the System for the Professional Development of
Vocational Subject Teachers, ESF project, Agency for Vocational
Education and Training and Adult Education, expert – associate,
2019–2021
– Modernisation of Higher Education Institutions through Enhancement
of Human Resources Management Function, Erasmus+, Agency for Science
and Higher Education, expert – associate, 2016–2018
– Emphasis on Developing and Upgrading of Competences for Academic
Teaching, Erasmus+, Ministry of Science and Education, expert –
associate, 2016–2018
– QUALITYWATCH: Active Role of Civil Society Organizations in
Monitoring and Promoting Quality in Higher Education in Croatia, IPA
project, Institute for the Development of Education, expert –
associate, 2014–2016
– UNAPRORI: Improving the Evaluation Process of Study Programs at the
University of Rijeka: Pilot Project, HKO project, member of the
expert committee for defining qualification and occupational
standards in the “Higher Education Management” program, expert –
associate, 2015–2016
Irena Martinović Klarić, PhD
Tenured senior scientific advisor
Irena Martinović Klarić, PhD
Tenured senior scientific advisor
Irena Martinović Klarić combines anthropological research, science policy and questions concerning the development of research systems. Her experience includes work in scientific institutions, management of research programmes and research related to population structure, health, well-being and climate change.
Research interests
Video statement
Detailed academic profile
Education
2005 – 2008 Post-doctoral research grant of the Wenner-Gren Foundation
for Anthropological Research, New York, USA
1999 Doctor of Philosophy in Biology at the Faculty of Science,
University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
1996 UNESCO/TWA scholarship for HUGO program at the Department of
Genetics, Biology and Medicinal Chemistry at the University of Torino,
Italy
1994 Master of Science in Biomedical Sciences, Northeastern University,
Bouvé College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Boston, USA
1991 Bachelor of Science in Biology, Emmanuel College, Boston, USA
Employment and professional experience
2024 – now Senior Researcher at the Institute for Migration Research,
Zagreb
2023 – 2024 Strategy Advisor at the Croatian Science Foundation (HRZZ),
Zagreb
2019 – 2023 Executive Director/Acting Director at the Croatian Science
Foundation (HRZZ), Zagreb
2020 – now Associate Professor of anthropology at the Croatian Catholic
University, Zagreb
2015 – 2020 Assistant Professor of anthropology at the Croatian Catholic
University, Zagreb
2014 – 2018 Senior Researcher at the Institute for Social Research in
Zagreb, Zagreb
2010 – 2013 Senior Researcher at the Institute for Migration and Ethnic
Studies, Zagreb
2008 – 2010 Chief Executive Officer at Lavandula vera d.o.o., Zagreb
1995 – 2008 Doctoral Student, Post-doctoral Researcher and Senior
Researcher at the Institute for Anthropological Research, Zagreb
Current and completed projects
2026 – 2029 Researcher in the project „Climate Migration in Education:
Innovative Educational Media for Understanding Intersectional Crises“
(IP-2025-02-5454), funded by the Croatian Science Foundation. Prinicpal
investigator Mirela Holy, Ph.D.
2024 – 202. Researcher in the project „New Croatian Diaspora in Europe“
(principal investigator Ana Malnar, Ph.D.) and principal investigator in
the project „Mapping Croatian Science Diaspora“ (funded through the
National Plan of Recovery and Resilience 2021 – 2026, NextGenerationEU)
Realised projects:
2015 – 2016 Mentor in the project "New Paradigms in Sustainability
Research – Green Economy and Well-being of Youth" of the Ministry of
Science and Education of the Republic of Croatia and European Social
Fund
2014 – 2017 Principal investigator in the project of the Croatian
Science Foundation “Modernity Stress, Youth and Migration” (09.01./408)
2010 – 2013 Researcher in the project of the Ministry of Science,
Education and Sports of the Republic of Croatia "The Influence of
Migration on Regional Development in Croatia (076-0762385-2375)
2007 – 2013 Researcher in the project of the Ministry of Science,
Education and Sports of the Republic of Croatia "Molecular-genetic
portrait of the Roma – an isolated founder population model"
(196-1962766-2763)
2005 – 2008 Principal investigator in the post-doctoral research project
of the Wenner-Gren Foundation for Anthropological Research "Population
Structure and Genetic History of Western Balkan Roma" (7349)
2003 – 2005 Researcher in the project of the Royal Society, "Genetic
Epidemiological Investigations of Croatian Island Isolate Populations"
2002 – 2007 Researcher in the project of the Ministry of Science and
Technology of the Republic of Croatia "Anthropological Investigations of
the Population Structure of Croatia – Anthropogenetic Approach"
(0196005)
1997 – 2002 Researcher in the project of the Ministry of Science and
Technology of the Republic of Croatia "Anthropological Investigations of
the Population Structure of Croatia" (019601)
1995 – 1997 Researcher in the project of the Ministry of Science and
Technology of the Republic of Croatia "Anthropological Investigations of
the Population Structure of Croatia" (3-01-133)
1995 – 1997 Researcher in the project of the Smithsonian Institution
"Biological and Cultural Micro-differentiation of the Rural Populations
(Middle Dalmatia – Croatia)"
Teaching
2015. – now teaching undergraduate course „Introduction to General
Anthropology“ at the Croatian Catholic University
Marek Mikuš, PhD
Senior scientific advisor
Marek Mikuš, PhD
Senior scientific advisor
Marek Mikuš explores how social change is shaped through everyday economic relations, public policy and institutional reform. His work combines an anthropological approach with analysis of social inequalities, political processes and the ways financial systems affect the lives of people and communities.
Research interests
Video statement
Detailed academic profile
Education
2014 — PhD in Anthropology, London School of Economics and Political Science, United Kingdom; dissertation: What reform? Civil societies, state transformation and social antagonism in ‘European Serbia’
2009 — MSc in Anthropology and Development Studies, London School of Economics and Political Science, United Kingdom
2007 — Mgr. in Ethnology, Charles University in Prague, Czech Republic
Employment and professional experience
January 2026 – present — Senior Scientific Advisor in sociology, Institute for Migration Research
October 2019 – September 2025 — Senior Research Associate and research group leader, DFG Emmy Noether Research Group Peripheral Debt: Money, Risk and Politics in Eastern Europe, Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropology, Germany
April 2018 – September 2019 — Research Associate on the ERC project Western Banks in Eastern Europe: New Geographies of Financialisation (GEOFIN), Trinity College Dublin, Ireland
October 2015 – September 2018 — Research Associate, Financialisation Research Group, Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropology, Germany
February 2014 – July 2015 — Research Associate, Institute of Social Anthropology, Faculty of Social and Economic Sciences, Comenius University Bratislava, Slovakia
Current and completed projects
Current project
February 2026 – present — Climate Migration in Education: Innovative Educational Media for Understanding Intersectional Crises (KlimEd)
Role: Research associate
Funding: Croatian Science Foundation
Completed projects
October 2019 – September 2025 — Emmy Noether Research Group Peripheral Debt: Money, Risk and Politics in Eastern Europe
Role: Principal investigator
Funding: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG)
April 2018 – September 2019 — Western Banks in Eastern Europe: New Geographies of Financialisation (GEOFIN)
Role: Research associate
Funding: European Research Council
October 2015 – September 2018 — Financialisation Research Group
Role: Research associate
Funding: Max Planck Society (MPG)
Selected bibliography
Books and edited volumes
- Mikuš, M., Rodik, P. (ur.) (2021). Households and financialization in Europe: mapping variegated patterns in semi-peripheries. RIPE Series in Global Political Economy. London: Routledge.
- Mikuš, M. (2018). Frontiers of civil society: government and hegemony in Serbia. Dislocations Series. New York: Berghahn Books.
Peer-reviewed journal articles
- Mikuš, M., Sabaté Muriel, I. (2025). Managing problem debt in Europe: introduction to the theme section. Focaal, 101, 1–12.
- Mikuš, M. (2024). Tracking mortgage pathways in Zagreb: everyday economics of debt, housing wealth, and debtors’ agency in a European semi-periphery. Current Anthropology, 65(4), 701–723.
- Mikuš, M. (2024). Veliki i mali: Uvođenje eura i nacionalna valuta u Hrvatskoj. Etnološka tribina, 54(47), 195–210.
- Gagyi, A., Mikuš, M. (2023). Introduction: Boom, crisis and politics of Swiss franc mortgages in Eastern Europe: comparing trajectories of dependent financialization of housing. City, 27(3–4), 560–578.
- Bobek, A., Mikuš, M., Sokol, M. (2023). Making sense of the financialization of households: state of the art and beyond. Socio-Economic Review, 21(4), 2233–2258.
- Rodik, P., Mikuš, M. (2023). Moral economies of housing in post-boom Croatia: Swiss franc loans crisis and politics of housing financialization. City, 27(3–4), 579–598.
- Gagyi, A., Mikuš, M. (2022). Housing finance in the aftermath of the foreign-currency mortgage crisis in Eastern Europe: Editorial. Critical Housing Analysis, 9(1), 39–47.
- Mikuš, M. (2022). “New” but “squeezed”: middle class and mortgaged homeownership in Croatia. Critique of Anthropology, 42(4), 439–456.
- Mikuš, M. (2022). Whither peripheral financialization? Housing finance in Croatia since the Global Financial Crisis. Critical Housing Analysis, 9(1), 57–67.
- Mikuš, M. (2019). Contesting household debt in Croatia: the double movement of financialization and the fetishism of money in Eastern European peripheries. Dialectical Anthropology, 43(3), 295–315.
- Mikuš, M. (2018). Between recognition and redistribution: disability, (human) rights, and struggles over welfare in Serbia. Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute, 24(2), 293–312.
- Mikuš, M. (2016). The justice of neoliberalism: moral ideology and redistributive politics of public sector retrenchment in Serbia. Social Anthropology, 24(2), 211–227.
- Mikuš, M., Dokić, G. (2016). “Nobody’s stronger than the state”: hope and crisis among Serbian NGO workers and war veterans. Ethnologia Balkanica, 18, 385–403.
- Mikuš, M. (2015). Indigenizing “civil society” in Serbia: what local fund-raising reveals about class and trust. Focaal – Journal of Global and Historical Anthropology, 71, 43–56.
- Mikuš, M. (2015). Informal networks and interstitial arenas of power in the making of civil society law in Serbia. Sociologija, 57(4), 571–592.
- Mikuš, M. (2011). “State Pride”: politics of LGBT rights and democratisation in “European Serbia”. East European Politics and Societies, 25(4), 843–851.
Book and encyclopedia chapters
- Mikuš, M. (2025). Retail finance, mortgage lending, and risk. U: Grasseni, C., Bähre, E., Holmes, D. R., Kanters, C. (ur.), Elgar Encyclopedia of Economic Anthropology. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar, 191–197.
- Mikuš, M. (2025). Zaduženost kao pokretač iseljavanja iz Hrvatske. U: Perić Kaselj, M., Posavec, K., Blazsetin, V. (ur.), Zbornik radova 3. međunarodne znanstveno-stručne konferencije Migracije i identitet: kultura, ekonomija, država. Zagreb: Institut za istraživanje migracija, Hrvatska akademija znanosti i umjetnosti, 880–902.
- Mikuš, M. (2024). Predatorski prekogranični krediti austrijskih lokalnih banaka u Hrvatskoj: ishodi, geografska distribucija i vjerovničke strategije. U: Bratulić, J., Dabo, K. (ur.), Zbornik radova: Kontinentalna Hrvatska; povijesni kontekst, aktualnosti i perspektive u budućnosti (2). Zagreb: Hrvatska akademija znanosti i umjetnosti, Institut za istraživanje migracija, 748–764.
- Mikuš, M. (2022). Victims, patriots and middle class: the (un)deservingness of debtors in post–credit boom Croatia. U: Tošić, J., Streinzer, A. (ur.), Ethnographies of deservingness: unpacking ideologies of distribution and inequality. New York: Berghahn Books, 385–412.
- Mikuš, M., Rodik, P. (2021). Introduction: households and peripheral financialization in Eastern and Southern Europe. U: Mikuš, M., Rodik, P. (ur.), Households and financialization in Europe: mapping variegated patterns in semi-peripheries. London: Routledge, 1–34.
- Mikuš, M. (2020). Making debt work: devising and debating debt collection in Croatia. U: Hann, C., Kalb, D. (ur.), Financialization: relational approaches. New York: Berghahn Books, 241–265.
- Mikuš, M. (2015). Civil society and EU integration of Serbia: toward a historical anthropology of globalizing postsocialist Europe. U: Cervinkova, H., Buchowski, M., Uherek, Z. (ur.), Rethinking ethnography in Central Europe. New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 147–171.
- Mikuš, M. (2015). “Faggots won’t walk through the city”: religious nationalism and LGBT Pride Parades in Serbia. U: Sremac, S., Ruard Ganzevoort, R. (ur.), Gods, gays, and governments: religious and sexual nationalisms in Central and Eastern Europe. Leiden: Brill, 15–32.
Teaching
Institute of Social and Cultural Anthropology, Faculty of Philosophy I, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Germany — courses taught in English
- 2024./2025. — Anthropology of Financial Life, undergraduate course; with Balázs Gosztonyi and Mathias Krabbe
- 2023./2024. — Anthropology of Economic Life, undergraduate course; with Balázs Gosztonyi and Mathias Krabbe
- 2023./2024. — Anthropological Theory in Social Perspective, undergraduate course
- 2020./2021. — Anthropology of Finance, undergraduate course
- 2017./2018. — Antropologija države, poslijegraduate course
- 2015./2016. — Dug i neoliberalizam u suvremenoj antropologiji, poslijegraduate course
- 2014./2015. — Uvod u političku antropologiju, undergraduate course
- 2014./2015. — Uvod u metodologiju društvenih znanosti, undergraduate course
- 2014./2015. — Politička antropologija, poslijegraduate course
- 2014./2015. — Primijenjena antropologija, undergraduate course
- 2013./2014. i 2014./2015. — Antropološki tekstovi, poslijegraduate course
- 2013./2014. — Preddiplomski seminar, undergraduate course
- 2013./2014. — Socijalna analiza i interpretacija, undergraduate course
Dubravka Petrović Štefanac, PhD
Research associate
Dubravka Petrović Štefanac, PhD
Research associate
Dubravka Petrović Štefanac examines the relationship between social ethics, migration and the identities of Croatian communities abroad. Her work combines humanities and social-science approaches to human dignity, responsibility, community and the role of religious institutions in contemporary migration processes.
Research interests
Video statement
Detailed academic profile
Education
2019. – Elected to the Title Scientific and Teaching title of Assistant
Professor in the Scientific Field of Humanities, Field of Theology,
Croatian Catholic University
2013. – Elected to the Scientific Title of Scientific Associate in the
Scientific Field of Humanities, Field of Theology, the Catholic Faculty of
Theology, University of Zagreb
2006. – PhD in Humanities (Theology/Social Ethics), the Faculty of Catholic
Theology at the Karl Franzen University in Graz, Austria, doctoral
dissertation titled "Der Einfluss der Katholischen Kirche Kroatiens auf die
soziale Situation des Landes nach dem Wendepunkt im Jahr 1990 bis 2005.
Hirtenbriefe und Lehramt der Kardinle Franjo Kuhari? und Josip Bozani?;
wissenschaftliche Symposien und Kongresse mit sozialer Thematik" (The
influence of the Catholic Church in Croatia on the social situation of the
country after the change from 1991 to 2005. Epistles and teaching of two
cardinals, Franjo Kuhari? and Josip Bozani?; scientific symposia and
congresses on social topics)"
2001. – 2002. Postgraduate scientific studies in the Social Doctrine of the
Church at the Catholic Faculty of Theology, University of Zagreb
2001. – Graduated in Theology at the Catholic Faculty of Theology,
University of Zagreb
Employment and professional experience
2025. Research Associate at the Institute for Migration Research
2024. Expert advisor in science and higher education at the Institute for
Migration Research
2011 – 2024. Secretary of the Center for the Promotion of the Social
Doctrine of the Church of the Croatian Bishops' Conference
2007 – 2011. Expert associate at the Center for the Promotion of the Social
Doctrine of the Church of the Croatian Bishops' Conference and Secretary
General of the Commission "Iustitia et pax" of the Croatian Bishops'
Conference
2013 – 2024. External research associate at the Catholic Faculty of
Theology, University of Zagreb; teaching on the course "Human Rights and
the Social Doctrine of the Church"
2018 – 2021. – External research associate at the Catholic University of
Croatia; teaching on the course "The Church in the Contemporary World"
2008 – 2013. Lecturer at the Catholic Faculty of Theology, University of
Zagreb; teaching on the course "Human Rights and the Social Doctrine of the
Church"
Current and completed projects
2024. – 2027. Institute for Migration Research: "Janjevo izvan Janjeva
(Croats from Janjevo in Croatia), Project Leader/ Principal Investigator,
funded by the Central State offic for Croats Abroad
2026. – 2029. Institute for Migration Research: "Climate Migration in
Education: Innovative Educational Media for Understanding Intersectional
Crises (KlimEd)", Researcher, funded by the Croatian Science Foundation
2024. – 2027. Institute for Migration Research: "Hrvati u Bosni i
Hercegovini: povijesne i suvremene perspektive" (HRVABIH-POSUP 15-
2024/2027), Researcher, funded by the European Union – NextGenerationEU
Realised projects:
2019. – 2021. Hrvatsko katoli?ko sveu?ili?te: "CRO Laudato si' – About
taking care of our home", Researcher, funded by the Croatian Catholic
University
Teaching
Catholic Faculty of Theology, University of Zagreb, 2nd Year of integrated
five-year Study, Course: Human Rights and Social Doctrine of the Church
Ivan Balabanić, PhD
Senior research associate
Ivan Balabanić, PhD
Senior research associate
Ivan Balabanić conducts empirical research on social change, public communication and value orientations. His work combines sociological approaches, data analysis and public-opinion research with migration, media, risk and contemporary changes in digital communication.
Research interests
Video statement
Detailed academic profile
Education
2024 – Associate Professor in the scientific area of social sciences,
scientific field of communication sciences, Alma Mater Europaea – ECM,
Maribor.
2020 – Associate Professor in the scientific area of social sciences,
scientific field of sociology, branch of sociological methodology.
University of Zagreb.
2015 – Assistant Professor in the scientific area of social sciences,
scientific field of sociology, branch of sociological methodology.
2013 – Doctor of Science in the scientific area of social sciences,
scientific field of sociology, branch of special sociologies, Faculty of
Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Zagreb.
2005 – Graduated Sociologist and Graduated Croatologist, Centre for
Croatian Studies, University of Zagreb.
Employment and professional experience
2024 – present
Institute for Migration Research, Senior Research Associate; principal
investigator of the institutional project Quality of Life of Foreign
Workers from Asia and Africa in Croatia; Editor-in-Chief of the journal
Migration and Ethnic Themes.
2025 – present
University North, external associate at the doctoral study programme
Media and Communication; course holder of Quantitative Methodology.
2019 – 2024
Faculty of Croatian Studies, University of Zagreb, Assistant Professor /
Associate Professor; course holder in the fields of social research
methodology and sociological theories; Vice-Dean for Business Affairs;
Editor-in-Chief of the journal Kroatologija.
2019 – present
Alma Mater Europaea – ECM, Maribor, external associate at the doctoral
study programme Strategic Communication Management; course holder of
several courses in the fields of research methodology, marketing and
communication sciences.
2016 – present
Catholic Faculty of Theology, University of Zagreb, external associate
at the postgraduate doctoral study programme. Course holder of Science
and Research in the University Context.
2018 – present
Catholic University of Croatia, external associate at the doctoral study
programme Sociology: Values, Identity and Social Change in Croatian
Society. Course holder of Science and Research in the University
Context.
2015 – 2019
Catholic University of Croatia, Assistant Professor at the Department of
Sociology; course holder in social research methodology, statistics and
sociology of media.
2008 – 2015
Institute of Social Sciences Ivo Pilar, junior researcher – research
assistant and postdoctoral researcher.
2005 – 2008
Medianet Ltd., market research project manager.
Current and completed projects
2026 – 2029
Institute for Migration Research: Climate Migration in Education:
Innovative Educational Media for Understanding Intersectional Crises
(KlimEd), researcher, 15 January 2026 – 14 January 2029, funded by the
Croatian Science Foundation.
2024 – present
Institute for Migration Research: Quality of Life of Foreign Workers
from Asia and Africa in Croatia, principal investigator, institutional
project of the Institute for Migration Research.
2024 – 2027
Institute for Migration Research: From Real to Virtual Migrations –
VrtualM, researcher, 1 January 2024 – 31 December 2027, funded by the
European Union – NextGenerationEU.
2023 – 2025
Institute for Research of Hybrid Conflicts: ATENA – Analysis of the
Accuracy of Media Reports, researcher, funded by the European Union
under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan.
2017 – present
European Values Study (EVS), member of the Croatian team, fieldwork
coordinator and sampling director for Croatia; an international
comparative research project on value orientations, attitudes and social
change.
Selected completed projects
2020 – 2025
Faculty of Economics and Business, University of Zagreb: Strengthening
the Financial Capability of Young Consumers through Educational
Programmes and Behavioural Interventions, researcher, funded by the
Croatian Science Foundation.
2023 – 2024
Faculty of Croatian Studies, University of Zagreb: Digitisation of
Documentary and Archival Materials of Croatian Studies, principal
investigator.
2020 – 2022
Analysis of Social Factors Affecting the Quality of Life of Croatian
Homeland War Veterans, researcher, funded by the European Social Fund.
2022
Join In – Active in Retirement, Zelina Active Golden Retirees – ZAZU
Club, researcher; head of qualitative research and preparation of the
study, funded by the European Social Fund.
2021
Youth Activation Network – A New Project for New Opportunities,
researcher; head of research and contributor to the preparation of the
study, funded by the European Social Fund.
2019 – 2020
Disinformation and Science – A Survey, researcher; preparation of the
national report for the Republic of Croatia, funded by the European
Parliament.
2015 – 2018
Croatian Longitudinal Study of Well-Being – CRO-WELL, researcher, funded
by the Croatian Science Foundation.
2014 – 2017
Networks of Public Communication in Croatia: Mediatisation of the Public
Sphere and the Challenges of New Media – NETCOMM, researcher, funded by
the Croatian Science Foundation.
2016 – 2017
Populism, Youth and the Media, principal investigator, Catholic
University of Croatia.
2015 – 2016
Pilar’s Barometer of Croatian Society, principal investigator, Institute
of Social Sciences Ivo Pilar.
2014 – 2017
COST Action IS1308 Populist Political Communication in Europe,
researcher and management committee member.
Selected bibliography
He is the author or co-author of more than 90 scientific and
professional bibliographic units, including articles in Croatian and
international journals, book chapters, conference proceedings,
scientific studies and professional expert reports.
• Bandov, Goran; Balabanić, Ivan; Tadić, Iva; Magalang, John Paul
(2026). Under pressure: Filipino migrant women navigating life and work
in Croatia. AEMI Journal, 23, 97–111.
• Balabanić, Ivan (2025). Youth dissatisfaction with the social,
political and economic order as a push factor of emigration from
Croatia. In: Proceedings of the 3rd International Scientific and
Professional Conference Migration and Identity: Culture, Economy, State.
Zagreb: Institute for Migration Research and Croatian Academy of
Sciences and Arts – Department of Social Sciences, 962–977.
• Balabanić, Ivan (2024). Sources of information among Croats in South
America and their attitudes and opinions about Croatia. In: Migration
Processes between Croatia and South America: Towards a Transnational and
Transdisciplinary Field of Research. Zagreb: Institute for Migration
Research, 185–198.
• Matulić, Tonči; Balabanić, Ivan (2023). Selected bioethical issues in
the countries of the Central European cultural circle: EVS 2017. In:
Changes in the Value System in Democratic Croatia. Zagreb: Catholic
Faculty of Theology, University of Zagreb; Kršćanska sadašnjost,
131–164.
• Baloban, Stjepan; Balabanić, Ivan; Migles, Silvija (2023). Indicators
of solidarity in Central European countries. In: Changes in the Value
System in Democratic Croatia. Zagreb: Catholic Faculty of Theology,
University of Zagreb; Kršćanska sadašnjost, 291–316.
• Ježovita, Josip; Balabanić, Ivan; Plenković, Mateja (2019). The
methodological framework of survey research in the European Values
Study: The case of Croatia. Društvena istraživanja, 28(3), 411–433. doi:
10.5559/di.28.3.03
• Brezovec, Erik; Ježovita, Josip; Watson, Steven; Balabanić, Ivan
(2026). Reconstructing GenAI in education: a social systems theory
approach. British Journal of Sociology of Education, 1–16. doi:
10.1080/01425692.2026.2642913
• Belić, Ivana; Balabanić, Ivan; Đuho Vulin, Nika (2026). Media
Representation of Climate Change – A Case Study of Media Coverage of the
COP28 Conference 2023. Interdisciplinary Description of Complex Systems,
24(2), 167–178. doi: 10.7906/indecs.24.2.6
• Balabanić, Ivan; Brezovec, Erik; Ježovita, Josip (2025). Media
reporting on the “Men Praying in the Square” movement from the
perspective of social systems theory. Bogoslovska smotra, 95(4),
1001–1026. doi: 10.53745/bs.95.4.1
• Mustapić, Marko; Balabanić, Ivan; Plenković, Mateja (2018). Political
news coverage of the 2015 election campaign in Croatia: Populism and
media. In: Mediated Campaigns and Populism in Europe. Palgrave
Macmillan, 123–143. doi: 10.1007/978-3-319-98563-3_6
• Bilić, Paško; Balabanić, Ivan (2016). Pluralism or polarisation of
mass media in the online sphere: The case of the monetisation of
Croatian motorways. Revija za sociologiju, 46(2), 175–204. doi:
10.5613/rzs.46.2.3
Teaching
Faculty of Croatian Studies, University of Zagreb, 2019 – 2024
Introduction to Social Research Methods 1 and 2; Evaluation of the
Effects of Social Actions; Fundamentals of Market Research; Society and
Sustainability; Sociology of Croatian Society 4 and 5.
Catholic University of Croatia, 2015 – 2020; doctoral study programme,
2018 – present
Introduction to Social Research Methodology; Descriptive Statistics;
Inferential Statistics; Survey Research; Quantitative Methodology;
Introduction to the Sociology of Media; Science and Research in the
University Context.
Alma Mater Europaea – ECM, Maribor, 2019 – present
Quantitative and Qualitative Research Methods in Communication
Management; Methodology of Doctoral Dissertation Preparation; Individual
Research Project Work.
University North, doctoral study programme Media and Communication, 2025
– present
Quantitative Methodology.
Catholic Faculty of Theology, University of Zagreb, postgraduate
doctoral study programme, 2016 – present
Science and Research in the University Context.
Centre for Croatian Studies, University of Zagreb, 2009 – 2015
Quantitative Research Methods; Introduction to Social Research Methods I
and II; Fundamentals of Market Research.
Kristina Posavec, PhD
Research associate
Kristina Posavec, PhD
Research associate
Kristina Posavec connects digital technologies, open science and education. Her work explores how information and communication tools, artificial intelligence and innovative pedagogical approaches can improve the accessibility, quality and engagement of learning.
Research interests
Video statement
Detailed academic profile
Education
– 2017 – Obtained a doctoral degree from the Department of Information
and Communication Sciences, Faculty of Humanities and Social
Sciences, University of Zagreb, where she defended her dissertation
titled “The Role of Computer Corpora in Teaching Croatian as a
Second and Foreign Language”.
– 2009 – Graduated in Museology from the Department of Information and
Communication Sciences, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences,
University of Zagreb.
– 2008 – Graduated in Journalism from the Faculty of Political
Science, University of Zagreb.
Employment and professional experience
2025 – 2025 Consultatnt for World Bank
2024 – Institute for Migration and Ethnic Studies
2021 – EU Expert Evaluator, European Research Executive Agency (REA)
2020 – 2024 University of Zagreb, University Computing Centre SRCE
2018 – 2020 Croatian Academic And Research Network (CARNET)
2013 – 2018 Open University Algebra
2008 – 2012 Open University Infokatedra
Current and completed projects
– 2026. – : Working on the research project KlimED, Croatian Science
Foundation
– 2024–2027: Working on the research project IntegrateME CitiVerse:
Using Extended Reality (XR) technologies to support best practises
in integrating Croatian returnees, their descendants and other
emigrants (InteME-XR). Project collaborator. Funded by the European
Union – NextGenerationEU.
– 2024–2027: Working on the research project New Croatian Diaspora in
Europe (NOHE). Project collaborator. Funded by the European Union –
NextGenerationEU.
Realised projects:
– 2024 – Horizon Europe research project Creating a Robust Accessible
Federated Technology for Open Access (CRAFT-OA) (contract number:
101094397 ), which deals with the provision of technological and
organizational support diamond open access. Project collaborator
.Project leader: University of Göttingen. Available at:
https://www.craft-oa.eu/.
– 2020 – 2023 Horizon 2020 research project National Initiatives for
Open Science in Europe (contract number: 857645), which deals with
open science, by establishing national clouds for open science in
the countries of Southeast Europe, by including services in the
European Open Science Cloud, EOSC. Project collaborator . Project
manager: ETHNIKO DIKTYO EREVNAS TECHNOLOGIAS AE (GRNET SA).
Available at: https://ni4os.eu/.
– 2020 Horizon 2020 research project RDA Europe 4.0 (contract number:
777388), which dealt with the management of research data and FAIR
data and principles. The goal of the project was to support the
mission and activities of the global organization RDA (Research Data
Alliance) which refers to encouraging the action of the European
community and the positioning of RDA in the EOSC environment.
Project collaborator. Project manager: TRUST-IT SERVICES LIMITED
(TRUST-IT). Available at:
https://grants.rd-alliance.org/about-rda-eu-40.
– 2020 Horizon 2020 research project CRISS (Demonstration of a
scalable and cost-effective cloud-based digital learning
infrastructure through the Certification of digital competences in
primary and secondary schools, contract number: 732489) from the
European Union’s Horizon 2020 program. Project collaborator.
Teaching
University of Zagreb, Faculty of Education and Rehabilitation Sciences,
Informatics (since 2014)
Project management
Project leadership
Coordination of research activities, project deadlines and delivery of planned results.
Material development
Collaboration on the development of the project’s educational, research and communication content.
Collaboration with schools
Connecting project activities with teachers, schools, institutions and the wider public.
Who else participates in KlimEd?
In addition to the research team, the project connects schools, institutions and organisations that contribute to project activities and the practical application of its results.