Associate Professor, Department of Physics, University of Hong Kong
Country of Birth: Croatia
Educational Background: PhD, MS, BS University of Belgrade, Serbia
Who or what inspired you to work in science/engineering?I was always interested in science and engineering, since I wanted to know how things work and also how to make them work better.
Primary responsibilities of your current jobMy job, as typical for a university job, includes research, teaching, and administration duties. Research is a dynamic process, with research interests evolving based on the previous experimental results, as well as the availability of research funding. My current research interests include nanomaterials, energy, and environment. Teaching involves teaching undergraduate and postgraduate courses, as well as supervising students doing research projects (undergraduate and postgraduate).
Biggest obstacle or challenge that you have faced in your careerThe biggest challenge was equipping a laboratory on a limited budget. As an experimentalist just starting in an academic position, it can be difficult since you need equipment to produce results, and you need results and a track record to obtain more funding to purchase equipment. I have managed to get around the problem by searching for different equipment
manufacturers, making careful comparisons of instrument specifications, and having detailed discussions with smaller and less well-known manufacturers who produce quality equipment.
