Laboratory of Computational Biophysics, MedILS, Split

1
Laboratory of Computational Biophysics, MedILS,
Split
Antonija Kuzmanic, PhD student
dr. Daniela Kruschel, postdoc (PhD, University of
Zurich, 2008)
dr. Anton Polyansky, postdoc (PhD, Moscow State
University, 2008)
Dražen Petrov, PhD student (together with prof.
dr. Davor Juretic, PMF Split)
Mario Hlevnjak, PhD student
ostali Stipe Tomaš, diploma student, FESB
(graduated Sept. 2008) Marija Galic, diploma
student, PMF Zagreb (soon to graduate) Elena
Primorac, visiting scientist (March-October
2008) Tomek Wlodarski, FEBS summer student
(summer 2008) Christian A. Mueller, graduate
student (ETH Zuerich and MedILS) collaboration
with prof. dr. Ivo F. Sbalzarini Omar Awile,
graduate student (ETH Zuerich and MedILS)
collaboration with prof. dr. Ivo F.
Sbalzarini Mijo Simunovic, summer student
(summer 2009) Tibor Pakozdi, summer student
(summer 2009) Pawel Janowski, summer student
(summer 2009) Maria Janowska, summer student
(summer 2009)
2
Laboratory of Computational Biophysics, MedILS,
Split
Antonija Kuzmanic, PhD student
dr. Daniela Kruschel, postdoc (PhD, University of
Zurich, 2008)
dr. Anton Polyansky, postdoc (PhD, Moscow State
University, 2008)
Dražen Petrov, PhD student (together with prof.
dr. Davor Juretic, PMF Split)
Mario Hlevnjak, PhD student
ostali Stipe Tomaš, diploma student, FESB
(graduated Sept. 2008) Marija Galic, diploma
student, PMF Zagreb (soon to graduate) Elena
Primorac, visiting scientist (March-October
2008) Tomek Wlodarski, FEBS summer student
(summer 2008) Christian A. Mueller, graduate
student (ETH Zuerich and MedILS) collaboration
with prof. dr. Ivo F. Sbalzarini Omar Awile,
graduate student (ETH Zuerich and MedILS)
collaboration with prof. dr. Ivo F.
Sbalzarini Mijo Simunovic, summer student
(summer 2009) Tibor Pakozdi, summer student
(summer 2009) Pawel Janowski, summer student
(ljeto 2009) Maria Janowska, summer student
(summer 2009)
foreign nationals
3
Back in Croatia 2007-2009

• adequate funding opportunities as returnee
  (Croatian UKF 1A, NZZ EMBO
• Installation grant, Foreign FEBS, DAAD)
• positive support from the academic and wider
  communities
• successful recruitment of co-workers inside
  Croatia and abroad
• gt established an active computational lab within
  2 years

4
Organizational / logistic / administrative
hurdles- lack of adequate core facilities for
molecular biology (theory better)- export/import
of chemicals, reagents, biological specimens -
made difficult by the current laws- lack of
adequate technical support for molecular biology
5
Organizational / logistic / administrative
hurdles- lack of adequate core facilities for
molecular biology (theory better)- export/import
of chemicals, reagents, biological specimens -
made difficult by the current laws- lack of
adequate technical support for molecular biology
- residence permits for foreign students and
postdocs - slow processing, unclear rules,
conflicting information- MZOS permit to stay - a
welcome improvement- tax problems for foreigners
6
Organizational / logistic / administrative
hurdles- lack of adequate core facilities for
molecular biology (theory better)- export/import
of chemicals, reagents, biological specimens -
made difficult by the current laws- lack of
adequate technical support for molecular biology
- residence permits for foreign students and
postdocs - slow processing, unclear rules,
conflicting information- MZOS permit to stay - a
welcome improvement- tax problems for
foreigners- health insurance issues for
foreigners- adjusting to life in Croatia-
short-term visits - difficult to regulate
traveling expenses for short-term visitors,
difficult to pay foreign summer students
Overall, things are improving, but is it fast
enough?
7

• Suggestions
• Targeted recruitment of relatively young,
  promising faculty in a small number of strategic
  areas - 50 group leader positions in natural
  sciences could turn the entire Croatian academic
  system around - no reform without reformers need
  for a few high-profile senior recruits
  (americanization of the system)
• Centralization of administrative activities -
  one-stop shop for the logistics of academic
  assimilation/visits export/import issues
• Continuation of programs like UKF or NZZ
  Installation grants

8
Grants submitted and outcome
?
?
9

• Funding ID
• UKF 1A grant
• NZZ EMBO installation grant
• FEBS Summer Fellowship (Tomek Wlodarski, summer
  2008)
• DAAD postdoctoral fellowship (dr. Daniela
  Kruschel)
• MedILS startup funds