Prof. Dr Katarina Vogel-Mikuš
Full University ProfessorE-mail: Tel: +38631877040 The main fields of work of prof. Vogel-Mikuš comprises research on the mechanisms of metal uptake in the soil-plant systems, mechanisms of metal accumulation and tolerance in plants, studies of plant physiological responses to metal stress, studies of plant interactions with symbiotic organisms (mycorrhiza), interactions of plants and engineered nanoparticles, and transfer and speciation of metals through the food chains. Prof. Vogel-Mikuš teams up with researchers from various institutions from Slovenia and abroad to develop and implement the techniques based on accelerated particles and synchrotron X-ray fluorescence and absorption spectroscopy in biology and biomedicine and to develop sample preparation techniques for biological samples for various imaging techniques (e.g. micro-PIXE, micro-XRF, LA-ICPMS, FTIR and MeV SIMS). Till 2020 she has participated in more than 35 experiments performed at different synchrotron radiation facilities (ESRF, Elettra, DESY, ALBA, Diamond, Soleil and SLRI). Since 2009, she has been involved in monitoring of Slovenian nuclear power plant in the field of food safety. Prof. Vogel Mikuš co-authored more than 100 original scientific papers published in SCI journals, 20 chapters in scientific monographs and has given more than 20 invited lectures at foreign universities and international conferences. She has supervised four PhD students and more than 40 Bologna graduates and Master's students
Education |  |
- University degree in biology (University of Ljubljana, Biotechnical faculty, 2000)
- PhD in biology (University of Ljubljana, Biotechnical faculty, 2006)
Employment | |
- assistant, Biotechnical faculty, University of Ljubljana, 2000-2009
- assistant professor, Biotechnical faculty, University of Ljubljana, 2009-2015
- associate professor, Biotechnical faculty, University of Ljubljana 2015-2020
- full professor, Biotechnical faculty, University of Ljubljana, 2020-
- Senior Research Associate at JSI (20% employement), 2015 –
Field of work | |
- plant biology
- metal metabolism and mineral nutrition of plants
- mechanisms of metal and engineered nanoparticle toxicity in different biological systems (plants, fungi, animals, food chains)
- phytoremediation
- biofortification
- the use and development of spectroscopic techniques based on accelerated particles and synchrotron light (XRF, XAS, FTIR) in biology and biomedicine
Awards | |
- Prometheus of Science for Excellence in Science Communication (Slovenian science foundation), 2019
- ZOTKS golden award for mentoring a perspective young researcher (2016)
Project list | |
- Ionome of crop plants for safe and quality production
- Imaging of the molecular distributions at the cellular level (IMAGOCELL)
- RADIATE - Research and Development with Ion beams-Advancing Technology in Europe
- European Network for Chemical Elemental Analysis by Total Reflection X-Ray Fluorescence
- Objects and prestige: taste, status, and power (Researches of the material culture in Slovenia)
- Molecular imaging inside the cell (MICE)
- Off-site radiological monitoring of the Krško Nuclear Power Plant
- Spatial localization of elements and metabolites in plants
Other projects | |
international
- https://www.ionbeamcenters.eu/radiate/(2019 – 2022)
- COST CA18130 European Network for Chemical Elemental Analysis by Total Reflection X-Ray Fluorescence (2019-2022)
- Europe Regional (International Atomic Energy Agency, IAEA) TC Project (RER7009) on Enhancing Coastal Management in the Adriatic and the Black Sea by using Nuclear Analytical Techniques, under the framework of TC Project RER7009 (2018-2019)
- BEST, Barley Stress Tolerance, ARIMNET (2016-2019)
- IAEA’s Coordinated Research Project (CRP); Experiments with Synchrotron Radiation for Modern Environmental and Industrial Applications (2013-2019)
- IAEA’s Coordinated Research Project (CRP); Applications of Synchrotron Radiation for Environmental Sciences and Materials Research for Development of Environmentally Friendly Resources (2012-2016)
- IAEA’s Coordinated Research Project (CRP); IAEA 1576; Micro-analytical Techniques Based on Nuclear Spectrometry for Environmental Monitoring and Material studies; Complementing the X-ray spectrometry activities with micro-beam facility for different applications (2011-2013)
- Bilateral project with Groupe de Recherche en Physiologie végétale (GRPV ) - Université Catholique de Louvain Belgium, Ion distribution and heavy metal tolerance: a comprehensive approach toward the use of plants for soil decontamination (2010-2012)
- (2009-2012), SPIRIT, Support of public and industrial research using ion beam technology, analysis of plant materials at Microanalytical centre at IJS.
Selected beamtimes obtained at Synchrotron radiation facilities (project leader or leading experimentalist)
European Synchrotron Radiation Facility, Grenoble, France
- LS-2270, ESRF, ID21, 2013, 15 shifts- Investigation of chemical form of iron in grain tissues of diverse wheat genotypes (Katarina Vogel-Mikuš, Katarina Vogel-Mikuš)
- LS- 2275, ESRF, BM23, 2014, 18 shifts - Studies of cadmium and mercury ligand environment in fungal endophytes to improve the outcomes of phytostabilisation of extremely metal contaminated sites (Iztok Arčon, Katarina Vogel-Mikuš)
- LS-2225, ESRF, ID21, 18 shifts- Studies of localization and speciation of iron in vegetative and seed tissues of rice and wheat to enhance biofortification and improve crop yields, COBISS.SI-ID 30922457 (Isabelle Lefevre, Katarina Vogel-Mikuš)
- LS-2374, ESRF, ID21, 2015, 18 shifts - Iron distribution and Fe chemical form in common bean and maize low phytic acid (lpa) mutants (Katarina Vogel-Mikuš, Katarina Vogel-Mikuš)
- LS-2403, ESRF, ID21, 2016, 15 shifts - The role of phytochelatins in Cd tolerance and hyperaccumulation in hyperaccumulator A. halleri (Stephan Clemens, Katarina Vogel-Mikuš)
- EV-210, ESRF, BM08, 2016, 15 shifts - Biotransformation of mercury and selenium in edible mushrooms Boletus sp. - indication for bioavailability and food safety (Katarina Vogel-Mikuš, Katarina Vogel-Mikuš)
- EV-236, ESRF, BM30B, 2017, 15 shifts - Biotransformation of mercury and selenium in edible mushrooms Boletus sp. - indication for bioavailability and food safety (Katarina Vogel-Mikuš, Katarina Vogel-Mikuš)
- MD1064, ESRF, ID21, 2017, 18 shifts - XRF studies for setting Ovarian tissue Cryopreservation Protocols (Lorella Pascolo, Katarina Vogel-Mikuš)
- MD1113, ESRF, ID21, 2017, 12 shifts - Nano XRF to resolve Gadolinium precipitates in the liver of pediatric hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients (Lorella Pascolo, Katarina Vogel-Mikuš)
Sincrotrone Elettra Trieste:
- 20130375, Elettra, TwinMic, 2013, 21 shifts - Depicting the role of silicon in reflection and transmission of photosynthetically active and UV radiation in monocot plants (Alenka Gaberščik, Katarina Vogel-Mikuš) COBISS.SI-ID 3069263
- 20135190, Elettra, 2014, TwinMic, 15 shifts - Spatial distribution of Na and Mg in buchwheat and wheat sprouts as affected by biofortification with natural mineral rich waters (Paula Pongrac, Katarina Vogel-Mikuš)
- 20145056 Elettra, 2015, TwinMic, 21 shifts, Spatial distribution of Fe, Mg, Zn and P in common bean low phytic acid-1 mutant seeds (Eleonora Cominelli, Katarina Vogel-Mikuš)
- 20145060, Elettra, XRF-IAEA QUOTA, 2015, 15 shifts - Interactions of trace elements and selenium in plants in relation to their uptake, accumulation and transfer to the food chains (Peter Kump, Katarina Vogel-Mikuš)
- 20155028 - Elettra, XRF-IAEA QUOTA, 2016, 15 shifts Interactions of mercury and selenium in plants and fungi in relation to their uptake, accumulation and transfer to the food chains (Peter Kump, Katarina Vogel-Mikuš)
- 20165180 - Elettra, XRF, IAEA QUOTA, 2017, 18 shifts Localization and ligand environment of Zn in edible mushrooms - indication for bioavailability and food safety (Peter Kump, Katarina Vogel-Mikuš)
- 20165320 - Elettra, XRF-IAEA QUOTA, 2017, 15 shifts, Lead (Pb) distribution and speciation in vegetation spontaneously occurring in mining environments (Eva Margui, Katarina Vogel-Mikuš)
- 20172032 – Elettra, TwinMic, SISSI, 2017, 9+12 shifts. Depicting the role of silicon in reflection and transmission of photosynthetically active and UV radiation and leaf biochemical composition of crop monocot plants (Alenka Gaberščik, Katarina Vogel-Mikuš)
- 20175078 – Elettra, XRF, 2018, 15 shifts, Iron and zinc ligand environment in grains of low phytate plants (Katarina Vogel-Mikuš)
- 20195112 – Elettra XRF, 2020, 15 shifts, Localization and speciation of mineral micronutrients in ancient wheat varieties (Katarina Vogel-Mikuš)
DESY
- I-20110511 EC – DESY, C line, 2012, 12+9 shifts Studies of thiol mediated cadmium and mercury uptake in plants for enhancing phytoextraction efficiency (Iztok Arčon, Katarina Vogel-Mikuš)
- I-20160764 EC- DESY, P64, 2017, 12 shifts, Ligand environment of Hg, Zn and Se in edible mushrooms - indication for bioavailability and food safety (Katarina Vogel-Mikuš, Iztok Arčon)
ALBA
- 2016091810 - ALBA, 15 shifts, 2017, Study of silver nanoparticles uptake, translocation and biotransformation in lettuce and further in the food chain: Evidence for changes in Ag speciation (Katarina Vogel-Mikuš, Eva Margui)
- 2016091921 - ALBA, 12 shifts, 2017, Evaluation of μ-FTIR to explore the intact suberized barriers (Eva Margui, Katarina Vogel-Mikuš)
- 2017082304 - ALBA, 9 shifts, 2017 - Ligand environment of mercury and selenium in edible mushrooms - indication for mercury bioavailability, toxicity and food safety (Katarina Vogel-Mikuš, Eva Margui)
SOLEIL
- 20181566, SOLEIL, 15 shifts, 2019, Localization and ligand environment of cadmium in contaminated barley grains
DIAMOND
- MG21629 – DIAMOND – 15 shifts, 2019: Cadmium localization and ligand environment in grains of barley varieties differing in levels of Cd accumulation
national
- N1-0105 - Spatial localization of elements and metabolites in plants (head: Katarina Vogel-Mikuš) (2019-2022)
- J7-9418 - Ionome of crop plants for safe and quality food production (head: Katarina Vogel-Mikuš) (2018-2022)
- N1-0090 – Imaging of molecules at the cell level (head: Primož Pelicon) (2019-2022)
- L4-9305 - Localy grown buckwheat grain for production of high quality food products (head: Kušar Anita) (2018-2021)
- J7-9398 - Molecular imaging inside the cell (head: Primož Pelicon) (2018-2021)
- J1-8156 - Stable isotopes in the study of the impact of increasing CO2 levels on C and Hg cycling in coastal waters (head: Nives Ogrinc) (2017-2020)
- L4-7552 - Optimisation of barley and buckwheat processing for sustainable use in high quality functional foods (head: Ivan Kreft) (2016-2019)
- J1-4029 Investigation of plant ion homeostasis using elemental imaging by laser ablation - inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (head: Johannes Teun van Elteren) (2011-2014)
- J1-4117 Research of the ionome of selected mycorrhizal plants (head: Marjana Regvar) (2011-2014)
- J7-0352 Mapping in tokamak walls and inside biological cells (head: Primož Pelicon) (2008-2011)
- L1-7001 Cartography of the Sečovlje salt-pans flora and the cultivation of native glasswort species (head: Marijan Nečemer) (2005-2008)
- L1-5146 Tolerance of organisms in stressed ecosystems and potential for remediation (head: Marjana Regvar) (2003-2005)
- L1-0061 Biotechnological use of mycorrhiza (head Marjana Regvar) (2001-2004)
- J1-7391 Physiological studies of mycorrhiza (head Marjana Regvar) (1998-2001)