Natalija Velić

Prof. Natalija Velić is a Full Professor at the Faculty of Food Technology Osijek (PTFOS), University of Osijek, Croatia. With over 55 publications and 600 citations, her research spans biotechnology, food science, and environmental engineering. She specializes in sustainable approaches to waste valorization and circular economy applications in food technology and water treatment.

Dr. Velić's research interests focus on biotechnological applications for sustainable development, particularly in the areas of:

• Biosorption and water treatment using agricultural waste materials
• Enzyme immobilization and biocatalysis for food applications
• Waste valorization and circular economy approaches in food industry
• Fruit wine production and quality assessment
• Development of sustainable processes for environmental protection

Her recent publications demonstrate a strong trend toward developing sustainable solutions for environmental challenges, particularly through the conversion of agricultural and food industry by-products into valuable resources. Her work on biosorbents derived from buckwheat hulls, eggshells, and other waste materials for water purification represents cutting-edge research in circular economy applications. Additionally, her studies on fruit wine production, particularly blackberry wines, bridge traditional food production with modern biotechnology.

Dr. Velić has supervised doctoral students including Mario Nosić and Esma Karahmet Farhat, whose thesis defenses are scheduled for 2025. Her research group appears to collaborate extensively with colleagues at the University of Osijek and international partners, focusing on practical applications of biotechnology for environmental sustainability and food industry innovation.