Iva Tolic

Iva Tolic is a Full Professor and Senior Research Group Leader at the Ruđer Bošković Institute in Zagreb, Croatia, with tenure since 2019. She is an elected associate member of the Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts (2020) and an EMBO member (2018). Her work bridges molecular biology and biophysics to study mitotic spindle mechanics.

• Education: PhD in Biology (2002, University of Zagreb); Diploma in Molecular Biology (1996, University of Zagreb)

Her research focuses on mitotic spindle dynamics, including microtubule sliding, kinetochore forces, and spindle chirality. She employs optogenetics, theoretical modeling, and advanced microscopy to uncover mechanisms preventing aneuploidy in human cells.

Recent publications highlight her contributions to understanding spindle mechanics, including microtubule-sliding modules and biomechanics of chromosome alignment. She has secured major grants like the ERC Synergy Grant (2020) and ERC Consolidator Grant (2014).

• Scientific awards: ERC Synergy Grant (2020), Ignaz L. Lieben Award (2017), National Science Award of Croatia (2015), etc.

With over 91 peer-reviewed papers and a Google Scholar h-index of 36, Tolic has delivered more than 150 invited talks globally. She leads interdisciplinary projects integrating microscopy protocols for biomedical research and investigates molecular origins of aneuploidies.