Ivana Babić

Ivana Babić is a Senior Research Associate and Assistant Professor at the Ruđer Bošković Institute in Zagreb, Croatia, working within the Division for Marine and Environmental Research, specifically in the Laboratory for Environmental Microbiology and Biotechnology. Her research spans multiple environmental and microbiological domains with a particular focus on the Adriatic Sea ecosystem and soil microbiome dynamics.

Dr. Babić's research interests encompass Microbiology, Environmental Science, Marine Biology, Ecology, Biotechnology, Antibiotic Resistance, and Soil Microbiome studies. Her work demonstrates a consistent trajectory from marine microbial ecology to contemporary concerns about antibiotic resistance in environmental contexts. She has made significant contributions to understanding microbial communities in marine environments, particularly in the Adriatic Sea, as well as the impact of environmental stressors on soil and plant-microbe interactions.

Analysis of her recent publications (2022-2025) reveals a strong focus on antibiotic resistance mechanisms in wastewater systems, plant stress responses under drought conditions, and marine microbial ecology as indicators of ecosystem health. Her research shows a clear evolution from fundamental marine microbial studies to applied research addressing pressing environmental health concerns, particularly the spread of antibiotic resistance through environmental pathways.

Dr. Babić has collaborated extensively with researchers at the Ruđer Bošković Institute and other Croatian institutions including the University of Zagreb's Faculty of Agriculture. Her work demonstrates strong interdisciplinary approaches, bridging microbiology, environmental science, and public health concerns.

Her laboratory work focuses on environmental microbiology with particular emphasis on microbial communities in marine and terrestrial ecosystems, antibiotic resistance monitoring in wastewater, and the impact of environmental stressors on microbial diversity and function. She utilizes advanced molecular techniques including 16S rDNA sequencing, MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry, and molecular epidemiology approaches in her research.