Nadica Maltar Strmečki

Nadica Maltar Strmečki serves as Head of the Laboratory for Electron Spin Spectroscopy within the Division of Physical Chemistry at the Ruđer Bošković Institute in Zagreb, Croatia. She maintains significant academic connections through her extensive teaching history at the University of Zagreb's Faculty of Veterinary Medicine where she held positions from 1998 to 2013.

Dr. Maltar Strmečki completed her academic foundation at the University of Zagreb, earning her B.Sc. in Physics in 1997, followed by a Master's degree in Medical Physics in 2002, and her Ph.D. in Natural Science in 2005. Throughout her career, she has demonstrated exceptional interdisciplinary expertise spanning physics, chemistry, and biological applications.

Her primary research focuses on Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR) spectroscopy applications across multiple domains. She has pioneered work in radiation dosimetry for emergency triage situations, biomineralization processes involving calcium phosphate and carbonate systems, and innovative applications of physical methods in food science and preservation. Her laboratory has developed novel approaches for using everyday materials as fortuitous dosimeters in radiation emergencies, significantly advancing practical response capabilities.

Analysis of her recent publication record (2021-2025) reveals a clear evolution toward increasingly interdisciplinary research that bridges fundamental physics with practical applications in medicine, emergency response, and food technology. Her work shows growing integration of EPR spectroscopy with other analytical techniques to address complex problems in biomaterials development and radiation protection.

• NATO SPS project G5684 'Novel biological and physical methods for triage in radiological and nuclear (r/n) emergencies (BioPhyMeTRe)' as leader of Croatian team
• CM1306 - Understanding Movement and Mechanism in Molecular Machines, MC member, WG3 deputy
• CA15126 - Between Atom and Cell: Integrating Molecular Biophysics Approaches for Biology and Healthcare (MOBIEU), MC Substitute
• CA15209 - European Network on NMR Relaxometry, MC member

Through her teaching positions at the University of Zagreb, Dr. Maltar Strmečki has mentored numerous students in physics and biophysics. Her laboratory serves as a hub for EPR spectroscopy research with multiple international collaborations, particularly in radiation emergency response networks. Her work has practical implications for improving triage protocols following radiological incidents and developing better biomaterials for medical applications.

The Laboratory for Electron Spin Spectroscopy under her leadership provides specialized capabilities for studying radiation-induced radicals in diverse materials including biomaterials, food products, and geological samples. The lab plays a critical role in Croatia's contribution to European radiation protection research and has developed innovative methodologies that have been adopted in international emergency response protocols.