Nataša Hulak

Nataša Hulak is an Associate Professor at the University of Zagreb's Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Microbiology. Her academic career spans roles including Assistant Professor, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, and Researcher, with a focus on molecular biology, plant-pathogen interactions, and microbial ecology in agricultural contexts.

• PhD in Advanced Biotechnology (2014), University of Malaga-IHSM-CSIC, Spain
• Master in Advanced Biotechnology (2010), University of Malaga-IHSM-CSIC and International University of Andalucia, Spain
• Bachelor in Biology and Chemistry (2006), University of J.J. Strossmayer, Croatia

Her research interests include:

• Functional and structural diversity of soil microbial communities
• Development of molecular methods for microbial analysis
• Plant-microbe interactions in pathogenic and beneficial contexts
• Food microbiology (e.g., fatty acid profiling in sausages and GIT)
• Environmental ecogenetics and fungal ecology in Mediterranean ecosystems

She has coordinated projects funded by the Croatian Science Foundation and the University of Zagreb, including studies on:

• Microbial diversity conservation in traditional Croatian meat products
• Microbiota dynamics in wild ruminants linking animal welfare and pathogen spread
• Environmental factors influencing fungal communities in Croatian Mediterranean regions

Her teaching roles encompass courses such as:

• Soil Microbiology
• Microbial Ecology
• Mycology in Biotechnology
• Water Microbiology