Skip to main content

Dr. Ksenija Zahradka

Senior research associate
Telephone
+385 1 456 0971
Internal phone number
1546
Address
Department of Molecular Biology
Ruđer Bošković Institute
Bijenička 54
10000 Zagreb
Croatia

Education

1991   B.Sc. in Molecular Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, Croatia

1994   M.Sc. in Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, Croatia

1999   Ph.D. in Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, Croatia 

2002   Postdoctoral training in the group of Prof. Miroslav Radman, Faculté de Médecine Necker, Université Paris-Descartes, Paris, France

Research Areas

Specific research interests

Projects

2014-2018 "DNA recombination, repair and maintenance of genome integrity: new pathways", IP-11-2013-2978, Croatian Science Foundation ; associate

2011-2015 "Biology of Robustness",  Mediterranean Institute for Life Sciences  (MedILS), Split, Croatia; associate  

2007-2013 "Molecular mechanisms of DNA recombination and repair" (098-0982913-2862), Croatian Ministry of Science, Education and Sports ; associate

2007-2010 "Life under extreme conditions", Mediterranean Institute for Life Sciences  (MedILS), Split, Croatia; co-leader 

Awards and Achievements

2007  National Annual Science Award, Croatian Parliament 

2006  Excellence in Science Grant, Croatian Ministry of Science and Education 

2002  Necker Institute Postdoctoral Fellowship, Paris, France

Classes

Course “Genetic recombination and DNA repair”, PhD studies in Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb

Course “Mechanisms of DNA damage and repair”, PhD studies in Molecular Biosciences, University of Osijek, University of Dubrovnik and Ruđer Bošković Institute, Zagreb

Publications

Books and book chapters

Book chapters

  • Zahradka, K. & Zahradka, D. (2013) Reckless DNA Degradation. U: Maloy, S. & Hughes, K. (ur.) Brenner's Encyclopedia of Genetics (2nd ed.). San Diego (CA), Academic Press, str. 72-74 doi:10.1016/B978-0-12-374984-0.01272-9.

    doi
  • Zahradka, K. (2007) Bacteriophage DNA extraction. U: Ambriović Ristov, A., Brozović, A., Bruvo Mađarić, B., Ćetković, H., Herak Bosnar, M., Hranilović, D., Katušić Hećimović, S., Meštrović Radan, N., Mihaljević, S., Slade, N. & Vujaklija, D. (ur.) Metode u molekularnoj biologiji. Zagreb, Institut Ruđer Bošković, str. 171-174.

  • Zahradka, D. & Zahradka, K. (2007) Gene transfer by P1 transduction. U: Ambriović Ristov, A., Brozović, A., Bruvo Mađarić, B., Ćetković, H., Herak Bosnar, M., Hranilović, D., Katušić Hećimović, S., Meštrović Radan, N., Mihaljević, S., Slade, N. & Vujaklija, D. (ur.) Metode u molekularnoj biologiji. Zagreb, Institut Ruđer Bošković, str. 919-922.

  • Zahradka, K. (2007) Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). U: Ambriović Ristov, A., Brozović, A., Bruvo Mađarić, B., Ćetković, H., Herak Bosnar, M., Hranilović, D., Katušić Hećimović, S., Meštrović Radan, N., Mihaljević, S., Slade, N. & Vujaklija, D. (ur.) Metode u molekularnoj biologiji. Zagreb, Institut Ruđer Bošković, str. 206-209.

  • Zahradka, K. (2007) Preparation of high-molecular weight genomic DNA for pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). U: Ambriović Ristov, A., Brozović, A., Bruvo Mađarić, B., Ćetković, H., Herak Bosnar, M., Hranilović, D., Katušić Hećimović, S., Meštrović Radan, N., Mihaljević, S., Slade, N. & Vujaklija, D. (ur.) Metode u molekularnoj biologiji. Zagreb, Institut Ruđer Bošković, str. 189-191.

  • Zahradka, K. (2007) Genomic DNA extraction from bacterial cells. U: Ambriović Ristov, A., Brozović, A., Bruvo Mađarić, B., Ćetković, H., Herak Bosnar, M., Hranilović, D., Katušić Hećimović, S., Meštrović Radan, N., Mihaljević, S., Slade, N. & Vujaklija, D. (ur.) Metode u molekularnoj biologiji. Zagreb, Institut Ruđer Bošković, str. 141-143.

Journal articles

Scientific and review papers

Theses

Doctoral dissertation

  • Vlahović, K. (1999) 'Genetic analysis of lambda prophage recombinogenicity in irradiated Escherichia coli', doktorska disertacija, Prirodoslovno-matematički fakultet, Zagreb.

Membership in professional associations / societies

European Environmental Mutagenesis and Genomics Society (EEMGS); 2015-2019 Croatian delegate

Croatian Genetic Society: 2019-2022 Secretary; since 2022 Vice-president

Croatian Microbiological Society

Croatian Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Chair of the Knowledge and Discovery Council, Adris Foundation, Croatia (since 2015)  

Scientific Board member of the Mediterranean Institute for Life Sciences (MedILS), Split, Croatia

Vice-president of the Scientific Council of Biology, Ruđer Bošković Institute, Zagreb, Croatia (2016-2022) 

Mentorships

Supervisor of PhD theses:

Jelena Repar: "Fidelity of DNA repair in Υ-irradiated cells of Deinococcus radiodurans", Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, 2012.

Svjetlana Cvjetan: "Radiation-induced chromosomal rearrangements in Deinococcus radiodurans cells: the role of insertion sequences and RecA protein", Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, 2013.

Supervisor of diploma theses:

Sanela Šimić: "Effects of sbcB15 and ΔsbcB mutations on recombinational repair in recBC mutants of Escherichia coli", Faculty of Pharmacy and Biochemistry, University of Zagreb, 2006.

Marijana Vukić: "Genetic instability in Deinococcus radiodurans recA mutants", Faculty of Pharmacy and Biochemistry, University of Zagreb, 2010.

Lidija Dobša: "DNA repair in stationary phase Deinococcus radiodurans cells", Faculty of Pharmacy and Biochemistry, University of Zagreb, 2010.

Ana Hleb: "Genome rearrangements in Deinococcus radiodurans: the role of RecG protein", Faculty of Agriculture, University of Zagreb, 2018. 

Organisation of scientific meetings:

  • 4th Congress of Croatian Geneticists with international participation, Krk, Croatia, 2018 – Scientific Committee member
  • 3rd Congress of Croatian Geneticists with international participation, Krk, Croatia, 2012 – Scientific Committee member
  • "Power of Microbes in Industry and Environment 2010" - Central European Symposium on Industrial Microbiology and Microbial Ecology, Malinska, Croatia, 2010 - Organizing Committee member
  • 10th International Summer School in Biophysics "Supramolecular Structure and Function", Rovinj, 2009 - Organizing Committee member and Editor of the Book of Abstracts
  • 10th Croatian Biological Congress with international participation, Osijek, Croatia, 2009 – Scientific Committee and Organizing Committee member
  • Scientific Symposium "50 Years of Molecular Biology in Croatia", Zagreb, 2008 - President of the Organizing Committee and Editor of the Book of Abstracts
  • 9th Croatian Biological Congress with international participation, Rovinj, Croatia, 2006 – Scientific Committee member
  • Scientific Symposium "45 Years of Molecular Biology in Croatia and 50 Years of Double Helix", Zagreb, Croatia, 2003 - Organizing Committee member

Invited lectures at international scientific meetings:

  • HDBMB2008 – Congress of the Croatian Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology with International Participation, Osijek, Croatia, 2008; title: "DNA repair in radiation resistant bacterium Deinococcus radiodurans"
  • MedILS Summer School 2008 "Life in Extreme Conditions", Split, Croatia, 2008; title: "Survival of Deinococcus radiodurans in extreme environments"
  • 7th Symposium of the Croatian Radiation Protection Association with International Participation, Opatija, Croatia, 2008; title: "Deinococcus radiodurans - a radiation resistant bacterium"
  • Power of Microbes in Industry and Environment 2007 - Central European Symposium on Industrial Microbiology and Microbial Ecology, Zadar, Croatia, 2007; title: "Survival of Deinococcus radiodurans in extreme conditions: genome restoration by recombination"
  • MedILS Summer School 2007 “Surviving death – an interdisciplinary approach workshop“, Split, Croatia, 2007; title: "DNA repair in Deinococcus radiodurans: surviving extreme life conditions"
  • 9th Croatian Biological Congress with International Participation, Rovinj, Croatia, 2006; title: "DNA repair in Deinococcus radiodurans: from hundreds of fragments to the functional chromosomes"
  • 1st Central European Forum for Microbiology (CEFORM), Keszthely, Hungary, 2005; title: "Deinococcus radiodurans: the most efficient DNA repair involves coupled replication and recombination processes"
  • 3rd Croatian Congress of Microbiology with International Participation, Poreč, Croatia, 2004; title: "Reconstitution of Deinococcus radiodurans genome after gamma irradiation"

Granted patent: 

PCT/EP2006/005826 (10/05/2006) "Process for chromosomal engineering using a novel DNA repair system", M. Radman and K. Zahradka inventors. 

This site uses cookies.. Some of these cookies are essential, while others help us improve your experience by providing insights into how the site is being used. For more detailed information on the cookies we use, please check our Privacy Policy.

Customise settings
  • Necessary cookies enable core functionality. The website cannot function properly without these cookies, and can only be disabled by changing your browser preferences.