MAIN RESEARCH TOPICS 

• Basic research in fungal taxonomy, phylogenetics, biogeography, and ecology
• Characterization of fungal and bacterial communities from environmental samples using high-throughput sequencing (eDNA metabarcoding)
• Basic and applied research on truffle cultivation
• Isolation, cultivation, and identification of endophytic fungi
• Protection of fungi and their habitats (conservation biology)

SCIENTIFIC PROJECTS

• 2023–2027 Environmental drivers of fungal community composition in the Mediterranean region of Croatia (FunMed), Croatian Science Foundation
• 2025–2028 Coordinated Optimization for Sustainable Mediterranean Agroforestry with Truffles and High-Value Species (COSMOS), PRIMA HORIZON 2020, PI dr. Armin Mešić
• 2023–2027 Fungi of hydrologically active Dinaric cave ecosystems and their bioactive potential (FunCavBioA), Croatian Science Foundation PI dr. Ivana Kušan

IMPORTANT COLLABORATING INSTITUTIONS 

• Faculty of Agriculture and Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb
• Croatian Forest Research Institute, Jastrebarsko
• Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
• Faculty of Science, University of Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Chengdu, China
• Forest Science and Technology Centre of Catalonia (CTFC), Lleida, Spain
• Agrotecnio Research Institute, Lleida, Spain

COMMERCIAL PROJECTS AND COLLABORATIONS

• Fungal diversity of the Brijuni National Park; Public Institution Brijuni NP
• Fungal diversity of the Učka Nature Park; Public Institution Učka NP
• Development of methods for mycorrhization of forest seedlings, promotion of the green economy and strengthening the stability of forest ecosystems, lead institution Croatian Forest Research Institute (Jastrebarsko)

EQUIPMENT

• Light microscopes Olympus BX51 & Zeiss Axio Imager A2
• Stereomicroscope Nikon SMZ800N (magnification up to 160×)
• PCR devices Bio-Rad T100 & PCRMAx
• Laboratory mixer mill Retsch MM 400
• Equipment for work in microbiological and molecular laboratory

SERVICES

• Molecular identification of fungi using DNA sequencing
• Identification of microbial community composition (fungi, bacteria) in enviromental samples using eDNA metabarcoding methods

TEACHING AND POPULARISATION OF SCIENCE

• MSc course: Bacteriology and mycology in Biotechnology, Master of Science study program of Agroecology – Microbial Biotechnology in Agriculture, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Zagreb, associate lecturers Armin Mešić (PhD) and Ivana Kušan (PhD)
• Popularisation: TV shows, RBI Open Days, establishment of educational fungal exhibitions, organization of popular scientific lectures