Monday, 31 July 2023 UP FAMNIT students successfully conducted the international student conference SymBioSE 2023
On Saturday, 29 July 2023, the international student biology conference SymBioSE 2023 concluded at UP FAMNIT, which was successfully brought to Slovenia for the first time in 27 years by (former) UP FAMNIT students.
“Two years ago, together with my (now former) classmates from the Faculty, we applied to host SymBioSE, which back then seemed like a good opportunity for further bonding while working on a joint project. When we were voted by the participants, we were truly thrilled and proud to bring SymBioSE to Slovenia for the first time in 27 years. The symposium was a great success, both from the organizational aspect and also from the satisfaction of the participants. The final result is beyond our expectations. We are genuinely grateful for anyone who joined the organization team, who worked very hard all week to reach our common goal. They were always available, always smiling, and had good spirits, despite the lack of sleep. Without such a dedicated team, the event simply couldn't have been successful as it was,” summed up the experiemce presidents of SymBioSE 2023,Taja Pajmon Rak and Luca Privileggio,
The International Conference was opened on 23 July 2023 by Assoc. Prof. Dr Ademir Hujdurović, the Dean of UP FAMNIT, and Assoc. Prof. Dr Vladimir Ivović from the Department of Biodiversity at UP FAMNIT, who welcomed the participants and presented the activities of the Faculty and the Department.
SymBioSE: made for students by students
The conference brought together 75 participants from 24 different countries and 26 different faculties and institutions. Participants gave 36 oral presentations, 13 posters and 6 workshops, where organisers from Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia, Macedonia and Russia prepared 2 guest lectures on biology.
Besides the rich programme, the event was highlighted by the treasure hunt, where young enthusiasts learn about Slovenia and its characteristics. For a comprehensive experience, attendees explored the wonders of the Triglav National Park, where unforgettable adventure awaited them, alongside the natural wonders of the area.
In addition, they went to the Innorenew Coe in Izola and the Pira aquarium, concluding the week full of new knowledge and moments with a concert.
We would like to special thank all the companies and organizations that expressed interest in supporting the event: Municipality of Koper, Intesa Sanpaolo, Luka Koper d.d., Dolina Soče, Tourist Association Portorož, Triglav Insurance, Delamaris, DŠD Koper, Borzen - Sustainable Energy, Hrastnik 1860 and Mikropol. The conference was organised under the auspices of UP FAMNIT, the Marezige Youth Association and the Association of Conservation Biologists - BIODIVA, and also supported by the UP FAMNIT and UP Student Council.
What is SymBioSE?
The international conference brings together future scientists in the entire field of biology, and fosters friendship and collaboration.
SymBioSE - Symposium of Biology Students in Europe - was founded in 1996 by members of the German student association. The uniqueness of the conference lies in its non-hierarchical structure, which offers an excellent opportunity for connecting students from all over Europe. Through presentations and excursions, they broaden their horizons, exchange information on current topics, and get new friendships.
Friday, 28 July 2023 Artificial intelligence brought together more than 600 participants from Europe, North and Latin America, and Asia
The first European Summer School of Artificial Intelligence successfully ends today.
As part of the one-week ESSAI & ACAI summer school, where we hosted over 600 participants from Europe, North and Latin America and Asia, a wide range of courses, workshops and lectures took place, which enabled the participants to spread knowledge, gain experience and establish useful connections in the rapidly developing field of artificial intelligence.
»Recent applications of artificial intelligence available to the general public have sparked an important public debate about the far-reaching implications of this technology. In the EU, we are taking the role of a global leader in regulating the field of artificial intelligence, and we can be proud of this, because we must protect our values and way of life and not be dependent on large companies driven by specific goals and private interests. We must not be afraid of this responsibility,« emphasized the President of the Republic of Slovenia, Nataša Pirc Musar, in her address at the opening of the event. Just like at the European Girls' Mathematical Olympiad (EGMO), which UP co-organized in April this year, the president also highlighted the importance of encouraging girls to enroll in the so-called STEM fields (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics).
The University of Primorska is also co-organising the summer school together with the Slovenian Artificial Intelligence Society (SLAIS), the University of Ljubljana and the Jožef Stefan Institute.
Dr. Vida Groznik from the Department of Information Sciences and Technologies of UP FAMNIT and the Artificial Intelligence Laboratory at UL FRI chaired the local organizing committee. »We are glad that such a large number of participants applied for the summer school. We have over 630 participants, about 50 of whom are following us online. We have 60 lecturers who will give 36 lectures held in seven parallel sections. All in all, we have participants from 42 countries, so they came to Ljubljana from all over the world, which makes us very happy,« she summed up at the start of the week.
Strengthening the development role of UP in the field of artificial intelligence
UP has been actively involved in research about artificial intelligence technologies for many years and strives for its further development.
Thus, as part of the GDI UP (Green, Digital & Inclusive University of Primorska) project, we strive to improve the digital skills of teachers and students in the context of digital transformation. As part of one of the three pilot programs of GDI UP, we are also starting a pilot implementation of the Master's study program Data Science in the 2023/24 academic year. Candidates for enrollment in the first year of the study programme Data Science in English in the academic year 2023/2024 can also apply for the advertised position J037003 Technical Worker VII/1, which is published on the Employment service of Slovenia website. Students selected for the advertised position within the pilot project will be directly involved in research and development projects at the University of Primorska through an employment contract. More details are available here.
In recent months, UP FM has been awarded the ThinkXR project, which will allow augmented reality technology to enter Slovenian schools and companies. Within this project, which aims to establish a curriculum and new teaching modules in the field of augmented and virtual reality, we have acquired several pieces of high-quality equipment that will be used for demonstration purposes and will also be available for the students' own innovative work.
Three laboratories operate within our HICUP Lab (“Humans Interacting with Computers” Lab at University of Primorska): Cognition, perception and behaviour analysis lab, Cognition, perception and behaviour analysis lab and Maker Studio. With the results of new research, a young and ambitious group of UP researchers is successfully striving towards the goal of making the digital world more suitable for humans.
At UP FAMNIT, we run the Computer Science study programme at Undergraduate, Master’s and Doctoral level, and students already have many opportunities to acquire practical knowledge in the field of artificial intelligence during their studies. They often participate in research and events organized by our Department of Information Sciences and Technologies, thus, some students also attended the ESSAI & ACAI summer school. The Google Developers Club of the University of Primorska (GDSC Primorska) has also been very active at UP for the last two years, enabling students to upgrade their knowledge and skills in the field of modern technology.
Our university is also cooperating with the Ministry of Digital Transformation in the preparation of the future Slovenian center for artificial intelligence, with the aim of connecting in the field of artificial intelligence in Slovenia.
UP group at the first European Summer School of Artificial Intelligence
Tuesday, 25 July 2023 Launch of the FIRST European Summer School on Artificial Intelligence ESSAI & ACAI
Artificial intelligence has undergone radical changes in a very short period, which affects different areas of our lives. Some perceive this as a great opportunity, while others as a threat to humanity. Learning about the unknown is therefore crucial in adapting, coping with fear, and discovering the possibilities which AI brings to people.
Source: STA
The Faculty of Computer and Information Science of the University of Ljubljana launched the 1st European Summer School on Artificial Intelligence, of which the University of Primorska is co-organised. The Summer School will inaugurate the President of the Republic of Slovenia, Dr. Nataša Pirc Musar, who is also attending some of the courses. At the opening ceremony the Rector of the University of Primorska, Prof. Dr. Klavdija Kutnar and the Chair of the Local Organising Committee assist. prof. dr. Vida Groznik from the Department of Information Sciences and Technologies, UP FAMNIT will greet the paricipants.
Source: STA
Until 28 July, AI enthusiasts will have the perfect opportunity to join 36 different courses on artificial intelligence. There will be experts from world-renowned universities (e. g. Cambridge, Oxford, Stanford, Yale, KU Leuven, Sapienza, etc. ), research institutes (e. g. CNRS) and companies (e. g. Google DeepMind, Microsoft Research, VMware).
The courses will be based on areas such as planning and investigating, machine learning automatization, large language models (e. g. ChatGPT), incentive learning, impartiality, fairness and privacy in AI, etc.
The ACAI section “AI for Science” will be dedicated to the use of artificial intelligence to discover new knowledge in the different fields of science, e. g. biology and genetics, earth and life sciences, knowledge formalization, automatization of scientific research, quantum machine learning, etc.
Introductory lectures will be given by Prof. Dr. Jure Leskovec from the University of Stanford.
Prof. Dr. Jure Leskovec from the University of Stanford
Source: ŠOU
On Tuesday 25 July, at 6 pm, a roundtable on Artificial Intelligence for Society will took place, where five renowned experts in various fields will participate alongside the President of the Republic of Slovenia. On Thursday, 27 July, at 6 pm, a roundtable Artificial Intelligence for Science will take place, where eminent experts will discuss the field of AI and its specific challenges.
ESSAI & ACAI 2023 is hosted by SLAIS - the Slovenian Society for Artificial Intelligence. The organizers of the summer school are the University of Primorska (UP), the University of Ljubljana (UL) and the Jožef Stefan Institute (IJS).The Chair of the Local Organising Committee is assist. prof. dr. Vida Groznik from the Department of Information Sciences and Technologies, UP FAMNIT and the Vice-Chair of the Local Organising Committee is Dr. Alexander Sadikov, President of SLAIS.
More about the programme > HERE
Tuesday, 25 July 2023 ESSAI & ACAI-2023 SUMMER SCHOOL BRINGS TOGETHER EXPERTS IN ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
On Monday, 24 July 2023, the new and first European Summer School on Artificial Intelligence took place at the Faculty of Computer and Information science of the University of Ljubljana, bringing together top experts from a number of world-renowned universities. Among the speakers at the opening was prof. dr. Klavdija Kutnar, Rector of the University of Primorska. The event was honoured with the honorary patronage of the President of the Republic of Slovenia, Nataša Pirc Musar.
The President of the Republic of Slovenia, Nataša Pirc Musar
Photo: STA/Bor Slana
Until 28 July, the ESSAI & ACAI 2023 Summer School will be a central space for topical discussions and exchange of views among students, young researchers in the field of artificial intelligence. There will be 24 one-week courses in different areas of AI and its sub-disciplines.
Prof. dr. Klavdija Kutnar, Rector of the University of Primorska
Photo: STA/Bor Slana
ESSAI and ACAI are organised as a single event with 6 parallel tracks. ACAI-2023 will bring together 10 sessions on AI and science, while ESSAI-2023, together with the third TAILOR Summer School, will offer 24 courses on all the topics of AI selected by an International Programme Committee. The main organising committee is chaired by assist. prof. dr. Vida Groznik, an employee of UP FAMNIT.
Assist. prof. dr. Vida Groznik from the Department of Information Sciences and Technologies, UP FAMNIT
Photo: STA/Bor Slana
The lectures will be delivered by top researchers from a number of world-renowned Universities such as Stanford (USA), University of Washington (USA), Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (Australia) and other renowned EU Universities. To ensure that the breadth of skills is truly inclusive, a number of AI companies will be present, one of which is DeepMind.
The University of Primorska is also co-organising the summer school together with the Slovenian Artificial Intelligence Society (SLAIS), a member of EurAI, the University of Ljubljana and the Jožef Stefan Institute.
Photo: STA/Bor Slana
Monday, 24 July 2023 PILOT IMPLEMENTATION OF THE MASTER STUDY PROGRAMME DATA SCIENCE
INNOVATIVE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE MASTER STUDY PROGRAMME DATA SCIENCE AT UP FAMNIT
In the academic year 2023/2024, the University of Primorska is announcing the innovative implementation of the Master study programme - Data Science in English at the UP Faculty of Mathematics, Natural Sciences and Information Technologies (UP FAMNIT) as part of the "Green University of Primorska"; project, which is one of the three pilot projects of the investment project "Green, Digital & Inclusive University of Primorska (GDI UP)". It is co-financed by the Republic of Slovenia, the Ministry of Education, Science and Sport, and the European Union - NextGenerationEU. The project is implemented in accordance with the plan within the development area Smart, sustainable and inclusive growth, component Strengthening of competences, especially digital and those required by new professions and the green transition (C3 K5), for investment measure F. Implementation of pilot projects, the results of which, will be the basis for the preparation of the starting points for the reform of higher education for a green and resilient transition to Society 5.0: the project - Pilot projects for the renovation of higher education for a green and resilient transition.
Candidates for enrollment in the first year of the study programme Data Science in English in the academic year 2023/2024 can also apply for the advertised position J037003 Technical Worker VII/1, which is published on the Employment service of Slovenia website, before the application deadline. The application, together with the CV need to be sent to the e-mail address: referat@famnit.upr.si. Candidates for employment will be selected in accordance with the Employment Guidelines at the University of Primorska. More below.
Students selected for the advertised position within the pilot project will be directly involved in research and development projects at the University of Primorska through an employment contract. Their primary task within the framework of employment will be to study (similarly to the primary work task of young researchers), but their studies will be different compared to the ones of students of the same study programme in the Slovenian language in the form of contact hours, which are defined in the implementation curriculum.
Students will complete practical training in the second year of study in the university's research laboratories. Classic contact hours, such as lectures, seminar exercises, laboratory exercises, etc. in some courses, will be partially replaced by other forms of study, in the framework of which students, as laboratory assistants or technical colleagues will actively participate in the work on research and development projects and the professional work of the university information service. During the course of their studies, students will upgrade the acquired theoretical knowledge and acquire important competencies of practical application in the business environment, as well as competencies of critical judgment and responsibility towards work and colleagues. They will also acquire practical knowledge in the management of mass data through work on concrete tasks in practice, and in this way develop the ability to solve concrete problems related to data science in business processes.
Due to the close cooperation with the university on research and development projects, graduates employed at the UP will during their studies obtain references for obtaining the title of development associate in salary group H and the possibility of employment as developers both within the University of Primorska and at other Slovenian and foreign research institutions.
Graduates of the master study programme Data Science can be employed as data science experts in research institutions, IT companies, banks, insurance companies, transport organizations and other companies that collect large amounts of data. In addition to the title of data scientist, other job titles are data architect, data manager, data analyst, business analyst, business intelligence manager, etc.
The UP invites those who are looking to apply for the position of technical associate at UP and will be enrolled in the first year of English version of the master study programme Data Science UP FAMNIT in the academic year 2023/2024, to read more about the job offer at the link below and submit their application!
- Vacancy announcement at Employment service of Slovenia: (application until August 25, 2023)
- Vacancy announcement - expanded description on the UP website!
- The call for enrollment in the master study programme Data Science.
Non-Slovene speaking candidates will be included in the Slovenian language course organized by the UP during the first year due to their involvement in the university and wider social environment.
In case of more applications than the advertised positions, job candidates will be selected according to the conditions for enrollment in the study programme, which are specified in theCall for enrollment in the master study programme Data Science for the year 2023/24 in the case of restrictions on enrollment, namely the candidates will be selected according to the average grade of the undergraduate studies.
The employment relationship will be concluded for a fixed period from October 1, 2023 to September 30, 2024 for full-time work, 40 hours per week, or for foreign nationals from obtaining a work permit until September 30, 2024, also for full-time work, 40 hours per week.
The project is co-financed by the Republic of Slovenia, the Ministry of Education, Science and Sport and the European Union – NextGenerationEU. The project is implemented in accordance with the Recovery and Resilience Plan (RRP) under the development area Smart, Sustainable and Inclusive Growth, component Strengthening competencies, in particular digital competencies and those required by the new professions and the green transition (C3 K5), for the investment measure Investment F. Implementation of pilot projects, the results of which will serve as a basis for the preparation of a roadmap for the reform of higher education for a green and resilient transition to a Society 5.0: project Pilot Projects for the Reform of Higher Education for a Green and Resilient Transition.
Monday, 24 July 2023 Presentation of the topic of the doctoral dissertation - Niki Hrovatin
We invite you to the presentation of the topic of the doctoral dissertation Enabling Decentralized Privacy Preserving Data Processing in Sensor Networks of the student Niki Hrovatin, enrolled in the doctoral study programme Computer Science.
The presentation will take place on Monday, 24 July 2023 at 15.00 via Zoom on link:
https://upr-si.zoom.us/j/5389732484?pwd=bUxySzZhRkFmUjMrekozdFE5NTBwUT09
Monday, 24 July 2023 UP FAMNIT students successfully opened the international conference SymBioSE 2023
Several students from the Conservation Biology program at UP FAMNIT have participated in the SymBioSE conferences before. However, since it had not been organized in Slovenia, now (former) UP FAMNIT students successfully brought the conference to Koper for the first time in 27 years.
Yesterday, on July 23, 2023, the Assoc. Prof. Dr Ademir Hujdurović, the Dean of UP FAMNIT, and Assoc. Prof. Dr Vladimir Ivović from the Department of Biodiversity at UP FAMNIT welcomed the participants of the international conference SymBioSE 2023. Throughout the event, the organizers have prepared a rich daily program, with not only engaging content from the field but also activities which encourage social interactions, knowledge exchange, and unforgettable memories.
The international student conference will last until Saturday, July 29 2023.
What is SymBioSE ?
SymBioSE is a Symposium of Biology Students in Europe. It was founded in 1996 by members of a German student association. The main purpose is to broaden the horizons of the participating students by lectures and excursions, to share information about current university matters and to connect people by discussions and cultural exchange.
Friday, 21 July 2023 Appointment of Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ademir Hujdurović as Dean of UP FAMNIT
We would like to inform you that Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ademir Hujdurović has been appointed as the Dean of UP FAMNIT for the next four year term by the Rector of the UP, Prof. Dr. Klavdija Kutnar, based on the elections held and the proposal of the Senate of UP FAMNIT. His four year term of office will begin on 23 November 2023 and end on 22 November 2027.
You can find more information on the elections and the results thereof here.
Friday, 21 July 2023 Notice of Closure of UP UK from July 24, 2023, to August 13, 2023
We are informing you that the University of Primorska Library will be closed for users during the collective vacation from July 24, 2023, to August 13, 2023. Both units will reopen on Monday, August 14. Late fees will not accrue during the time the library is closed for users.
Thursday, 20 July 2023 Geckos AMONG US: "Have you spotted a gecko?"
In the last two decades, geckos have also started to appear in our places. They were first observed in anthropogenic environments, especially in larger port cities such as neighboring Trieste, where geckos have become common representatives of the urban fauna. In the last few years, they have also been observed around Koper, and information about their presence also comes from other coastal areas. We expect to see three species of geckos in Slovenia – Tarentola mauretanica and Hemidactylus turcicus have been seen several times, and the Mediodactylus kotschyi, which is known to have already inhabited some European cities, is also likely to appear.
Hemidactylus turcicus
Source: Department of Biodiversity UP FAMNIT
In order to better understand the spread of geckos, we conducted several field visits to potential locations, where we spotted geckos several times. The presence of geckos in our country is therefore confirmed with certainty, but we would need the help of the general public to monitor their appearance. Since geckos most often spread with the help of humans, we can expect them near human habitations. We expect the most data from Slovenian Istria, where geckos spend the winter more easily, but accidental sightings are not rare even in the interior of Slovenia.
Tarentola mauretanica
Source: Department of Biodiversity UP FAMNIT
About geckos
Geckos are a group of lizards that are widespread mainly in warmer places - in Europe they are indigenous to the Mediterranean. Larger species can reach up to 15 centimeters in length, and the species found here rarely exceed 10 centimeters. They can be distinguished from other lizards by the different coloration and shape of the scales, the upright pupil, which indicates a predominantly nocturnal lifestyle, and the absence of the eyelid, which prevents the animal from closing its eyes. In addition, they have an extremely effective adaptation for climbing - the tips of the toe pads are equipped with specially designed scales called lamella. They enable geckos climbing on relatively smooth, vertical surfaces. So we often see them high up on walls, especially where they have the possibility of quick retreat or hiding in the immediate vicinity - cracks, window sills, gutters. It is also interesting that they are one of the few reptiles that make sound.
They are not dangerous for humans and are even useful, as they feed on insects and other invertebrates. If you see them near your home, there is no reason to be afraid. They are mainly active at night, when they are easiest to observe when they hunt for prey near lamps. They also rarely enter homes.
We can therefore expect three types of geckos in the area of Slovenia: Tarentola mauretanica, Hemidactylus turcicus and Mediodactylus kotschyi.
Tarentola mauretanica is the largest European gecko and can reach a size of up to 15 cm, but they are mostly up to 10 cm in size. It can be recognized by its relatively stocky body and wider toe pads.
Hemidactylus turcicus is slightly smaller, at first glance slimmer and more colorful than the Tarentola mauretanica.
In our country, we could also potentially meet the Mediodactylus kotschyi, the smallest of the three species, which can be easily distinguished from the first two by its "bare toes", which do not have characteristic pads with lamella.
Mediodactylus kotschyi
Source: Department of Biodiversity UP FAMNIT
How can you help?
Considering the presence in our surroundings and the predicted climate changes, we can expect that geckos will become more numerous in the future. Since we are probably in the period of strengthening of gecko populations, the Department of Biodiversity UP FAMNIT is addressing you to help with the survey of the spread of geckos. They ask you to report the locations where you have seen geckos in Slovenia. It would be very helpful to have pictures or videos of the animals, based on which the animals could be unequivocally identified. Your information about geckos is collected at gekoni@famnit.upr.si.
Ajda Auersperger, Peter Glasnović and Martina Luznik from the Department of Biodiversity UP FAMNIT
Thursday, 20 July 2023 Assistant young researcher (m/f)
The University of Nova Gorica is offering position of assistant young researcher.
Deadline for applications: 19. 8. 2023
We welcome candidates for assistant young researcher (doctoral candidate) position at the student-friendly and research-oriented University of Nova Gorica. Successful candidate will join research activities in the dynamic research environment supported by state-of-the-art infrastructure through involvement in international research collaborations. Successful candidate will enroll in the postgraduate study program Mathematical Sciences at the University of Primorska.
The position pertain to the following PhD adviser: 1. mentor: prof. dr. Irina Elena Cristea: 1 position
Research Topic: Algebra
The chosen candidate will be enrolled in the doctoral study programme Mathematical Sciences at University of Primorska, Koper, Slovenia and employed as an assistant in the Centre for systems and information technologies and applied mathematics, at the University of Nova Gorica , conducting research on hypercompositional algebra. This new branch of discrete mathematics represents both an independent research line and a tool of investigation in other fields like: Geometry, Graphs and Hypergraphs, Topology, Cryptography, Code Theory, Automata Theory, Probability, Theory of Fuzzy Sets, etc. The candidate will focuss on new combinatorial aspects of hypergroups related with arithmetic functions, graphs, fuzzy sets, aiming also to analyze the similarites and diferences with similar topics in the classical algebra. The theoretical results will be motivated by their future applicability in various complex engineering and environmental systems.
Candidates for this position are required to meet the conditions for young researcher as stated in the Rules on selection and funding of young researchers at University of Nova Gorica.
Conditions for the selection of a young researcher candidate:
- Has not yet completed a doctorate in science or obtained the title of doctor of science;
- Has not yet been employed as a young researcher;
- No more than four years have elapsed since the year of completion of their second cycle programme of study or the programme of study leading to eligibility for admission to the doctoral programme. In the event of absence due to parental care after the completion of the study programme, with which they have enrolled/will enrol in doctoral studies, this period shall be extended for the duration of the justified absence. In the case of justified absence determined in the health insurance regulations, after the completion of the study programme, with which they have enrolled/will enrol in doctoral studies, this period shall be extended only in the case of continuous absence of more than six months (absence of more than six months means at least six months and one day), and only for the duration of the justified absence.
Prior to the beginning of the funding of the training, the young researcher shall obtain the habilitation title assistant. Conditions for obtain the habilitation title assistant are set out in the Article 4 of Regulations concerning conditions and appointment procedures for research and teaching positions at University of Nova Gorica.
Criteria for the evaluation and selection of young researcher candidates:
- Assessment of the interview with the candidate (up to 5 points); Published papers (up to 3 points);
- Participation in research work (up to 3 points);
- Awards or recognitions received (up to 1 point);
- The average grade of the second cycle study programme or the study programme which qualifies the candidate for admission to the doctoral programme (1 point for an average grade between 9 and 10 inclusive and 0.5 point for an average grade between 8 and 8.99
inclusive).
The selected young researcher not having completed his second cycle study when applying to the tender must complete his study by 15 September at the latest.
University of Nova Gorica shall conclude employment contract with the selected young researcher candidate.
Young researchers' training shall be funded until they have obtained a PhD or for a maximum of three years.
The provisions of the Act on Scientific Research and Innovation Activities (UL. RS., 186/2021), the Employment Relations Act ZDR-1, the Rules on the Selection and Founding of Young Researchers and Regulations concerning conditions and appointment procedures for research and teaching positions at the University of Nova Gorica shall be applied in the selection process of young researchers.
The following must be attached to the application:
- a short motivational letter;
- CV;
- a copy of your degree certificate, list of passed exams, grade point average and other relevant documents.
Please send your application, along with the required attachments which evidence the fulfillment of the formal requirements by e-mail to careers@ung.si no later than 19 August 2023.
The application should be sent as a single PDF e-mail attachment.
Attachments
Contact
Tea Stibilj Nemec
phone: + 365 5 6205 822
e-mail: careers@ung.si
Nina Cotič
phone: +365 5 6205 817
e-mail : careers@ung.si
Friday, 14 July 2023 Dr. Blas Fernández is the laureate of the International Stefan Banach Prize – edition 2023
Young doctors of mathematics from Albania, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Kosovo, Latvia, Lithuania, North Macedonia, Moldavia, Montenegro, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia and Ukraine took part in this year's competition for the International Stefan Banach Prize. Dr. Blas Fernández from the Department od Mathematics at UP FAMNIT is the laureate!
Promoting mathematics and providing financial supports to the most talented young researches from Central and Eastern Europe is the mail goal of the International Stefan Banach Prize competition for a doctoral dissertation in the mathematical sciences, organized by the Polish Mathematical Society (Polskie Towarzystwo Matematyczne–PTM).
He defended his doctoral thesis entitled »On certain problems related to Terwilliger algebras and distance-balanced graphs« under the mentorship of Prof. Štefko Miklavič and co-mentorship of Assoc. Prof. Ademir Hujdurović on 1 February 2023. The contribution by Dr. Fernández relies on an interpretation of certain properties of Terwilliger algebras in terms of combinatorial properties, and these results are considered very original by Prof. Terwilliger himself. Full disertation is available here.
»I am proud and happy to have received international recognition from fellow mathematicians for my research on Terwilliger algebras and distance-balanced graphs that I did during my PhD studies under the guidance of Štefko Miklavič and Ademir Hujdurović. I must express my heartfelt gratitude to the professors and colleagues from UP FAMNIT who have supported me throughout these years. Without their unwavering support, this achievement would not have been possible,« said Dr. Fernández.
More about the prize is available here.
We congratulate Dr. Fernández and wish him many more successes!
dr. Blas Fernández
prof. Štefko Miklavič, dr. Blas Fernández and izr. prof. Ademir Hujdurović (left to right)
Wednesday, 12 July 2023 Prof. dr. Elena Bužan appointed as a new member of the Expert Council for Animal Protection
The Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Food, Irena Šinko, appointed the following members to the Expert Council for Animal Protection (Strokovni svet za zaščito živali – SSZŽ):
- Severina Iskrač, Society for Animal Protection Maribor,
- prof. dr. Alenka Dovč, University of Ljubljana, Veterinary Faculty,
- assoc. prof. dr. Ožbalt Podpečan, University of Ljubljana, Veterinary Faculty,
- Asst. dr. Tina Klenovšek, University of Maribor, Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics,
- dr. Janko Skok, University of Maribor, Faculty of Agriculture and Life Sciences,
- assoc. prof. dr. Manja Zupan Šemrov, Biotechnical Faculty,
- prof. dr. Elena Bužan, University of Primorska, Department of Biodiversity.
The Expert Council for Animal Protection is an advisory body to the Minister in the field of animal protection and welfare. The tasks of SSZŽ are to monitor the state and scientific findings in the field of animal protection and to propose measures and activities, to provide opinions and proposals in the preparation of regulations on animal protection, as well as opinions on the appropriateness of placing an animal species on the list of permitted animal species at the request of the competent authority. In addition, SSZŽ proposes criteria for issuing permits for experiments on animals, gives opinions and proposals in other matters for which it is requested by state authorities, and performs other advisory tasks in the field of animal protection.
Membership in SSZŽ, which consists of recognized experts in the fields of veterinary medicine, medicine, pharmacy, biology and zootechnics, as well as active representatives of non-governmental organizations working in the field of animal protection, lasts for 4 years from the date of issue of the decision, with the possibility of re-appointment.
The SSZŽ will organize the first session of the new composition in September.
Wednesday, 12 July 2023 Second extension of the Call for Young Researchers at UP in 2023
The University of Primorska has again extended the deadline for applications to the Call for Young Researchers who will be trained over the next four years in a research and study programme.
Assoc. Prof. Jakub Sandak – research field Forestry, Wood and Paper Engineering; Materials, research programme P1-0404 Matematično modeliranje in enkripcija: od teoretičnih konceptov do vsakodnevnih aplikacij, UP Andrej Marušič Institute (UP IAM).
Candidates must have completed a second-level degree programme within the last four years and have an average grade in all final assessments and examinations, including the Master's thesis, of at least 8.
Only one candidate can be selected per mentor. The candidate will be offered a full-time contract for up to four years. If there are several applicants, they will be ranked according to their overall score. The candidate with the highest score will be selected. In the event of two candidates scoring the same number of points, preference will be given to the candidate from the under-represented gender in the specific research field, if the research field is characterised by a gender imbalance of researchers at UP (more than 60 %/40 % in favour of/to the detriment of one gender).
Applicants should submit their applications and supporting documents in electronic format (scanned PDF documents) to the following e-mail address: razpis.mr@upr.si.
The submission deadline is extended to August 21, 2023.
Tuesday, 11 July 2023 UP FAMNIT is part of the first European Summer School on Artificial Intelligence ESSAI & ACAI
The first European Summer School on AI is approaching, where well-known researchers from world-renowned universities will gather at the Faculty of Computer and Information Science, University of Ljubljana, and discuss current issues in the field of artificial intelligence.
The University of Primorska, Faculty of Mathematics, Natural Sciences and Information Technology (UP FAMNIT), together with the University of Ljubljana and the "Jožef Stefan '' Institute, is also being part of this exciting event and contributing to the organisation and a rich lineup of experts who come from various universities such as Stanford, Yale, Washington, Oxford, Cambridge, KU Leuven, TU Darmstadt, Sapienza University of Rome, French CNRS, and companies Google DeepMind, Microsoft, and VMware Research.
Source: University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Computer and Information Science
The opening will be initiated with a warm welcome by Nataša Pirc Musar, the President of the Republic of Slovenia, who will greet all participants of the summer school.
Throughout the five-day event 34 different courses on artificial intelligence will be offered in seven parallel sections with three different levels of difficulty (from introductory to advanced).
We are kindly inviting all AI enthusiasts interested in the latest developments to join the Summer School, which will take place from 24 to 28 July 2023 at the Faculty of Computer and Information Science, University of Ljubljana.
You can apply at: https://essai.si/registrations/ (registration for online attendees are now open)!
More about summer school: essai.si
European summer school on Artificial Intelligence (ESSAI) is a new and first summer school, held under the auspices of the European Association for AI (EurAI). The core goal of the event is to become the central meeting place for students and young researchers in Artificial Intelligence to discuss current research and share knowledge. Furthermore, the format of the ESSAI is comparable to the European Summer School on Logic, Language and Information (ESSLLI), which has been running since 1989.
Friday, 7 July 2023 On Monday RIN seminar prof. dr. Daniel le Roux from the University Stellenbosch in South Africa
On Monday, June 19th, as part of the Monday RIN seminar, a lecture by visiting professor Daniel Le Roux from Stellenbosch University, South Africa was given. The professor hosted by Assoc. Prof. Matjaž Kljun from the Department of Information Sciences and Technologies UP FAMNIT within the Erasmus+ programme until 23 June.
Dr. Daniel le Roux is head of the Cognition and Technology Research Group at Stellenbosch University in South Africa. He studies various dimensions of the interaction between humans and technology with emphasis on the cognitive and behavioural processes by which humans, both individually and collectively, adopt and adapt to technologies, and how this impacts their performance and well-being.
Within the Monday RIN seminar titled: "Digital Distraction, Online Vigilance and the Goldfish Hypothesis: Making Sense of the Impacts of Technology on Attention" the lecturer emphasized a media ecology, which is characterized by the omnipresence of mobile computing devices that offer a rapidly expanding range of gratifying online experiences. In addition, some of the studies also suggests that our behaviour with technology may lead to the shortening of our attention spans, which was also through empirical evidence presented by professors where he exposed both the short and long-term effects of digital technology use on cognitive control.
Thursday, 6 July 2023 UP in cooperation with the Pennsylvania State University
The US Embassy in Ljubljana supported the project "Building Capacity for Sustainable Virtual Exchange Partnerships: The Pennsylvania State University and The University of Primorska".
Together with the Pennsylvania State University, we will implement the course Data Engineering and Distributed Information Systems in an online format.
Pennsylvania State University is ranked 101 - 150 in the ARWU (Academic Ranking of World Universities).
We look forward to further successful cooperation.
Photo: Sarah Lynn DeCarlo | Onward State
Wednesday, 5 July 2023 DR. DEAN LIPOVAC RECEIVED THE GEORGE MARRA AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN WRITING
Dr. Dean Lipovac, the first PhD student to complete the studies at the Renewable Materials for Healthy Built Environments doctoral program at UP FAMNIT, received the George Marra Award for Excellence in Writing at the 66th SWST International Convention, held 25-30 June 2023 in Asheville, North Carolina, USA.
He received the award that recognizes excellence in writing and research for the published article “Perception and evaluation of (modified) wood by older adults from Slovenia and Norway.”
The committee that consist of at least three members, judged all papers based on a previously stated criteria, among which also the clarity and completeness of the introductory section, conclusion that speaks to objective, clarity of exposition so that it is understandable to those not familiar with the field, research quality, complexity of the problem, originality and the impact on present knowledge of the subject.
“I am honoured to receive this award as it recognizes our research, and our endeavour for disseminating the results with the broader audience,” said Dr. Dean Lipovac.
Congratulations!
Monday, 3 July 2023 The Department of Biodiversity visited prof. dr. Marina Nonić from the University of Belgrad
Between June 18th and June 30th Prof. dr. Elena Bužan from the Department of Biodiversity hosted visiting professor Dr. Marina Nonić, from the University of Belgrade - Faculty of Forestry, within the "Central European Exchange Program for University Studies" (CEEPUS). During her visit, she delivered several good practices to professors, researchers, and students.
“I worked in modern and fully equipped laboratories and discussed future collaboration and potential project proposals. The host and her team presented me with their results and current activities, which I found very interesting and useful. My teaching activities were related to the conservation of forest genetic resources in protected areas of Serbia, where the methodology and some of the results of our team from the Faculty of Forestry were presented. The main focus was on National Park “Kopaonik”, as an example of good practice, as well as other protected areas. I would like to share various achievements related to my stay at UP FAMNIT with my students and colleagues at the University of Belgrade - Faculty of Forestry. I hope this visit is just the beginning of our future cooperation, ” summed up her experience.
Sunday, 2 July 2023 Rector of UP among the invited speakers at the First Balkan Mathematics Conference in Romania
Yesterday, 1 July 2023, the First Balkan Mathematics Conference (BMC) was held in Pitești, Romania.
With the purpose to bring together world experts and junior participants, learn about new research trends and increase mathematical collaborations in the Balkan area, the first BMC was launched by the European Mathematical Society (EMS) and hosted by The Tenth Congress of Romanian Mathematicians.
Prof. dr. Klavdija Kutnar, the rector of UP, contributed to BMC as an invited speaker with the talk entitled »Hamiltonicity in Vertex-transitive Graphs«.
Other invited speakers were:
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Iakovos Androulidakis, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece,
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Laura Ciobanu, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, UK,
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Aleksey Kostenko, University of Ljubljana, Slovenia & University of Vienna, Austria and
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Monica Visan, University of California, Los Angeles, USA.
The scientific program of the conference and proposal of invited speakers was formed by the Steering Committee, whose members were Volker Mehrmann (EMS former president), Betül Tanbay, (EMS former Vice-President) and Karine Chemla (Chair of the EMS Committee for European Solidarity).
The rector of UP was also appointed to the Scientific Committee, which will decide on the invited speakers for the next BMC.
Besides EMS, other organizers of this regional meeting were: Romanian Mathematical Society, Simion Stoilow Institute of Mathematics of the Romanian Academy, University of Pitesti and Mathematical Society of SouthEastern Europe.
