news - Archive

Friday, 26 September 2025 20th Anniversary of the European Researchers’ Night

This year again, UP organized numerous activities as part of the European Researchers’ Night, which took place on Friday, 26 September 2025, at several locations in Koper, Izola, Piran, and Rodik. The project oooZnanost! – Fake news and conspiracy theories? Let’s empower (ourselves for) science! is funded under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions through the call HORIZON-MSCA-2023-CITIZENS-01-01: European Researchers’ Night and Researchers at Schools 2024–2025. On 26 September 2025, Europe celebrated the 20th anniversary of the European Researchers’ Night in 25 countries and more than 460 cities.

Among the workshops organized by FAMNIT were:

• Exploring Statistics Through Play — children discovered the basics of statistics through games: data collection, analysis, and interpretation.
• Pop-it — using the popular fidget toy, participants learned the rules of the NIM game and playfully explored mathematical concepts.
• Fantastic Beasts and Where to Record Them — a workshop on how to collect data on wildlife using the SRNA app and camera traps.
• Wildlife Detective: Revealing Invisible Wild Animals Around You — presenting modern methods such as environmental DNA to detect and monitor animal species even when they are not directly visible.

Thursday, 25 September 2025 DIGI-MAT: This year we talked about cryptography

From 23 to 27 September 2025, the training titled DIGI-MAT: Teaching Mathematical Content Using Digital Tools – Cryptography was held at UP FAMNIT. The program was delivered in a hybrid format: two days in person at the faculty (a total of 15 hours) and one introductory session via Zoom (1 hour).

The event was attended by 10 education professionals. Participants deepened their knowledge in cryptography and the use of digital tools in teaching mathematical content. The training counted for 1 point in the professional development system for educators.

We thank to all participants for their engagement and active participation, and to the instructors for their expert guidance.

Wednesday, 24 September 2025 WEDNESDAY, 1ST OCTOBER – MEETINGS OF FRESHMEN WITH COORDINATORS

Dear freshmen!

Your first Academic year is about to start and we are warmly inviting you to take part of the activities of the first day! The meeting with the study programmes coordinators will take place on 2 locations: in Koper (Glagoljaška 8, Koper) and in the University campus Livade in Izola (Livade 6, Izola):

KOPER – students gather at 9:30 in the park in front of the faculty, and from 10.00 to 11.30 there will be meetings with the study programme coordinators:

• Mathematics (Slovene) and Mathematics in Economics and Finance: in classroom Famnit-MP1 (1st floor),
• Computer Science (Slovene): in classroom Famnit-VP3 (2nd floor),
• Biopsychology: in classroom Famnit-VP2 (1st floor),

IZOLA - students gather at 9:30 in front of the campus, and from 10.00 to 11. 30 there will be meetings with the study programme coordinators:

• Conservation Biology: in classroom Livade-FAMNIT 3 (3rd floor),
• Agronomy: in classroom Livade-Botanika (2nd floor),
• Bioinformatics (Slovene): in classroom Livade-Epsilon (ground floor).

At 11.30 students are invited to attend a joint presentation of the Student Council UP FAMNIT, Student Organization UP and Sport UP:

• Koper (Glagoljaška 8, Koper): classroom Famnit-VP3 (2nd floor),
• Izola (Livade 6, Izola): classroom Livade-FAMNIT 3 (3rd floor). 

We kindly ask you to come on time, as the meetings will start at 10.00 with the official welcome from the rector UP.

During the Orientation days at UP foreign students will meet with study programme coordinators. The meetings are for students enrolled in English programmes (Computer Science, Bioinformatics, Mathematics), but also for students enrolled in Slovene programmes (Biopsychology, Mathematics in Economics and Finance, Conservation Biology, Agronomy). More information: https://welcome.upr.si/en/arrive/orientation. You are kindly invited to apply, if you haven't so far.

All courses will start on Thursday, 2^nd October – please check the schedule here (https://www.famnit.upr.si//en/student-pages/timetables). Students should check the schedule daily. If a change of the schedulle occurs, Student Services arranges the change in the schedule. At the same time they publish the notice (in ŠIS, section Notices), but only for changes on the same day and the following 2 days.

Soon you'll receive the first NEWSLETTER FOR UP FAMNIT STUDENTS, through which the faculty will inform you about current events, career opportunities and other events during the academic year. If you do not want to receive news, you can unsubscribe.

On Saturday, 4th October in Žusterna Seaside Park, Koper, will take place ŠtartUP, a sports and social event organized by the University of Primorska. All information is available here: https://www.upr.si/en/students-up/activities-at-the-start-of-the-academic-year/start-up-. All students are kindly invited to join this event.

See you soon!

UP FAMNIT professors and staff

Wednesday, 24 September 2025 21st Applied Statistics International Conference 2025

From 21 to 23 September 2025,  Koper hosted the 21st Applied Statistics International Conference, held here for the third time. The event brought together researchers and professionals from across the globe working in data analysis, data science, and statistics to showcase their most recent findings and exchange expertise. A total of 110 participants from 18 countries attended the conference.

The keynote lectures were delivered by Els Goetghebeur, Professor of Statistics at Ghent University, and Tamás Rudas, Emeritus Professor of Statistics at Eötvös Loránd University in Budapest. The scientific programme featured invited talks, oral sessions, and poster presentations of accepted contributions. The main two-day conference (Monday and Tuesday) was preceded by a workshop day on Sunday. MORE

Wednesday, 24 September 2025 UNDERGRADUATE STUDY: Course schedules for Autumn Semester 2025/26

We would like to inform you that the course schedules for all study programmes for the Autumn Semester 2025/2026 are published on our website (https://www.famnit.upr.si//en/student-pages/timetables). Lectures start on Wednesday, 1 October 2025 and last until Friday, 16 January 2026.

On this website you can also find a short clip that will show you how to check the course schedule.

First, we would like to inform you that until October 17, all classrooms at the Trg Brolo 12 location (B7, B5, B6, B3, B2) will be unavailable. All courses that were scheduled to take place at this location during this period have been relocated to other classrooms. Please check the schedule carefully.

During this period, some external classroom (Rotunda, UP FM, etc.) will be in use. All students will be informed later regarding access.

Important information about the course schedule:

• Please check all weeks in the schedule, because weekly schedules can differ.
• The schedule might change until Tuesday, 30 September. Please check the schedule again before the beginning of the academic year. All changes from Wednesday, 1 October will be published in the Notices (ŠIS, section Notices). We would like to emphasize that Student Services will publish the notice about the change only for changes on the same day and the following 2 days.
• In some undergraduate courses, students are divided into groups for laboratory work. Students will receive the information about the group on their student university e-mail no later than Tuesday, 30 September or on their personal e-mail if they are enrolled in the 1^st year of study.

We would like to inform you:

• BP2, BP3: the course Psychology Practicum is not on the course schedule; students will be informed later,
• BP2, BP3: the course Selected Biopsychological Topics in the English Language is not on the course schedule; students will be informed later,
• VB: Practical training is not on the course schedule; students will be informed later.

Freshman will have meeting with the study programme coordinators on Wednesday, 1^st October. All information is published on our website. All lectures and tutorials start on Thursday, 2^nd October.

Students of the 2^nd and 3^rd year start with lectures and tutorials on Wednesday, 1^st October (acording to the course schedule).

Meetings with study programme coordinators for students enrolled in English programmes (Computer Science, Bioinformatics, Mathematics) as well for foreing students enrolled in Slovene programmes (Biopsychology, Mathematics in Economics and Finance, Conservation Biology and Agronomy) will take place during Orientation days at UP (for more info please check: https://welcome.upr.si/en/arrive/orientation).

In the beginning of October, study programme coordinators will meet all 2^nd and 3^rd year students. Exact terms will be published in the notices of Student Services.

Student Services UP FAMNIT

Wednesday, 24 September 2025 POSTGRADUATE STUDY: Course schedules for Autumn Semester 2025/26

We would like to inform you that the course schedules for all study programmes for the Autumn Semester 2025/2026 are published on our website (https://www.famnit.upr.si//en/student-pages/timetables). Lectures start on Wednesday, 1 October 2025 and last until Friday, 16 January 2026.

On this website you can also find a short clip that will show you how to check the course schedule.

First, we would like to inform you that until October 17, all classrooms at the Trg Brolo 12 location (B7, B5, B6, B3, B2) will be unavailable. All courses that were scheduled to take place at this location during this period have been relocated to other classrooms. Please check the schedule carefully.

During this period, some external classroom (Rotunda, UP FM, etc.) will be in use. All students will be informed later regarding access.

Important information about the course schedule:

• Please check the schedule for every week, because weekly schedules can differ.
• The schedule might change until Tuesday, 30 September. Please check the schedule again before the beginning of the academic year. All changes from Wednesday, 1 October will be published in the Notices (ŠIS, section Notices). We would like to emphasize that Student Services will publish the notice about the change only for changes on the same day and the following 2 days.

Terms for the meetings with the study programme coordinators with the 1^st year students:

• Mathematical Sciences – Slovene (PMA): Wednesday, 8 OCtober at 15.00 in Famnit-MP2 (Glagoljaška 8, Koper, 2^nd floor);
• Computer Science (PRIN): Thursday, 2 October at 13.00 in Famnit-MP4 (Glagoljaška 8, Koper, 2^nd floor);
• Nature Conservation (PBI):  Wednesday, 1 October at 14.30 in Livade-Epsilon (University campus Livade Izola, Livade 4, ground floor);
• Biopsychology (PBP): Thursday, 6 October at 13.00 in Famnit-MP6 (Glagoljaška 8, Koper, 2^nd floor);
• Psychology (UPSI): Monday, 6 October at 13.00 in FHŠ-Levant1 (UP FHŠ, Titov trg 5, Koper, 4th floor);
• Data Science – Slovene (PZ): Tuesday, 1 October at 11.30 in Famnit-VP2 (Glagoljaška 8, Koper, 1^st floor).

Meetings with study programme coordinators for students enrolled in English programmes (Mathematical Sciences, Data Science) as well for foreing students enrolled in the Slovene programmes Biopsychology and Psychology will take place during Orientation days at UP (for more info please check: https://welcome.upr.si/en/arrive/orientation).

In the beginning of October study programme coordinators will meet 2nd year students. Exact terms will be published in the notices of Student Services.

We would like to inform you:

• PBP2, UPSI2: the course Master Thesis – seminar is not on the course schedule; students will be informed later,
• PBI1: Practical training is not on the course schedule; students will be informed later.

Student Services UP FAMNIT

Thursday, 18 September 2025 Computer Science Students Once Again Gaining New Knowledge and Ideas at the Second FAMNIT/HTW Dresden Hackathon

Between September 15 and 18, the second hackathon in collaboration with the University of Dresden – HTW Dresden (Mechlab) took place at UP FAMNIT. As part of the hackathon, young computer science enthusiasts, together with the experienced Prof. Dr. Toralf Trautmann from the Automotive Mechatronics Lab and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Branko Kavšek from the Department of Information Sciences and Technologies (UP FAMNIT), developed new functions designed to assist both drivers and vehicle automation.

Dr. Trautmann shared his expertise in automotive software development and technology with the students, who later split into teams and delved into the assigned projects, testing and presenting them on the final day.

At the end, Gregor Ahlin , a Computer Science student, shared his experience with us. Throughout the event, he discovered and learned new techniques he had not encountered before:
"This is my second time at a hackathon. This year, as part of the hackathon, we're also going to Dresden for the first time. The end product — at least for our team — is to have a good user interface that a remote teleoperator can use to stop the vehicle in case of any issues with the autonomous system. We're going to develop a user interface that allows the teleoperator to monitor the vehicle’s cameras, data from the lidar, location, video, speed, and more."

Dr. Trautmann was also very impressed with the successful execution and final results of our students' work. He believes the event has opened doors for further collaboration.
" I was impressed by the students' strong participation in the Hackathon. They were highly motivated and completed the first stage of the project in just two days. The final presentation is coming up, where we will review the initial solution. Next week, we will implement it in our test area and evaluate its performance in real-world scenarios," he added.

Thursday, 18 September 2025 4th Biological-Psychological Student Conference (September 18–20, 2025, Koper)

The conference, organised by students for students, took place from September 18 to 20, 2025, in Koper. The aim is to bring together students from different faculties and fields of study, enable them to present their original work, and thus promote science in all its forms. This year’s conference brings together 60 students from various programs and faculties – FAMNIT, UL Faculty of Arts (Psychology), UL Faculty of Arts (Hispanistics), UM Faculty of Arts (Psychology), UL Faculty of Education (Cognitive Science), and Sigmund Freud University – Ljubljana branch (Psychology).

The biological-psychological student conference consisted of two parallel modules: the biological module and the psychological module. The biological module covers study programmes in biology, environmental science, nature protection, and related fields. The psychological module includes study programmes in psychology, biopsychology, psychotherapy, and neuroscience. 

Psychological works were divided into three parts: as an empirical work, a systematic literature review or as a presentation of an interesting topic/project/seminar. Students from other study programs (e.g., educational study programs) participated if they applied with research, based on biological or psychological topics.

The heads of the Scientific Committee of the Bio-Psychological Student Conference are pleased with both the participation and the exchange of knowledge among the participants: “We are delighted that this is already the fourth conference where students of biology and psychology can share their knowledge and experience. We are also pleased that each year more and more participants from other Slovenian universities apply,” they added, while also extending an invitation to the fifth edition.

MORE

Wednesday, 17 September 2025 Open Position: Project Staff for AI Projects SLAIF and KCUI

Work location: Koper (occasional travel within Slovenia)

Employment: Full-time / 3 years

Start date: Immediately

Description:  Operational implementation of activities at the University of Primorska, with a primary focus on organizing AI-related training and educational events.

Key responsibilities:

• Organization and execution of trainings/workshops/conferences for companies, the public sector, and academia (planning, logistics, invitations, registrations, KPI monitoring, evaluations).
• Setting up and maintaining a co-working space (procurement and setup of basic equipment, e.g., GPU workstation, A/V equipment for trainings; coordination with procurement and IT).
• Managing project documentation: financial and content records, preparation of contributions for periodic reports, and ensuring traceability of results and indicators.
• Participation in the implementation of a pilot use case (defining the use case, ensuring data access, preparing the pilot workflow, and user support).
• Dissemination and communication: preparing news and content for the website and social media, participating in “AI Industry Days,” and coordinating with the project manager.
• Internal and inter-partner coordination: preparation of meeting materials, minutes, and coordination with the work package leader at the University of Primorska.

Required competencies:

• Completed at least level VII/2 (Master’s degree – Bologna 2nd cycle) or level VIII/1 of education; preferred fields: computer science/informatics, technical or organizational sciences; other relevant fields with proven experience are also considered.
• Excellent organizational skills and experience in organizing events/trainings.
• Excellent command of both Slovenian and English, including written and spoken proficiency.
• Independence, accuracy, reliability, and ability to work in a multi-institutional environment and with industry partners.
• Digital literacy.

Desired competencies:

• Experience with EU projects (Horizon Europe/EUROHPC) – logistics, reporting.
• Understanding of basic AI/HPC ecosystems and user services (onboarding, helpdesk, documentation, UX feedback).
• Preparation of educational materials, working with participants of diverse profiles (SMEs, public administration, students).
• Basic knowledge of GDPR and principles of the EU AI Act.
• Experience in collaboration with industry (pilot implementations, requirements gathering, evaluations).

Application deadline:October 10, 2025

Interested candidates should contact: marko.tkalcic@famnit.upr.si

Friday, 12 September 2025 Open position – Lab technician in Molecular Biology

InnoRenew CoE, UP IAM is seeking a well-qualified and highly motivated individual to work in the Engineered Living Materials (ELM) laboratory at the InnoRenew CoE department.

In the ELM laboratory, we work at the interface of microbiology, materials science and chemistry. The technician will be employed at the InnoRenew CoE, Andrej Marušič Institute, University of Primorska under the supervision of Assoc Prof. Anna Sandak. It is expected that the technician will contribute to the projects ERC ARCHI-SKIN (GA #101044468), EIC REMEDY (GA #101185862), and other ongoing activities.

We are searching for an enthusiastic, self-initiative and independent candidate who can help us make our lab even better and more productive.

Goals and Tasks

The candidate’s main tasks will be to:

• Daily maintenance of laboratory equipment and devices.
• Preparation of microbiological media, buffers and other materials.
• Coordination of purchasing, storing and inventory of laboratory materials and chemicals.
• Participation in the execution of laboratory practice and research projects for students.
• Execution of experimental procedures (given the protocol) - knowing how to work sterile is of great importance.
• Regular interactions and communications with the laboratory head dr Karen Butina Ogorelec.

Essential requirements/skills:

• Bachelor's degree (BSc) in Molecular Biology, Bioinformatics, Biotechnology, Microbiology, Biochemistry, or a related field.
• Experience with molecular biology (DNA extraction, PCR, gel electrophoresis etc).
• Aseptic work for cell cultures
• Proficiency in English, both written and verbal.
• Basic knowledge of Microsoft Word and Excel.
• Good communication skills, and the ability to work in a team
• Experience with Good Laboratory Practice,
• Basic knowledge of bioinformatics
• Proficiency in Slovenian is an extra asset.

What we offer:

1-year contract with an option for renewal. The first three months of employment will be considered a probationary period. During this time, the performance and suitability for the role will be assessed to determine if the employment relationship should continue.

Competitive salary with possible performance-based raises

Opportunity to work on a prestigious ERC and EIC projects

Employment opportunities, admissions policies, activities, services, and the facilities of the UP IAM do not exclude any person based on race, color, age, sex, gender, religion, national origin, or disability. In processing your application, the GDPR will be respected and your information will not be shared outside of the relevant staff at the UP IAM. By submitting your application, you agree that the data you provide be reviewed by them.

How to apply

The applicants should send:

Curriculum vitae (including short descriptions of all prior education, qualifications, and research or work experiences)

Motivation letter for this position (maximum one A4 page)

Transcripts from previous degrees

to this email address: coe@innorenew.eu. In the title (subject) of your email please write: Lab technician in molecular biology. All materials should be in English and submitted in PDF format no later than September 12, 2025.

Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. For further information about the research topic, please contact Assoc. Prof Anna Sandak, PhD (email address: anna.sandak@innorenew.eu).

UP IAM reserves the right for justified reasons to leave the position open, extend the application period, and consider candidates who have not submitted applications during the application period.

Application deadline: September 12, 2025

Expected start date: October 1, 2025

Friday, 12 September 2025 Conference of Slovenian Mathematicians in Koper (September 12–13, 2025, Koper)

The Slovenian Mathematicians' Conference has begun in Koper, taking place from September 12 to 13, 2025, and is organised by the Mathematics Committee at DMFA, with co-organisation by UP FAMNIT. The event is attended by 76 experts from the field. There will be two plenary lectures at the conference, given by Andras Batkai (PH Voralrberg) and Bojan Mohar (UL FMF). In contrast, the rest of the conference will be divided into research-application and educational sections, as well as a section for young doctoral and postdoctoral students. The research and application section and the section for young people present the most important achievements in Slovenian mathematics in recent years (including applied mathematics) and the research work of successful researchers of the younger generation. The pedagogical section is dedicated to the presentation of professional topics related to the teaching of mathematics and physics.

The conference will also include a Friday round table discussion on the shortage of mathematics and physics teachers . The following speakers will participate: Ljupčo Todorovski (Head of OM FMF), Miha Lovšin (Head of the Sector for Human Resources Development in Education), Tatjana Hodnik (UL PeF), Timotej Maroševič (Physics Teacher at Gimnazija Vič), David Gajser (UM), and Rozalija Volk, master's student at UL PeF and former mathematics teacher. MORE

Friday, 12 September 2025 Results of the Election for the Director of UP IAM

On Thursday, 11 September 2025, the UP IAM Researchers' Assembly of Researchers held elections for the position of Director of UP IAM. The Election Commission has completed its work and, in its final report, confirmed a voter turnout of 69.3%, with 70 eligible voters participating in the election.

A total of 68 votes were cast in favour of the candidate, Prof. Dr. Vito Vitrih.

As the sole candidate, Prof. Dr. Vito Vitrih received 97.1% of the votes and has been elected as Director of UP IAM.

A formal resolution on the election results will be adopted by the UP IAM Scientific Council at its regular session, scheduled for 22 September 2025. At the same time, the Council will propose to the Rector of the University of Primorska to appoint Prof. Dr. Vito Vitrih as Director of UP IAM for the next term of office (24 December 2025 – 23 December 2029).

We sincerely congratulate Prof. Dr. Vito Vitrih on his re-election and wish him continued success in leading the institute in the upcoming term.

Thursday, 11 September 2025 The 12th PhD Summer School in Discrete Mathematics has concluded successfully

The 12th Doctoral Summer School in Discrete Mathematics took place at UP FAMNIT between 7 and 13 September 2025. The event was co-organised by UP FAMNIT, Institute Andrej Marušič (UP IAM), the Slovenian Discrete and Applied Mathematics Society (SDAMS), and the Institute of Mathematics, Physics and Mechanics (IMFM), in collaboration with the Center for Discrete Mathematics at the University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Education (UL PEF).

The scientific meeting attracted 72 participants, who engaged in a rich programme of lectures and discussions about their research work. In addition to Slovenian participants, attendees came from the following countries: France, Poland, the Netherlands, Croatia, Bosnia, Hungary, Italy, Brazil, Crete, the Czech Republic, China, Iran, Serbia, Belgium, Great Britain, Slovakia, India, Germany, Australia, the USA, New Zealand, Spain, and Egypt.

Once again, the main lectures were delivered by leading names in the field of discrete mathematics:

• Aida Abiad (Eindhoven University of Technology, Netherlands): Eigenvalue bounds for the independence number of graph powers and their application to coding theory
• Bence Csajbók (Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary): New directions for direction sets
• Cristina Dalfó (University of Lleida, Catalonia, Spain): Factored lifts of graphs and their spectra: The Abelian and non-Abelian cases
• Luke Morgan (University of Western Australia): The linear dimension of permutation groups

Reflections from Aida Abiad, Associate Professor and head of the Algebraic Combinatorics group at the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e): "The 12^th summer school on Discrete Mathematics, held at the beautiful city of Koper (Slovenia), has been a great success, once more. The two minicourses offered have been very useful for students and staff to learn about two important mathematical tools (the container method, spectral graph theory). Also, the invited talks gave a glance of current research being pursued in the field of discrete mathematics. But maybe the highlight of the school was the student talks, where one could see students at their best, showcasing their latest results in a very appealing way. Also, the 'best student talk award' brought a healthy competition atmosphere and a motivational feeling. And last but not least: the organized daily sport activities were very well received by the students (and staff!); they contributed to the team bonding and added a healthy and fun component after a working day. "

As in previous years, students competed for the Best Student Talk award. The committee, consisting of  Giusy Monzillo, Luke Morgan, and Russ Woodroofe, decided that the winner was Nils Van de Berg for his presentation titled "Counting cospectral graphs made via switching."

     
                              Giusy Monzillo, Luke Morgan, Nils Van de Berg (winner), Russ Woodroofe

The two minicourses were delivered by Sebastian Cioaba and Rajko Nenadov. 

Among the students who gave 15-minute presentations were also UP FAMNIT alumni Jelena Glisic and Mirza Redzic. Mirza is currently a PhD student at Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, while Jelena is pursuing her PhD at Charles University in Prague. She also shared her thoughts on the experience:

"I’m very glad that Famnit organises this conference—it’s a great opportunity to return and reconnect. The conference is a great chance for PhD students to meet and see what others are working on. The topics are very diverse—many are from algebraic theory, which Famnit is also known for, but there are talks on other areas as well. We had two mini-courses that were quite interesting and introduced some useful ideas. The invited lectures were fascinating, and there were also many student presentations. It’s a great opportunity for everyone, especially for those presenting their work internationally for the first time—as it was for me. The atmosphere is very friendly and relaxed. Since many participants are students, the pressure isn’t overwhelming."

   
                                                                          Jelena Glisic

The event was supported by ARIS – the Slovenian Research and Innovation Agency, and the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovation (MVZI).

You can access the Book of Abstracts.

Wednesday, 10 September 2025 Visit from Gimnazija Vič

Today, 33 students and 2 teachers from Gimnazija Vič visited UP FAMNIT.

After a welcome address, we began with the workshop "Games in Nature", led by Assist. Prof. Dr. Barbara Boldin. In an engaging and accessible way, she demonstrated how animal decision-making in various situations can be represented using mathematical games, while also introducing basic ideas from game theory.

In the next workshop, "From Snakes and Ladders to Stock Prices", Assist. Dr. Ana Zalokar from the Department of Mathematics explained the connection between the board game Snakes and Ladders and stock price movements.

We thank the students and their accompanying persons for their visit and invite them to attend our future events as well!

Wednesday, 10 September 2025 Soundtracks of Our Lives: How Age Influences Musical Preferences

Prof. Marko Tkalčič and Assist. Arsen Matej Golubovikj from the Department of Information Sciences and Technologies at the University of Primorska's FAMNIT have co-authored a new international study titled Soundtracks of Our Lives: How Age Influences Musical Preferences. This research was carried out in collaboration with Assoc. Prof. Bruce Ferwerda from Jönköping University and Assoc. Prof. Alan Said from the University of Gothenburg.

Drawing on 15 years of music-listening data from over 40,000 Last.fm users—and encompassing more than half a billion plays—this longitudinal study tracks how our musical tastes evolve over the life span. Findings reveal that while younger people tend to explore a wide array of contemporary hits, musical taste becomes increasingly nostalgic and personal past the age of 40. Music from youth gains prominence, even as listeners continue to discover new artists.

The study also highlights that older listeners develop more specialized and unique preferences compared to the broader, more homogeneous tastes of younger users. These insights are especially significant for the design of music recommendation systems, suggesting the importance of tailoring recommendations to long-term listening trajectories and nostalgia-driven patterns.

The paper was presented at UMAP ’25, the 33rd ACM Conference on User Modeling, Adaptation and Personalization, held in New York City (June 16–19, 2025).

For companies or individuals behind a recommendation system, such as Spotify's suggestions for new music to its users, the study's findings present important challenges and opportunities. This type of lifelong analysis of listening habits hasn’t been possible until recently, simply through the fact they haven’t been around for long enough until now.

Monday, 8 September 2025 Erasmus+ Call Published for Co-Funding Staff Mobility for Teaching in 2025/26

The University of Primorska (UP) has received CMEPIUS funding to co-finance staff mobility for teaching in the amount of €18,000. The call for the 2025/26 academic year has been published, and mobilities must be completed by 30 September 2026.

Mobilities can take place in Erasmus+ program countries (EU, Liechtenstein, Turkey, Serbia, North Macedonia, Norway, Iceland) at higher education institutions with which UP or UP FAMNIT has a bilateral Erasmus+ agreement (Annex No. 1).

Teaching requirement: at least 8 hours per week.

Application deadline: 22 September 2025.

Only complete applications will be considered (completed online application + Mobility Agreement for Teaching in English).

Detailed information and all annexes are available on the FAMNIT website and the UP website.

For any questions, please contact the UP FAMNIT International Office at: international@famnit.upr.si

Friday, 5 September 2025 PhD position –The role of interplay between senses for the acoustic perception of the built environment

Expected start date:  October 1, 2025.

InnoRenew CoE, UP IAM is seeking a well-qualified individual to work on a PhD research project at the department in Izola, Slovenia. The successful candidate will be employed full-time at the University of Primorska and will be required to enroll in the PhD study programRenewable Materials for Healthy Built Environments at University of Primorska.

The mission of InnoRenew CoE is to understand the various aspects of the built environment that affect our health and well-being. We do this through interdisciplinary research and innovation that incorporates new technologies and utilizes our state-of-the-art research infrastructure.

The user of the building is at the center of our research interest. To capture their response to different environments, we try to replicate different environments under controlled laboratory conditions. By systematically confronting users with such environments, we aim to identify and understand the perceptually relevant aspects of building design. The methodological challenge in this context is to achieve a high degree of ecological validity and fidelity of the reproduced environments. The primary research goal of the PhD student will be to integrate multisensory exposure (visual, vibration, … ) into the design of listening tests – all with the aim of better understanding the complex interplay between the senses in relation to the acoustic perception of the built environment.

Goals and Tasks

Our state-of-the-art acoustics laboratory is currently conducting listening test using spatial audio technologies (binaural, HOA Ambisonics) that integrate vibration reproduction (VED). Participants answer questionnaires, and perform cognitive tests, while we monitor their physiological responses to the different exposures. A further step in the research is to consider the multisensory nature of the exposure, which provides insight into the complex interplay between the senses. In particular, we are interested in the relationship between visual and auditory stimuli and how they influence our perception of the built environment. The PhD student's task will be to develop an advanced framework for auditory testing by extending the current listening test infrastructure with VR reproduction technologies.

The candidate’s main tasks will be to:

• prepare and execute a research plan,
• review existing approaches related to the research topic,
• organize and perform laboratory experiments,
• suggest, develop and evaluate innovative building solutions.

The successful candidate will be involved in the preparation of scientific publications and presentations at renowned conferences to extend the impact their research. Additionally, the candidate will prepare at least one research project proposal to further extend the scope of the studied topic.

Essential requirements/skills

• master’s Degree in Electrical, Mechanical or Civil Engineering, Computer science, Physics, Acoustics or any related area,
• high motivation for studies and working within interdisciplinary research projects,
• excellent communication skills in written and spoken English,
• ability to formulate and communicate new research ideas (research proposal preparation, scientific publications, prototype scientific instrumentations, software tools),
• high interests in acoustics and digital signal processing,
• experience with acoustic measurements and the joy of mastering measurement equipment and procedures,
• basic programming skills (python, Matlab, R or similar) with the motivation to grow the skills,
• ability to work independently and collaboratively in a multidisciplinary international research environment,
• fulfill the requirements for doctoral students at the University of Primorska. For more details, see: https://www.famnit.upr.si/en/education/doctoral/renew-mat; https://www.famnit.upr.si/en/education/enrolment

What we offer:

• 3 years contract with a trial period of 3 months,
• monthly salary,
• no PhD tuition fee,
• opportunity to participate in ongoing prestigious European projects at the institute.

Employment opportunities, admissions policies, activities, services, and the facilities of the UP IAM do not exclude any person based on race, color, age, sex, gender, religion, national origin, or disability. In processing your application, the GDPR will be respected and your information will not be shared outside of the relevant staff at the UP IAM. By submitting your application, you agree that the data you provide be reviewed by them.

How to apply

The applicants should send:

• Curriculum vitae (including short descriptions of all prior educations, qualifications, and research or work experiences)
• Motivation letter for this doctoral position (maximum one A4 page)
• Transcripts from previous degrees
• List of publications (if applicable)

to this email address: coe@innorenew.eu In the title (subject) of your email please write: Acoustics for better buildings. All materials should be in English and submitted in PDF format no later than September 10, 2025.

Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. For further information about the research topic, please contact Assist. Prof. Rok Prislan, PhD (email address: rok.prislan@innorenew.eu).

The UP IAM reserves the right for justified reasons to leave the position open, extend the application period, and consider candidates who have not submitted applications during the application period.

Application deadline: September 10, 2025

Monday, 1 September 2025 Summer School titled: "Science How to Write and Talk About It"

The Department of Biodiversity, in collaboration with international colleagues, is organizing an international summer school titled "Science – How to Write and Talk About It". You are warmly invited to join!

Since the summer school will take place at the beginning of the academic year, when some of you are returning to regular studies, the activities will be scheduled in the late afternoon hours (and possibly on some weekends). This way, everyone interested will be able to participate.

Students who successfully complete the summer school activities will not only gain valuable experience in scientific writing and presenting but will also receive 3 ECTS credits, which can potentially be recognized as part of your regular study obligations.

DESCRIPTION OF THE SUMMER SCHOOL

Are you interested in learning how to better structure, write, and effectively present scientific work? Then this summer school is an opportunity that will help you achieve that goal.

The summer school is at an advanced level, primarily intended for master’s and doctoral students, as well as recent graduates and early-career researchers in the fields of biology, nature conservation, and related sciences. Motivated senior undergraduate students are also encouraged to apply.

Over the course of two weeks, participants will learn about:

• preparing scientific articles, posters, and oral presentations,

• designing tables and graphs for papers and posters,

• public speaking skills and conference presentations,

• structuring and writing undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral theses.

In addition to lectures, individual consultations will support participants’ independent work, and the program will be enriched with research seminars conducted in the Brazilian Pantanal.

October 13–27, 2025
Livade 6, Izola, Slovenia

Lecturers:

• Prof. Dr. Karl-Ludwig Schuchmann
• Prof. Dr. Marinez Isaac Marques
• Dr. Carolline Zatta Fieker
• (Federal University of Mato Grosso, Brazil)

Coordinator:
Asst. Martin Senič (University of Primorska)
Contact: martin.senic@famnit.upr.si

Minimum participation fee:

€30 for UP and other T4EU students / €60 for others
3 ECTS | Language: English | Limited to 15 participants

Applications are open to motivated students and early-career researchers who wish to improve their academic skills and confidence in writing and presenting scientific content.

Applications open on Friday, August 29, 2025, and close on September 15, 2025.
A motivation letter must be submitted with the application.

More information, including the registration form, is available here.

Full programme.