Wednesday, 18 March 2026 Fourteen full professors inaugurated at UP
Today, 17 March 2026, the Vice-Rector for Scientific Research and Development, Prof. Dr. Štefko Miklavič, joined by the Deans of the University of Primorska's member faculties, presented the decrees of election to the title of Full Professor to fourteen new professors at the ceremony of inauguration.
Among the newly inaugurated are also long-time faculty members of UP FAMNIT and UP IAM:
Dr. Matjaž Kljun, full professor in the field of »Computer science and informatics«
He obtained his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from the Faculty of Computer and Information Science at University of Ljubljana, with both theses focusing on Human–Computer Interaction. He completed his PhD in Computer Science in the same field in 2014 at Lancaster University in the United Kingdom. He closely linked his academic career with the University of Primorska, working initially at the Faculty of Education and later at UP FAMNIT.
In his scientific research, he focuses on topics at the intersection of Human-Computer Interaction, XR/AR, user experience, and technologies for learning and creative work.
Dr. Jernej Vičič, full professor in the field of »Computer science and informatics«
He obtained his Bachelor’s, Master’s and Doctorate degrees from the Faculty of Computer and Information Science at University of Ljubljana. He has been employed at the University of Primorska since 2001, initially at the Faculty of Education, and since 2007 at UP FAMNIT, where he is the course coordinator and lecturer for computer science subjects. He collaborates with the University of Nova Gorica and Urgench State University (Uzbekistan). As part of an academic exchange, he also lectured at Charles University in Prague.
In his scientific research, he is actively dedicated primarily to language technologies. He also works with distributed systems, particularly DLT and sensor networks.
Dr. Andraž Legat, full professor in the field of »Built environment«
He graduated in the field of technical physics at the University of Ljubljana and received the SOZD Iskra award for his thesis. He was named Innovator of the Year in 1987 while employed at Iskra in Kranj. While working as a young researcher at the Jožef Stefan Institute, he earned a master's degree in electrical engineering from the University of Ljubljana in 1991 and a doctorate in chemical technology from the University of Maribor in 1995.
His scientific research focuses on the durability of building materials and structures, the development of new materials, the measurement and characterization of corrosion processes, and the development of methods for monitoring corrosion.
Dr. Urban Šilc, full professor in the field of »Biology«
He obtained his Bachelor’s, Master’s and Doctorate degrees from the Biotechnical Faculty of the University of Ljubljana. Since 1996, he has been employed at the Jovan Hadži Institute of Biology at ZRC SAZU, where he served as Head of the institute since 2018. He is a lecturer and course coordinator for subjects in the fields of ecology and vegetation science at UP FAMNIT since 2014. He also lectures at the Postgraduate School of ZRC SAZU. He also taught various courses at the Higher Vocational College of the Biotechnical Centre Naklo.
His research focuses primarily on the syntaxonomy and ecology of vegetation, with particular emphasis on anthropogenic vegetation and sand dune ecosystems.
