Dr Baranašić and Dr Bujan are among only ten top researchers in Europe to receive this highly competitive funding in 2025. Their EMBO fellowships will support the establishment of new research groups at the IRB, fund the recruitment of junior scientists and provide access to advanced equipment for cutting-edge studies in bioinformatics and ecology.

A seal of scientific excellence

EMBO is Europe’s leading molecular biology organisation, bringing together more than 2,100 leading scientists from across the continent and beyond. Each year, EMBO selects a small number of exceptional researchers to help establish independent research laboratories. This year they are scientists from Croatia, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Greece, Poland and Portugal.

Cracking the genetic code of multicellular life — with a little help from AI

Dr Damir Baranašić, a former postdoctoral researcher at Imperial University London, now works in the RBI Laboratory for Computational Biology and Translational Medicine. Thanks to EMBO support, he will set up a new research team to investigate how single-celled organisms evolved into multicellular life forms, including humans.

While it was previously thought that this leap in complexity was due to the appearance of entirely new genes, more recent research suggests that changes in the way existing genes are regulated — switched on and off - are the real driver of evolutionary progress.

dr. sc. Damir Baranašić

Dr Baranašić's team will combine laboratory experiments with artificial intelligence to identify the DNA "switches" that have enabled this evolutionary change. This research has far-reaching implications — from better understanding the origins of complex life to developments in regenerative medicine and biotechnology.

“Starting my own independent lab is a big step,” says Dr Baranašić. “The EMBO grant not only provides important resources, but also opens the doors for collaboration with brilliant young scientists across Europe. This kind of network drives innovation and accelerates progress.”

Dr Baranašić holds a double MSc degree in Biotechnology from the University of Zagreb and the University of Orléans in France and a PhD from the Technical University of Kaiserslautern in Germany. After several years of postdoctoral research in the UK, he returned to Croatia to head several national and international projects at the IRB.

Will the insects survive the heat?

Meanwhile, Dr Jelena Bujan’s project investigates the resilience of insects, vital but vulnerable members of our ecosystems, in the face of increasing heatwaves caused by climate change. Insects pollinate plants, recycle nutrients and provide food for other animals. Yet they are increasingly under threat as global temperatures rise.

Dr Bujan's interdisciplinary research, which combines ecology, climatology and physiology, poses a crucial question: can insects adapt to extreme heat? Using 3D thermal images, her team will investigate how ants— - which serve as model organisms — behave in microhabitats to avoid heat stress.

Together with Dr Clea Denamiel, she will also develop high-resolution climate models to predict the intensity and frequency of future heatwaves on the Mediterranean islands.

dr. sc. Jelena Bujan

“We will also investigate the combined effects of stress factors such as dehydration, heavy metal pollution and insecticide exposure,” explains Dr Bujan. “If we understand how several stress factors interact, we can predict changes in the ecosystem and develop strategies to protect biodiversity”

Dr Bujan completed her degree in biology and chemistry at the University of Zagreb and went on to complete her PhD at the University of Oklahoma, where she studied how climate and biogeochemistry affect tropical ant communities. During her postdoctoral research in Louisville and Lausanne, she focussed on the adaptation of ants to different climate zones. She now works at the IRB Laboratory of Marine Physics and Aquatic Chemistry and leads three major projects investigating the ecological impacts of climate change using state-of-the-art environmental modelling.

A gain for Croatian science

“Receiving an EMBO grant is a great honour — especially for basic research like ours,” says Dr Baranašić. “It’s proof that big, fundamental scientific questions are worth the investment.”

Dr Bujan adds: “This is not just a personal achievement. It is an opportunity to strengthen Croatian research in the fields of ecology and climate science — and to give young scientists a solid start to their careers.”

“I am immensely proud of our two scientists. Their success confirms not only the excellence of their work, but also the reputation of the Institute in the European research community. With EMBO’s support, they will build dynamic new research teams and strengthen scientific collaboration across Europe. We will continue to support them in the pursuit of their ambitious goals”, said RBI Director General Dr David M. Smith.

More than just funding

EMBO grants offer researchers much more than just financial support. Each team leader receives €50,000 per year for three to five years, with an option for an additional €10,000 per year. Fellows also gain access to world-class mentors, specialised training, networking opportunities with leading European scientists and access to top research centres such as the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) in Heidelberg, Germany.

According to the official EMBO announcement, each of this year’s ten fellows will also receive national co-funding. In Croatia, the Ministry of Science, Education and Youth will provide €35,000 per year for the first three years, while the remaining €15,000 will be provided by the intergovernmental organisation EMBC. In the last two years, the national agencies will take full responsibility for funding.