VZCZCXYZ0000
RR RUEHWEB
DE RUEHVB #0323/01 1091143
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 181143Z APR 08
FM AMEMBASSY ZAGREB
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 8833
UNCLAS ZAGREB 000323
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR OES/STC EILEEN KANE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KSCA TSPL SENV EAGR AMGT OTRA APER HR
SUBJECT: Croatia Requests for Embassy Science Fellows 2008
REF: STATE 28712
1. In response to reftel, post supports a request from the
Government of Croatia to host Embassy Science Fellows. Post has
received thirteen proposals. The Croatian Ministry of Science,
Education and Sport will provide housing and in-country
transportation for any Embassy Science Fellow. Requesting
institutions will provide office space and necessary equipment.
English is the working language for all programs and no security
clearance is required. Two proposals include specific persons
requested from U.S. institutions. Embassy point of contact is Diana
Matijas-Vengar: email: matijasdk@state.gov; phone 011 385 1 661
2244.
2. Following are 13 (A-M) Embassy Science Fellow 2008 proposals for
Croatia:
A) Institution: University of Zagreb
Project: The University recently established a Research Office and
Technology Transfer Office. The Research Office intends to develop
resources in order to be able to help with international research
grants, research contracts, intellectual property, ethical issues,
research integrity and performance as well as professional
development and information resources. The Technology Transfer
office intends to provide patenting, licensing and all other
commercialization support to facilities and researchers.
The University requests an expert to help establish best practices
for the Research office or Technology Transfer Office, or both. The
University was founded in 1669 and is the oldest and largest
university in South Eastern Europe.
Area of expertise: Patenting and licensing assistance for
researchers. International grants applications.
Time frame: The preferred time for the Fellow would be May to July
2008, but they are flexible, with a stay of up to 3 months.
Language: English. Security Clearance: None
Housing/office space: The Ministry of Science, Education and Sport
has agreed to cover the costs of in-country housing and
transportation. The institution will provide office space and a work
station for the Fellow.
Point of Contact:
Hrvoje Matakovic
University of Zagreb
Trg Marsala Tita 14
10002 Zagreb
+385 4564 111
hrvoje.matakovic@unizg.hr
B) Institution: Faculty of Agriculture, Department of General
Agronomy, University of Zagreb
Project: The overall interest is in emission of green house gasses
from agriculture with a focus on the study of the carbon cycle and
soil respiration. The focus is on the fundamentals regarding global
carbon cycling, climate changes, ecosystem productivity, crop
production, and soil fertility. The project includes studying the
different measurement methods of soil CO2 efflux that are in use:
auto-chambers, portable gas analyzers, etc. The study includes
detailed research on biotic, chemical and physical processes of soil
respiration.
Area of expertise: Teaching and transferring knowledge on the above
topic to students and employers, with experience in CO2 efflux
measurement techniques.
Time frame: The preferred time for the visit would be spring or
autumn 2009, in order to ensure the possibility of field measurement
work, for at least 2 months. Language: English. Security Clearance:
None
Housing/office space: The Ministry of Science, Education and Sport
has agreed to cover the costs of in-country housing and
transportation. The institution will provide office space and a work
station for the Fellow.
Point of Contact:
Zeljka Zgorolec
Faculty of Agriculture
University of Zagreb
Department of General Agronomy
Svetosimunska cesta 25
10000 Zagreb
+385 1 239 4091
zzgorolec@agr.hr
C) Institution: Institute for Social Research in Zagreb, Center for
Educational Research and Development (CERD)
The CERD is a research unit within the Institute for Social Research
in Zagreb that carries out fundamental and applied research in
education. It was founded in January 2001 by professors from the
Faculty of Philosophy in Zagreb (Departments of Pedagogy,
Psychology, Sociology and Philosophy).
Project: The visiting expert would help organize a series of
seminars for CERD researchers presenting US best practices in
development and implementation of competence-based curricula. He/she
is also expected to hold a series of interviews with CERD
researchers on their previous experience in the field (esp.
concerning the practice of national curriculum development in
Croatia) and propose potential improvements. Assistance in
developing research instruments for assessing awareness among
stakeholders about curricular changes would also be of great
benefit. In exchange the visiting expert can benefit from the CERD
experience in Croatian curricular reform. The project should take a
holistic approach to analyzing competences by looking at education
for competences as part of a broader societal context (as an
educational response not only to the particular needs of the
individual, but also of society in general).
Area of expertise: Experience in qualitative methods in educational
research.
Housing/office space: The Ministry of Science, Education and Sport
has agreed to cover the costs of in-country housing and
transportation. The institution will provide office space and a work
station for the Fellow.
Time frame: The preferred time frame for the visit is September 2008
to June 2009 for at least 30 days. Language: English. Security
Clearance: None
Point of Contact:
Marina Stibric
Institute for Social Research in Zagreb
Center for Educational Research and Development
Amruseva 11, 10000 Zagreb
+385 1 4883 550
cerd@idi.hr
D) Institution: University Hospital for Infectious Diseases "Dr.
Fran Mihaljevic" Scientific Unit, Zagreb
The University Hospital for Infectious Diseases (UHID), Zagreb,
Croatia, was founded in the spring of 1893 as the City Hospital for
Contagious Diseases. Today UHID is the leading University Hospital
for Infectious Diseases in Croatia as well as this region of Europe.
The Hospital's important focus on national and regional infectious
diseases is reflected in its many reference centers: Center for
AIDS; Center for Urogenital and Sexually Transmitted Diseases;
Center for Travelers' Diseases; Center for the Control of
Antimicrobial Resistance; Center for the Diagnoses and Treatment of
Infectious Diseases; Center for Viral Hepatitis; and the recently
established Center for Emerging and Re-emerging Infectious
Diseases.
Project: The Fellow would train Croatian scientists in U.S. funding
application preparation, submission, and funded research program
management, as well as training Croatian scientists in intellectual
property issues and patenting. Help with grant/contract application
issues such as identifying funding sources, meeting the requirements
of the funding agency, developing mutually beneficial national and
international collaborations, understanding the peer review process,
and the preparation of competitive applications. Help with research
management issues such as financial policies, regulatory agency
requirements, interactions with funding agency officials,
intellectual property and tech transfer interests, human and animal
research subject policy, etc. In light of recent attention to
emerging and re-emerging diseases (HIV/AIDS, drug-resistant TB,
MRSA, Avian influenza, SARS, arthropod-transmitted infections etc.),
bioterrorism threats (anthrax), and rapid global travel, infectious
diseases are a critical component of global health research and
policy development.
Area of expertise: In discussions with NIH/NIAID representatives,
the Hospital requests and proposes:
Dr Peter R. Jackson, PhD, Chief, AIDS Clinical and Epidemiology
Research Review Branch (PJackson@mail.nih.gov)
Time frame: The preferred time frame for the visit is September -
December 2008 for at least 2 full months. Language: English.
Security Clearance: None
Housing/office space: The Ministry of Science, Education and Sport
has agreed to cover the costs of in-country housing and
transportation. The institution will provide office space and a work
station for the Fellow.
Point of Contact:
Dr. Alemka Markotic
University Hospital for Infectious Diseases "Dr. Fran Mihaljevic"
Mirogojska 8, 10000 Zagreb
+385 1 4603 148
alemka.markotic@gmail.com, alemka.markotic@bfm.hr
E) Institution: Institute of Veterinary Economy and Analytical
Epidemiology, Veterinary Faculty, University of Zagreb
Project: To help perfect Veterinary epidemiology studies by applying
simulation models and risk analysis. The Fellow would teach
application of simulation models to be used at the Institute,
focusing on applications used by the USDA Center for Epidemiology
and Animal Health. The Fellow would also apply simulation programs
to models of spreading swine flu in Croatia and the study thereof.
The Fellow would teach Institute representatives prevention
strategies and models for eradication, as well as risk analysis
important for decision making that would lead to protection of both
human and animal health.
Area of expertise: The Institute requests a specialist in the above
mentioned field from the USDA Center for Epidemiology and Animal
Health.
Time frame: The preferred time for the visit is May - July 2008 for
at least one month. Language: English. Security Clearance: None
Housing/office space: The Ministry of Science, Education and Sport
has agreed to cover the costs of in-country housing and
transportation. The institution will provide office space and a work
station for the Fellow.
Point of Contact:
Dr. Marina Pavlak
Institute of Veterinary economy and analytical epidemiology
Veterinary Faculty
University of Zagreb
+385 1 2390 134
marina.pavlak@vef.hr
F) Institution: Large Carnivores Research Project, Biology
Department, Veterinary Faculty, University of Zagreb
Project: Researchers of "Large Carnivores Research Project" at the
Biology Department of the Veterinary Faculty of the University of
Zagreb have studied various aspects of the biology of bears, wolves
and lynx in Croatia for the past 26 years. Scientific data on large
carnivores' distribution, home ranges, densities, activity, habitat
use, diseases and mortality were implemented in management and
conservation of those animals in Croatia.
As of 2008, they have extended their research efforts to deer
populations living in the range of large carnivores, to determine
basic biological parameters of prey bases for large carnivores. They
would like for the Fellow to help improve efforts in studying deer
ecology including survival, mortality factors, reproduction,
movements, dispersal, population dynamics, genetics, and
relationships with large carnivores.
Area of expertise: The Veterinary Faculty requests/proposes Mr.
Michael E. Nelson of the Minnesota Office of the U.S. Geological
Survey (USGS) based on his expertise in the above-mentioned fields.
Time frame: The preferred time for the visit is the summer or fall
of 2008, depending on his availability, for at least one month.
Language: English. Security Clearance: None
Housing/office space: The Ministry of Science, Education and Sport
has agreed to cover the costs of in-country housing and
transportation. The institution will provide office space and a work
station for the Fellow.
Point of Contact:
Josip Kusak
Large Carnivores Research Project
Biology Department
Veterinary Faculty
University of Zagreb
Heinzelova 55, 10000 Zagreb
+385 1 239 0142
kusak@vef.hr
G) Institution: Department of General Agronomy, Faculty of
Agriculture, University of Zagreb
Project: Assistance sought on ground-based remote sensing in
agriculture. The Fellow would help with remote sensing technologies
in agriculture concerning comprehensive analysis of crop vegetation
under different types of stress caused by surplus or lack of
fertilization and water, and also spatial analysis of weed or
disease distribution within crop canopy, especially for modelling
nitrogen dynamics in plant and soil under different nitrogen
fertilization treatments and agro-ecological conditions by
ground-based remote sensing (field spectroscopy).
Would like for the Fellow to give a general overview on precision
farming techniques - sampling methods, spatial data analysis and
interpretation, remote sensing technology in agriculture - airborne
and satellite image data analysis and field spectroscopy with a
focus on soil and vegetation spectral analysis for monitoring
dynamics of nutrients and water balance, and correlation of
satellite image data analysis with ground truth spectral data
obtained by spectroradiometer.
Area of expertise: The Fellow should have experience in ground-based
remote sensing measurement techniques (field spectroscopy, spectral
data processing, prediction models based on multiple linear
regression).
Time frame: The preferred time for the visit is fall 2008 for at
least 2 months. Language: English. Security Clearance: None
Housing/office space: The Ministry of Science, Education and Sport
has agreed to cover the costs of in-country housing and
transportation. The institution will provide office space and a work
station for the Fellow.
Point of Contact:
Ivana Vukovic
Department of General Agronomy
Faculty of Agriculture University of Zagreb
Svetosimunska cesta 25, 10 000 Zagreb
+385 1 239 4088
E-mail: ivukovic@agr.hr
H) Institution: Soil Science Department, Faculty of Agriculture,
University of Zagreb
Project: The Fellow would help with soil classification and soil
taxonomy. The matter of interest is Soil Science, more precisely the
correlation of national soil classifications. In order to understand
soil taxonomy better, the Soil Science Department would like to
achieve correlation of Croatian soil classification with soil
taxonomy. The correlation would be done using examples of dominant
soil types in Croatia. The Fellow would offer expertise in this
field.
Area of expertise: Experience in soil classification according to
WRB and soil taxonomy.
Time frame: The preferred time for the visit is during 2009 for at
least one month. Language: English. Security Clearance: None
Housing/office space: The Ministry of Science, Education and Sport
has agreed to cover the costs of in-country housing and
transportation. The institution will provide office space and a work
station for the Fellow.
Point of Contact:
Professor Stjepan Husnjak
Soil Science Department
Faculty of Agriculture, University of Zagreb
Svetosimunska cesta 25, 10 000 Zagreb
+385 1 2393 934
shusnjak@agr.hr
I) Institution: Institute for Adriatic Crops and Karst Reclamation,
Split
The Institute for Adriatic Crops (IAC) is a public research
Institute under the auspices of the Ministry of Science, Education
and Sport (MSES) of the Republic of Croatia. It is located in Split,
on the Adriatic coast, in the area where typical Mediterranean crops
are grown. Split is also Croatia's second largest city.
Project: In order to promote continuity based on the foundation
built in 2007, an embassy Fellow is requested to continue strategic
planning and implementation for grants and proposals in agricultural
research, education and extension. Relationships established with
some U.S institutions will be extended for collaboration in
international education through distance learning, research
collaboration, and sharing of extension methods.
Area of expertise: A scientist with experience in research,
education and extension programs in the field of Food, Agriculture
and Biotechnology could provide necessary knowledge and would help
us develop and improve our activities. A person with a sound
scientific background, familiar with horticulture, and with good
knowledge of its international industry sector, would best fit in
the program.
Time frame: The preferred time for the visit is sometime between May
and July 2008 or from middle of August to the end of September 2008,
for at least 45 days. Language: English. Security Clearance: None
Housing/office space: The Ministry of Science, Education and Sport
has agreed to cover the costs of in-country housing and
transportation. The institution will provide office space and a work
station for the Fellow.
Point of Contact:
Slavko Perica
Institute for Adriatic Crops and Karst Reclamation
Put Duilova 11, 21000 Split
+385 21 434 434
slavko@krs.hr
J) Institution: Department of Agricultural Botany, Faculty of
Agriculture, University of Zagreb
Project: The project would focus on plant ecology and the dynamics
of vegetation by remote sensing techniques with a special interest
in succession of pastures. The department also requests help in
vegetation spectral analysis for monitoring the dynamics of
vegetation and the correlation with satellite image data analysis
with ground truth spectral data.
Area of expertise: Experience in ground based remote sensing
measurement techniques (field spectroscopy, spectral data
processing).
Time frame: The preferred time for the visit is during 2008 or 2009
for at least two months. Language: English. Security Clearance:
None
Housing/office space: The Ministry of Science, Education and Sport
has agreed to cover the costs of in-country housing and
transportation. The institution will provide office space and a work
station for the Fellow.
Point of Contact:
Ivica Ljubicic
Department of Agricultural Botany
Faculty of Agriculture, University of Zagreb
Svetosimunska cesta 25, 10 000 Zagreb
+385 1 239 4029
iljubicic@agr.hr
K) Institution: Department of Pomology, Faculty of Agriculture,
University of Zagreb
Project: With regard to selected wild fruits, the Department expects
to work on developing inventories and insight into the existing
condition of populations, analysis of genetic diversity within and
between populations, determination of antioxidant content in
selected populations, isolation of plants rich in nutrients,
isolation of plants resistant to the most important diseases and
pests, propagation of interesting material and growing an ex situ
collection, protection of interesting material in ex situ
collection, and availability of material for propagation.
Sampling of selected wild edible fruits and data input into FCD.
Preparation for locating the collection field will be done. The
results of botanical, pomological, genetic and chemical analyses for
determined localities will be obtained. Accessions for propagation
and planting into collection will be selected. Propagated material
will be planted in the collection field. The results of botanical,
pomological, genetic and chemical analyses for the determined
localities will be obtained. Data will be analyzed and considered
for preparation of papers for scientific journals or science
conferences.
Area of expertise: Fellow would be a scientist from the United
States Department of Agriculture (USDA). The Fellow should have
experience in establishing gene banks and knowledge about plant
diversity.
Time frame: The preferred time for the visit is May and July 2009
for at least 2 months. Language: English. Security Clearance: None
Housing/office space: The Ministry of Science, Education and Sport
has agreed to cover the costs of in-country housing and
transportation. The institution will provide office space and a work
station for the Fellow.
Point of Contact:
Boris Duralija, scientific project manager
Department of Pomology,
Faculty of Agriculture, University of Zagreb
Svetosimunska 25, HR-10000 Zagreb, CROATIA
+385 1 2393726
bduralija@agr.hr
L) Institution: Faculty of Geotechnical Engineering University of
Zagreb
The Faculty of Geotechnical Engineering was one of the first higher
education institutions in Croatia to initiate education of students
in Environmental Engineering. The Faculty has recently completed
their Environmental Geochemistry Laboratory, with special facilities
for water analyses.
Project: The Faculty wishes to host an expert in environmental
protection and the role of various disciplines in protecting the
environment The Faculty would like to improve the quality of the
university education program by updating their curriculum and
establishing Environmental Engineering as a respectable engineering
and scientific discipline. According to the Faculty, the importance
of Environmental Engineering has not yet been adequately recognized
in Croatia. The Fellow would be welcome to give lectures on the
importance of Environmental Engineering for academics as well as for
general audience and experts in public administration of the
Republic of Croatia.
Area of expertise: An expert with a sound knowledge of environmental
protection. The Fellow should be acquainted with education programs
for environmental engineers.
Time frame: The preferred time for the visit is during the winter
semester of the 2008-2009 academic year for at least one month.
Language: English. Security Clearance: None
Housing/office space: The Ministry of Science, Education and Sport
has agreed to cover the costs of in-country housing and
transportation. The institution will provide office space and a work
station for the Fellow.
Point of Contact:
Ivan Hip
Faculty of Geotechnical Engineering
University of Zagreb
Hallerova aleja 7, 42000 Varazdin
+385 42 408 900
ivan.hip@gfv.hr
M) Institution: Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases,
Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb
Project: The Department seeks a Fellow who could help with
Trichinella, Croatia's most widespread food borne parasitic
pathogen. In Croatia, the PCR method is used to detect intra and
interspecific variability. Aside from multiplex PCR, amplification
of ITS1 and ITS2 fragments followed by RFLP analysis is also used
for the recognition of various Trichinella. The Fellow would help
establish sophisticated molecular techniques appropriate to carry on
molecular epidemiological investigation, which would be useful in
searching for the source and the risk of trichinellosis spread in
Croatia. Better knowledge of appropriate molecular methods would
help in clarifying the current occurrence of non encapsulated
Trichinella pseudospiralis in Croatia.
Area of expertise: The Department requests a Fellow from the Animal
Parasitic Diseases Laboratory, Agricultural Research Service, United
Stated Department of Agriculture, BARC EAST, Beltsville, Maryland.
Time frame: The preferred time for the visit is during 2009 for up
to 3 months. Language: English. Security Clearance: None
Housing/office space: The Ministry of Science, Education and Sport
has agreed to cover the costs of in-country housing and
transportation. The institution will provide office space and a work
station for the Fellow.
Point of Contact:
Professor Albert Marinculic,
Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases with Clinics,
Faculty of Veterinary Medicine University of Zagreb,
Heinzelova 55, 10000 Zagreb
385 98 982 9107
albert@vef.hr
Bradtke