Tuesday, 17 March 2026 Vice-rector promoted fourteen new doctors of science
At the solemn ceremony, which traditionally takes place during UP Week, on Monday, March 16, 2026, the Vice-Rector for Scientific Research and Development, prof. dr. Štefko Miklavič , promoted fourteen new UP Doctors of Science. As of today, the University of Primorska has 400 Doctors of Science.
Dr. Barbara Švagan, dr. Branka Bizjak Zabukovec, dr. Marko Grgurovič, dr. Andreja Kociper, dr. Rok Gomezelj, dr. Primož Režko, dr. Nika Ferbežar, dr. Lea Primožič, dr. Ajda Cenčič, dr. Aljaž Kosmač, dr. Lei Han, dr. Mateja Erce Paoli and dr. Marko Petrović besedilo, were graduated at the ceremony.
In (excused) absence: Dr. Jordan Aiko Deja.
Marko Grgurovič defended his doctoral dissertation at the UP FAMNIT entitled »Optimization and graphs: efficiency of some algorithms in theory and practice« under the mentorship of prof. dr. Andrej Brodnik and co-mentorship of izr. prof. dr. Rok Požar.
Doctoral dissertation summary
The dissertation presents new efficient algorithms for finding shortest paths between all pairs of vertices in a graph. It introduces a method that builds on single-source algorithms and another based on a dynamic programming approach, achieving better average-case performance for large graphs in practice than prior work. The dissertation also studies the parallel ant system algorithm when used to solve the traveling salesman problem. It includes theoretical analysis and empirical experiments that confirm the improvements in both theory and in practice.
Jordan Aiko Deja defended his doctoral dissertation at the UP FAMNIT entitled »Designing Augmented Reality Training Systems for Piano and Jazz Improvisation« under the mentorship of prof. dr. Matjaž Kljun and co-mentorship of izr. prof. dr. Klen Čopič Pucihar.
Doctoral dissertation summary
This doctoral dissertation explores how augmented reality (AR) can holistically support the teaching and learning of piano improvisation, an underrepresented yet essential skill in piano pedagogy. Through interviews with educators, a survey of augmented piano technologies, and iterative co-design with improvisation experts, a novel AR-based training system was developed. The research culminated in a controlled experimental study evaluating its pedagogical impact, offering evidence-based insights into integrating AR to enhance creativity, confidence, and improvisational competence in piano education.
Lea Primožič defended her doctoral dissertation at the UP FAMNIT entitled »Sustainability-focused communication about the built environment: improving practices and impacts« under the mentorship of prof. dr. Andreja Kutnar and co-mentorship of doc. dr. Rok Prislan.
Doctoral dissertation summary
This doctoral dissertation examined strategic ways of communicating new concepts of sustainable construction to targeted stakeholders in order to foster its wider use. The effectiveness of this approach was tested on the new sustainable construction concept Restorative environmental and ergonomic design (REED). The dissertation combines five studies that together contribute to a deeper understanding of appropriate communication approaches for improving sustainability across sectors and support targeted communication for professional stakeholders in the wood industry.
Aljaž Kosmač defended his doctoral dissertation at the UP FAMNIT entitled »On smooth spline spaces and isogeometric methods for solving high-order partial differential equations over multi-patch domains« under the mentorship of prof. dr. Vito Vitrih.
Doctoral dissertation summary
The dissertation belongs to the field of isogeometric analysis, which intertwines the areas of numerical mathematics and computer-aided geometric design, and thus represents a modern approach to numerically solving partial differential equations. The dissertation presents several new methods for the construction of approximation spaces of splines over multi-patch domains and their use within the framework of collocation and Galerkin methods, thereby importantly upgrading existing approaches. The results of the dissertation are published in four articles in prestigious journals in the first quartile of SCI journals.
Lei Han defended his doctoral dissertation at the UP FAMNIT entitled »Viscoelastic properties of thermo-hydro-mechanically (THM) densfied wood« under the mentorship of prof. dr. Andreja Kutnar and co-mentorship of prof. dr. Dick Sandberg.
Doctoral dissertation summary
Dissertation examines viscoelasticity and fire-relevant loading of THM densified wood. Beech and Scots pine are benchmarked against untreated, resin-impregnated and thermally modified wood. Tests: bending 25–175 °C, 14-day bending creep at RH, and short-term creep at 170 °C. THM densification increases MOE/MOR and reduces creep, but response is moisture-dependent, suggesting Eurocode 5 safety factor needs material-specific values. It also develops a moisture-activated self-tightening densified-wood dowel (set-recovery) for high-tolerance joints in DLT.
Mateja Erce Paoli defended her doctoral dissertation at the UP FAMNIT entitled »Addressing psychosocial needs with building design to encourage healthy and active ageing« under the mentorship of izr. prof. dr. Michael David Burnard.
Doctoral dissertation summar
The work examines how older adults’ psychosocial wellbeing is linked to the built environment. A literature review identified reliable tools for measuring wellbeing and environmental perceptions, but found that objective assessments often overlook indoor spaces and are rarely combined with residents’ perceptions. A study of retirement homes on the Slovenian coast showed that residents’ wellbeing shapes how they view their surroundings and that specific environmental domains influence wellbeing. Overall, the findings suggest that targeted improvements to the environment can support wellbeing and inform better retirement home design.
