P (Patricija) Gran

In 2017, Patricija obtained her bachelor's degree in Horticultural Engineering from the Faculty of Agriculture at the University of Zagreb, Croatia. During her undergraduate studies, Patricija acquired extensive knowledge in various areas such as plant nutrition, plant protection, oenology, pomology, and the cultivation of ornamental plants and vegetables. She successfully completed her bachelor's thesis at the Department of Viticulture and Oenology, under the guidance of Dr. Marin Mihaljevic Zulj.

In the same year, Patricija embarked on her master's studies in International Horticulture at the Faculty of Natural Sciences at Leibniz Universität Hannover, Germany. However, she later transferred to the Plant Sciences master's program at the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences at Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn, Germany, in 2018. It was there that she delved into the fascinating realm of molecular stress physiology, particularly focusing on desiccation tolerance, and deepened her understanding of cellular biology in plants. Patricija successfully completed her master's studies, culminating in a thesis conducted at the Institute of Molecular Physiology and Biotechnology of Plants, supervised by Prof. Dr. Dorothea Bartels.

Continuing her academic journey, Patricija commenced her doctoral studies in 2020 at the Plant Physiology Department of Wageningen University and Research, under the guidance of Prof. Dr. Ing. Leonie Bentsink. Her doctoral research centers on investigating the dynamics and protection of stored mRNAs in primed seeds, aiming to ensure their long-term survival. To address the issue of impaired seed longevity, Patricija actively collaborates with seed companies, striving to find effective solutions and contribute to enhanced food security.

In addition to her research endeavors, Patricija is an engaged member of the GeneSprout Initiative,a young researcher initiative that fosters open dialogue on new genomic techniques and EU policy thereof. Within this initiative, she takes on leadership roles in both the Policy and Advocacy Squad and the Press Office, facilitating impactful discussions and driving positive change.