2023 Journal of Materials Chemistry Lectureship winner: Dr Jovana Milić, University of Fribourg, Switzerland

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Abstract

Learn more about our 2023 Journal of Materials Chemistry Lectureship recipient.

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The Journal of Materials Chemistry Lectureship is an annual award, established in 2010, which honours early-career scientists who have made a significant contribution to the field of materials chemistry. This year we received many high-quality nominations from across the world. With help from our Advisory and Editorial Boards, each nomination was assessed and considered for the award. Dr Jovana Milić was selected for the 2023 Lectureship based on her impressive publication record, her establishment as an early-career researcher and her strong engagement in a variety of outreach opportunities to support the chemistry community. Congratulations to Jovana!

Dr Jovana V. Milić is an assistant professor and the Smart Energy Materials Group leader at the University of Fribourg in Switzerland since January 2021. She obtained her PhD in the Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences of ETH Zurich in 2017. She then worked as a postdoctoral scientist in the Laboratory of Photonics and Interfaces at EPFL until taking on a group leader position at the Adolphe Merkle Institute in September 2020 as the Swiss National Science Foundation PRIMA Fellow. Her research is centered around developing (supra)molecular materials for energy conversion, with a particular focus on hybrid photovoltaics. This involves a multidisciplinary approach at the interface of chemistry, material science, and engineering. Her research activities have been recognised by numerous honours and awards, including the CAS Future Leader 2019, Green Talents Award in 2020, and Zeno Karl Schindler Prize in 2021 for research contributions to sustainable development. She was also awarded the ERC Starting Grant in 2023 for the development of smart and sustainable hybrid materials for opto(electro)ionics. In addition to research and international collaborations, she is invested in science outreach, policy, and diplomacy as a member of the Global Young Academy, Swiss Young Academy, the European Young Chemists' Network, and International Younger Chemists Network, connecting and supporting young scientists globally.

 

Read our interview with Jovana below:

How did you feel when you were announced as the winner of the 2023 Journal of Materials Chemistry Lectureship?

JM: I was surprised and honoured by the nomination and selection for the 2023 Journal of Materials Chemistry Lectureship, which further strengthens my motivation to contribute to the community of materials chemistry.

Which of your Journal of Materials Chemistry publications are you most proud of and why?

JM: I am proud of my recent Journal of Materials Chemistry C (https://doi.org/10.1039/D1TC01533H) and our Nanoscale (https://doi.org/10.1039/D1NR08311B) publication, as well as Photochemistry 2022 book chapter (https://doi.org/10.1039/9781839167676-00346), highlighting our research and educational efforts to rely on supramolecular engineering in advancing hybrid materials toward multifunctional materials for energy conversion and smart nanotechnologies. In addition, I am proud of our Journal of Materials Chemistry A 2021 contribution (https://doi.org/10.1039/D1TA90183D) with my colleagues at the European Young Chemists' Network (EYCN), supporting the community of young chemists. I am also grateful for these articles to be highlighted in the Emerging Investigators Issues of the journals.

At which upcoming conferences may our community meet you?

JM: The community can meet me at several upcoming conferences in hybrid and organic electronics, photovoltaics, and supramolecular chemistry, including the Global Conference for Decarbonization of Energy and Materials (https://protect-eu.mimecast.com/s/HOf9CROV1IGYrPNuqQgkn?domain=gcdem2023.com), Asia-Pacific International Conference on Perovskite and Organic Photovoltaics and Optoelectronics (https://protect-eu.mimecast.com/s/HhrzCVAVQs2BljMskXUef?domain=nanoge.org), Materials for Sustainable Development Conference (https://protect-eu.mimecast.com/s/CdXrCWL9qS63jw0f1zr5Q?domain=nanoge.org), International Conference on Science and Technology of Synthetic Electronic Materials (https://protect-eu.mimecast.com/s/iWHCCXL95S4An7mtMITw4?domain=icsm2024.de), and International Conference on Noncovalent Interactions (https://protect-eu.mimecast.com/s/cJeYCYW95uDY3o5u2eKS2?domain=icni3.bio.bg.ac.rs), as well as International Conference in Hybrid and Organic Photovoltaics (https://protect-eu.mimecast.com/s/B6dhCZY90f7vMnzcJg91e?domain=nanoge.org), which I will be chairing next year, among others.

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