Ph.D. Maja Jukic Spika
Maja.Jukic.Spika@krs.hr
Tel:
+385.21.43.44.82
Fax:
+385.21.31.65.84

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Department of Applied Sciences

Work experience:

January 2025 – Head of Department of Applied Sciences, Institute for Adriatic Crops and Karts Reclamation, Put Duilova 11, 21000, Split

May 2023- Senior Scientific Associate, Institute for Adriatic Crops and Karts Reclamation, Put Duilova 11, 21000, Split

February 2016 – May 2023 – Scientific Associate, Institute for Adriatic Crops and Karts Reclamation, Put Duilova 11, 21000, Split

July 2015 – February 2016 – Postdoc, Senior research assistant, Institute for Adriatic Crops and Karts Reclamation, Put Duilova 11, 21000, Split

October 2008 – July 2015 – Research assistant, Postdoc, Senior research assistant, Institute for Adriatic Crops and Karts Reclamation, Put Duilova 11, 21000, Split

August 2007- October 2008 – Technologist in the New Product Development Department, SMS food industry, d.o.o., Kopilica 5, 21000 Split; Development, technology, planning and presentation of new products

Education:

2023. Titular assistant professor, University of Split, Mediterranean agriculture, Croatia; Theme: Sensory analysis of Virgin Olive Oils

2015.  Doctor of Biotechnical Sciences, PhD, Food Technology; Faculty of Food Technology and Biotechnology, University of Zagreb, Croati; Thesis: Characterization and genetic identification of Oblica and Leccino virgin olive oils from Dalmatian olive orchards

2009. Expert in the tasting of virgin olive oil – university expert diploma, Titulo de experto en cata de aceites de oliva virgenes (7a edicion), Universidad de Jaen, Facultad de Ciencias Experimentales – Departamento de Ingenería Química, Ambiental y de los Materiales

2007. Graduated engineer of food technology, MSc, Food Technology, Food Engineering; Faculty of Food Technology and Biotechnology, University of Zagreb; Thesis: Physicochemical properties, phenolic composition and antioxidant capacity of fresh and processed figs

Scientific and Professional Interests: food quality, analytics of olive oil, sensory analysis, polyphenolic potential of fruit and vegetable

Languages:  English, Spanish

Websites: Mendeley profile

ResearcherID: O-2448-2018

ORCID: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8834-518X

Specializations:

05/2022 – Instituto de la Grasa (CSIC), Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of Plant Products, Sevilla, Spain

09/2016 –  Faculty of Biotechnology, University of Ljubljana, Department of technology, food and wine, Slovenia

05 – 06/2013  – Leibniz Institute of Vegetable and Ornamental Crops (IGZ; Leibniz-Institute fur Gemuse und Zierpflanzenbau), Department of Quality, Grossberen, Germany

11 – 12/2012 – Leibniz Institute of Vegetable and Ornamental Crops (IGZ; Leibniz-Institute fur Gemuse und Zierpflanzenbau), Department of Quality, Grossberen, Germany

06 – 08/2010  – University of Georgia–Tifton, Department of Horticulture, Georgia, USA

09 – 12/2009 – University of Jaen, Department of Chemical, Environmental and Materials Engineering, Spain

20 – 27/07/2009 – International Olive Council – IOC, Madrid, Spain, July 2009. Training course on organoleptic assessment of virgin oil –panel leaders.

1 – 4/04/2009 – “The course of a sensory assessment and selection of assessors for virgin olive oil” Croatian Chamber of Economy, Split, Croatia,  April 2009.

6 – 9/04/2008 – International Olive Council – IOC, Institute for Adriatic Crops and Karst Reclamation, Croatia; Seminar for sensory evaluation of virgin olive oil.

 

Awards and professional memberships:
  • Society of Chemical Industry (from 2025)
  • Guest judge at international virgin olive oil competitions (London IOOC, London, England – since 2023; Anatolian IOOC, Turkey – from 2025)
  • ISHS International Society for Horticultural Sciences (from 2022)
  • Recognition of the Association of Oil Growers and Olive Growers of the Split-Dalmatia County to individuals who have distinguished themselves in scientific and professional work on improving the production and promotion of olive oil, as part of the international manifestation of olive growers of the Mediterranean “Maslina Split” (2016).
  • Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) (from 2015)
  • Professional panel for sensory analysis of virgin olive oils of the Institute for Adriatic Crops and Karst Reclamation, Croatia (since 2015)
  • Croatian Society of Food Technologists, Biotechnologists and Nutritionists (HDPBN) (since 2015)
  • Scholarship of the International Olive Council for a university specialist course organized by the University of Jaén (Spain) for experts in sensory evaluation of virgin olive oils (2009).