330 new doctors of science awarded their degrees

On 1 and 2 June 2026, the University of Ljubljana (UL) celebrated science and the arts. In cooperation with its faculties and academies of the arts, the University publicly conferred doctoral degrees on 330 new doctors of science and, on the first evening, presented 23 awards for outstanding artistic achievements. The ceremony was held for the first time at the Križanke Open-Air Theatre in Ljubljana.

First evening – Monday, 1 June

The public conferment of doctoral degrees is one of the University’s highest academic ceremonies, symbolically and formally marking the completion of the highest level of academic study while presenting outstanding research and artistic achievements to the wider public. This year, the event was held for the first time in the Križanke Auditorium and featured a ceremonial procession led by the University leadership and representatives of its member institutions, highlighting the ceremonial role of science and the arts. Through the public promotion of its doctoral graduates, the University of Ljubljana aims to emphasise that science and the arts belong not only to academia but also to the city and society as a whole.

“We must learn to live in peace—with one another and with the planet that is our only home. This applies both within local communities and nations, and among countries across the world. At the same time, we must recognise that our planet does not possess unlimited resources to support human greed. Science will therefore remain just as important in the coming decades as it has been in the past. Natural sciences and engineering will continue to seek solutions to the challenges we have created ourselves, while the social sciences, humanities and the arts must once again remind us that we are part of the same community and that we can truly thrive only together. You have the knowledge. You also possess youthful energy, curiosity and courage. Use them to help make the world a better place,” emphasised the Rector of the University of Ljubljana, Prof. Dr Gregor Majdič.

The first evening also featured an address by Prof. Nataša Barbara Gračner from the UL Academy of Theatre, Radio, Film and Television, who spoke about the responsibility that comes with being part of a university as a bearer of knowledge: “Modern humanity may be the most informed in history and yet one of the most disoriented. This is the paradox of our time. Never have we known so much, yet never have we been so far removed from a broader understanding of context. That is why the question of the university is one of the defining questions of our age. If it becomes merely a distributor of information, it has already lost the battle. The university exists to interpret knowledge, to give it meaning and place it within a broader context, enabling a deeper understanding of the world. This is its irreplaceable role. It does not simply create knowledge; it cultivates judgement, ensuring that doubt, critical thinking and the search for truth remain alive. As Bertolt Brecht once said, the purpose of knowledge is not to confirm our certainties, but to limit our mistakes.”

New doctors of science from UL FE

The Faculty of Electrical Engineering of the University of Ljubljana proudly celebrates 12 new doctors of science:

• Dr Silvija Lavrač – Process capability assessment for arbitrarily continuous distributed data (Supervisor: Prof. Dr Goran Turk)
• Dr Miloš Antić – Localization and mapping in structured indoor environments for autonomous mobile systems using computer vision (Supervisor: Prof. Dr Igor Škrjanc)
• Dr Miloš Ljubotina – Optical coupling structures for the heterogeneous integration of quantum photonic components (Supervisor: Prof. Dr Janez Krč)
• Dr Peter Lombergar – Numerical modelling of temperature during electroporation in the presence of fluid flow (Supervisor: Assoc. Prof. Dr Bor Kos)
• Dr Vid Mlačnik – Ensuring metrological traceability in radiation thermometry (Supervisor: Prof. Dr Igor Pušnik)
• Dr Klemen Pečnik – User experience assessment and the use of augmented reality to improve accessibility for deaf and hard-of-hearing users in multimedia broadcasting (Supervisor: Prof. Dr Matevž Pogačnik; Co-supervisor: Assist. Prof. Dr Matevž Kunaver)
• Dr Gašper Podobnik – Multimodal medical image segmentation using deep learning (Supervisor: Prof. Dr Tomaž Vrtovec; Co-supervisor: Dr Bulat Ibragimov)
• Dr Matej Rabzelj – Cyberattack modelling based on publicly available datasets and cyber deception systems (Supervisor: Assoc. Prof. Dr Urban Sedlar)
• Dr Marko Remec – Performance monitoring and stability testing of perovskite solar cells (Supervisor: Prof. Dr Marko Topič)
• Dr Florian Scheler – The influence of selective contact layers and interface engineering on the efficiency and stability of perovskite solar cells (Supervisor: Prof. Dr Marko Topič)
• Dr Žiga Stržinar – Minimally invasive methods for monitoring and control of industrial processes (Supervisor: Prof. Dr Igor Škrjanc; Co-supervisor: Assist. Prof. Dr Boštjan Pregelj)
• Dr Rok Šmerc – Mechanisms of electroporation and physicochemical factors relevant to electroporation-based therapies (Supervisor: Assist. Prof. Dr Samo Mahnič-Kalamiza)

Congratulations to all our new doctors of science!