Boštjan Šimunič, PhD

Research Areas:

• Kinesiology
• Physiology of skeletal muscle; Biomechanics of skeletal muscle

Biography:

Boštjan Šimunič holds a BSc in computer engineering (University of Ljubljana, 1999); MSc in electro-engineering sciences (University of Ljubljana, 2001) and PhD in electro-engineering sciences (University of Ljubljana, 2003) with doctoral thesis “Modelling longitudinal contractions and transversal thickening of the skeletal muscle belly in electrically elicited contractions”.

Since March 2013 he is a head of The Institute for Kinesiology Research (IKARUS) ZRS, a member of the ZRS Koper Scientific Council.

He authored many scientific works, of which more than 50 are published in the journals with IF. In the last ten years his publications scored more than 700 citations.

For his work Boštjan Šimunič received many awards:

• Prešeren award (2000);
• two awards of KRKA company (2001, and 2003);
• award of Rok Petrovič foundation (2001) for achievements in sport and science/education;
• UP SRC Messenger of science award (2007) for excellent research achievements of promising researchers;
• as a head of the Institute for kinesiology research he received an award for the best institute at UP SRC in 2015.

Research activity:

Boštjan Šimunič is co-author of a diagnostic method named Tensiomyography for assessing skeletal muscle contractile properties. Within the framework of his postgraduate study he co-established a spin-off company TMG-BMC Ltd., for developmental work on the Tensiomyography as well as economic activities related to its hardware, software and services.

In the framework of his research work he studies acute responses and chronic adaptations of skeletal muscle mechanics on development, ageing, training, physical inactivity, and working place.

He was a leader of two national ARRS projects (L5-5550 Definition of non-invasive method for evaluation of muscle atrophy: from validation to application; L7-9421 Decomposition of skeletal muscle tensiomyogram and identification of contractile parameters sensitive to muscle adaptations), member of a research programme P5-0381 Kinesiology for quality of life and he is actively involved in many international projects: (INTERREG SLO-ITA: PANGEA – Physical activity and nutrition for great ageing; Italian Space Agency: BEDREST Valdoltra – Effect of weightlessness on human organism; Norway funds: A‐Qu‐A – Active and quality ageing in home environment; ERASMUS+ Sport: SCH-YA – Efficient recommended MVPA obtainment for school children and teenagers; World Antidoping Agency: Metabolic detection of insuline abuse in sports).

He is a member of professional and scientific societies: International Society of Tensiomyography; Professional centre of Slovenian Olympic committee. He was member of organisational and scientific boards in many international congresses and scientific journals. He is a reviewer in eminent SCI journals.