en
Slovenščina
Italiano
Research interests
Ecology and biodiversity Environmental pollution by microplastics Citizen science and science communication
Education
Bachelor’s degree in Biology, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, 2003 PhD in Biology, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana (in cooperation with Ghent University), 2010
Employment history
ZRS Koper, Institute for Oliveculture, Research Associate, since 2024 NIB, Marine Biology Station Piran, from Junior Researcher to Research Associate, 2005–2024
Roles and memberships
Slovenian representative in the EU Mission Working Group “Healthy Oceans, Seas, Coastal and Inland Waters”, established under the Strategic Programme Committee of Horizon Europe, 2023–2024 Member of the International Association of Meiobenthologists, since 2007
Achievements and awards
The “Plastic Pirates – Go Europe!” initiative was recognized as a flagship citizen science project during the European Year of Youth 2022 Between Sea and Land: Prometheus of Science Award for Excellence in Communication, 2011
Projects
Biotechnological innovation for sustainable and competitive agriculture, BioTech2Agri, Interreg VI-A Italy–Slovenia 2021–2027 ITA-SI0600180, 2024–2026
Knowledge Hub for Green, Sustainable and Innovative Mediterranean Agriculture – MED-STI-K, CRP V4-2381, 2023–2025
Plastic pirates – Go Europe!, 2022-2024, EU Mission Restore our Oceans and Waters
Plastic Pirates – Go Europe: young citizen scientists on a mission to collect data and spread knowledge about plastic and microplastic pollution in rivers, CRP V1-2040, 2021–2022, project leader
Occurrences of reduced dissolved oxygen concentrations in the northern Adriatic: in situ experiments on benthic response before, during and after anoxia, FWF, 2011–2013, institute project leader
Selected publications
GREGO, Mateja, KOVAČ VIRŠEK, Manca, BAJT, Oliver. Microplastics in seawater and sediments : distribution and transport. V: BONANNO, Giuseppe (ur.), ORLANDO-BONACA, Martina (ur.). Plastic pollution and marine conservation : approaches to protect biodiversity and marine life. 1st ed. London [etc.]: Academic Press: Elsevier, 2022.
GREGO, Mateja, MALEJ, Alenka, DE TROCH, Marleen. The depleted carbon isotopic signature of nematodes and harpacticoids and their place in carbon processing in fish farm sediments. Frontiers in marine science. Jul. 2020.
GREGO, Mateja, RIEDEL, Bettina, STACHOWITSCH, Michael, DE TROCH, Marleen. Meiofauna winners and losers of coastal hypoxia: case study harpacticoid copepods. Biogeosciences. 2014.
SICRIS: List of publications and projects: