I accepted a post-doctoral position at Harvard, specifically Institute for Innovation in Imaging (I3).

During one of the grad school recruitment event, older graduate students were giving us their advice and one of the grad students was telling the story about buffaloes and it stuck with me. There is a story about buffaloes that illustrates an important lesson about facing challenges in life. Buffaloes are known to dislike water and storms, but they have learned over time that if they see storm clouds approaching, the best strategy is to run towards the storm rather than away from it. By doing so, they are able to spend less time in the storm, and avoid being caught in the worst of it. This may seem counterintuitive, as our natural instinct is often to avoid challenges and difficult situations. However, the lesson here is that sometimes the best way to overcome adversity is to face it head-on, rather than trying to avoid it. In life, we may encounter many storms and challenges, but by confronting them directly, we can minimize their impact and emerge stronger and more resilient on the other side. The story of the buffaloes reminds us that sometimes, the shortest path through a storm is to run directly towards it, rather than trying to run away from it.

During my recruitment visit to Purdue, I not only had the chance to connect with an exceptional interdisciplinary research team that was conducting research in a field I was truly passionate about, but I also had a unique and unforgettable experience. It was during this visit that I met a group of friends who have become my closest companions, with whom I have celebrated successes and weathered failures.

Innovative, Inclusive, Impactful

My first semester at Purdue, I was part of the class that organized official visit and seminar for Dr. William Moerner, 2014 Nobel Prize Winner. I never drove in snow before, but I volunteered to drIve him around the campus during an ice storm. Let's just say I never drove during a snow storm again.

I spend most of my free time at the gym and exploring West Lafayette with my dog Bepo and cats Bonnie and Clyde.

It would have to be Amelia Earhart. She was known for her courage, determination, and adventurous spirit and she broke many barriers for women in the field and history in general. I would love to get an insight into what it was like to fly during the early days of aviation and the challenges she faced along the way.

I was part of the Croatian National Track and Field Team, and I have competed in track for 17 years.