CAREER GOAL

I recently completed my uniform Master’s degree in Pharmacy and enrolled in an interdisciplinary doctoral program in Biomedicine. In my future career, I see myself as a researcher, aiming to work on the development of new innovative medicines and contribute to advancements in the pharmaceutical industry.

Education and training

University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Pharmacy

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  • Doctor of Philosophy in the field of pharmacy (PhD)

  • Ljubljana, Slovenia
  • Field(s) of study: Inter-disciplinary programmes and qualifications involving natural sciences, mathematics and statistics
  • Level in EQF: EQF level 8
  • NQF Level: SQF 10
  • Type of credits: ECTS
  • Number of credits: 240

Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ljubljana

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  • Master of Pharmacy (MPharm)

  • Aškerceva cesta 7, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia
  • Field(s) of study: Pharmacy
  • Final grade: Cum laude
  • Level in EQF: EQF level 7
  • NQF Level: Raven 8 SOK
  • Type of credits: ECTS
  • Number of credits: 300 KT
  • Thesis: Design and synthesis of novel InhA enzyme inhibitors using bioinformatics tools and machine learning

Gimnazija Kranj

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  • General Matura Certificate

  • Koroška cesta 13, 4000, Kranj, Slovenia
  • Final grade: "Golden Graduate" - High Distinction
  • Level in EQF: EQF level 4
  • NQF Level: SOK 5
  • Number of credits: 240
SplošnaMaturaSpričevaloSPohvalo[2020]

Osnovna Šola Simona Jenka Kranj

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  • Basic school leaving certificate

  • Ulica XXXI. divizije 7a, 4000, Kranj, Slovenia
  • Final grade: Passed with distinction
  • Level in EQF: EQF level 2
  • NQF Level: SOK 2
PriznanjeZaOdličenUspehVVsehRazredihOsnovneŠole

Language skills

Mother tongue(s)

Slovenian

Other language(s)

Listening Reading Spoken interaction Spoken production Writing

English

B2: Independent user
B2: Independent user
B2: Independent user
B2: Independent user
B2: Independent user
Certificates and diplomas
CERTIFICATE-ENGLISH

German

B1: Independent user
B1: Independent user
B1: Independent user
B1: Independent user
B1: Independent user

Spanish

A1: Basic User
A1: Basic User
A1: Basic User
A1: Basic User
A1: Basic User

Czech

A1: Basic User
A1: Basic User
A1: Basic User
A1: Basic User
A1: Basic User

Polish

A1: Basic User
A1: Basic User
A1: Basic User
A1: Basic User
A1: Basic User

Skills

Digital literacy

  • MS Office (Word PowerPoint Excel)
  • Adobe Photoshop (basic elements)
  • Linux (Ubuntu)
  • Video production and video editing
  • Python
  • Windows
  • HTML
  • scikit-learn (maschine learning library)
  • Use of computer and file management

Soft skills

  • Flexible and adaptive to change resourceful in getting the work done.
  • Works well individually and in groups
  • Open for new knowledge and skills
  • Self-initiated and self -propelled to work

Work experience

  • University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Pharmacy

  • Ljubljana, Slovenia

Young researcher

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  • Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ljubljana

  • Ljubljana, Slovenia

Organic Chemistry Tutor

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  1. Provided a group tutoring to help students understand key concepts in organic chemistry.
  2. Simplified complex topics like reaction mechanisms and stereochemistry.
  3. Assisted with problem-solving and exam preparation.
  4. Adapted teaching methods to different learning styles for better comprehension.
  5. Developed study materials and practice problems to reinforce learning.
  6. Fostered a supportive learning environment to boost students’ confidence and performance.

  • Slovenian Pharmaceutical Students Association

  • Ljubljana, Slovenia

Member of the editorial board of Spatula, the magazine of the Slovenian Pharmaceutical Students Association

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  1. Proofreading articles,
  2. Planning content,
  3. Brainstorming new ideas,
  4. Promoting the magazine.

  • Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ljubljana

  • Ljubljana, Slovenia

Research work

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Using machine learning to find new anti-tuberculosis drugs.

  • The Galenic Laboratory of Gorenjske lekarne

  • Kranj, Slovenia

Intern

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  1. Assisted in production and packaging, ensuring quality control and safety compliance.
  2. Collaborated with team to meet output targets and improve workflow.
  3. Gained experience in fast-paced manufacturing and pharmaceutical GMP.

  • Uniwersytet Jagielloński Collegium Medicum

  • Kraków, Poland

Laboratory Intern

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I have precipitated in IPSF's Student Exchange Programme (SEP). My work consisted of:


  1. In silico screening of compounds (docking in CB1 receptor and improvement of docking scores using machine learning).
  2. Development of synthetic route reaction conditions to obtain the best yields and purity.
  3. Isolation, separation and purification of newly synthesised compounds.
  4. Dynamic solubility assessment.
  5. Apply medicinal chemistry principles to obtain new pharmacologically active compounds with respect to drug-like ADME properties in drug design and development.

  • Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ljubljana

  • Ljubljana, Slovenia

Laboratory intern

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  1. The aim of the project was to find new synthetic pathways for known API and it's asymmetric synthesis.
  2. My work consisted of reactions set-up, extraction and purification of the resulting products.

  • Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ljubljana

  • Ljubljana, Slovenia
  • Name of unit or department: Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry
  • Business or sector: Professional, scientific and technical activities

Part of the pilot project Synthetic Masterchef

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The goals of the project were:

  1. to establish regular contact of students with current academic research at the Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry.
  2. to encourage students to independently research the literature in the field of chemical synthesis.
  3. to enable networking of the most motivated students with researchers in their working environment
  4. to identify good candidates for future employment on research projects


My work:

  1. Completed 23 weekly synthetic challenges in collaboration with ongoing research projects in the Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry.
  2. Selected as a finalist to participate in a 'Mystery Box Molecule' challenge to propose a novel PAP1-MTM conjugate.
  3. Strategically planned and executed the synthetic route in pairs under supervision during a two-week laboratory session.
  4. Worked with a colleague and mentor to produce a poster presentation explaining the project and the PAP1-F16 conjugate.
PAP-1_and_F16-2023-Poster-Kuralt-Strupi_AEC (1)

Publications

Navigating the Chemical Space of ENR Inhibitors: A Comprehensive Analysis

2024 https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics13030252 Kuralt, V.; Frlan, R. Antibiotics 2024, 13, 252.
  1. Curated and analyzed a dataset of 1412 small molecules identified as ENR inhibitors (targeting FabI, FabK, FabV, and InhA).
  2. Investigated structural variants of ENR inhibitors using advanced cheminformatics tools.
  3. Mapped the physicochemical landscape to identify key structural features determining bioactivity.
antibiotics-13-00252-with-cover

Crossing the Boundaries of Medicinal Chemistry: book of abstracts

2023 https://www.ffa.uni-lj.si/docs/default-source/e-knjige/book-of-abstracts---crossing-the-boundaries-ofmedicinal-%20chemistry.pdf?sfvrsn=2

Publication of a summary of the project and the laboratory work presented in the poster.

PAP-1_and_F16-2023-Poster-Kuralt-Strupi_AEC (1)

Hobbies and interests

Hobbies

  1. Rock climbing,
  2. Running,
  3. Cycling,
  4. Mountaineering,
  5. Playing the guitar.

Interests

  1. Medicinal Chemistry,
  2. Microbiology,
  3. Artificial Intelligence (AI),
  4. Pharmaceutical Biotechnology,
  5. Pharmaceutical Engineering.