Dr. Marko Kojic

I joined EDGE in January 2026 after graduating from the Institute of Science and Technology Austria (ISTA) with a PhD in Biochemistry (2025). Prior to that, I obtained my BSc in Molecular Biology at the University of Belgrade (2020). My research interests lie in studying microbial metabolism, be it in complex microbial populations or within individual cells. As a trained biochemist, I look at microbial systems on a molecular level and try to integrate biochemical principles with metabolic and physiological observations. At EDGE, with Prof. Michael Zumstein as my advisor, I investigate the biodegradation of polymers (WSPs) by microorganisms derived from wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). Particularly, in collaboration with BASF SE, I aim to understand how the chemical structure a ects the biodegradation of selected polymers used in home care products. To this end, I will combine my expertise in protein and lipid biochemistry, microbiology, and advanced microscopy with analytical techniques that have been established at EDGE.

• Environmental biochemistry: what can enzymes in the environment do to anthropogenic chemicals after their usage?
• Microbial metabolism: how do microorganisms use the building blocks of chemicals?
• Cellular microbiology: how do microbial cells take up chemicals?