Our People

Marija Gizdavic-Nikolaidis

Professor Marija Gizdavic-Nikolaidis is an elected Fellow of the New Zealand Institute of Chemistry and has served for over 15 years as Secretary and Committee Member of its Auckland Branch. She holds a BSc (Honours) in Physical Chemistry from the University of Belgrade, where she began her academic career as a teaching and research assistant. In 2001, she moved to New Zealand to pursue doctoral studies at Waipapa Taumata Rau | University of Auckland. Her PhD research, supported by multiple awards, introduced a novel direction in polymer science—demonstrating the potential of conducting polymers as radical scavengers for biomedical applications. In 2007, she was awarded the prestigious Foundation for Research, Science and Technology Fellowship to develop electrospun bioactive polymer-based nanofibrous composites for wound care, leading to the invention of sustainable antimicrobial polymer technology. She holds six granted patents across New Zealand, Australia, China, Japan, the United States, and Europe. Her innovations have secured over NZD $30 million in government research funding, advancing transdisciplinary bioactive materials research at the University of Auckland, grounded in Kaitiakitanga principles and green polymer chemistry. A pioneer in green enhanced microwave technology, Professor Gizdavic-Nikolaidis has developed rapid, facile and scalable methods for producing advanced polymer nanomaterials and extracting bioactives from food and agricultural waste at room temperature. These technologies support applications in environmental monitoring, water reuse, food science, and biomedical innovation—benefiting partners across New Zealand, Europe, the Indo-Pacific region, and the Middle East. She is deeply committed to teaching and community engagement, bringing a pedagogical approach shaped by both European and New Zealand education systems. Professor Gizdavic-Nikolaidis is actively mentors students and early-career researchers and collaborates with community scientists, Māori and Pasifika researchers, and industry partners to co-design sustainable solutions in materials science. She currently holds dual appointments as Full Research Professor of Chemistry at the University of Belgrade and Honorary Senior Research Fellow at Waipapa Taumata Rau | University of Auckland, contributing to national and international research initiatives that bridge academic excellence with societal impact.