Career story of FTPO graduate Živa Ikovic

I come from Koroška, more precisely from Prevalje, but I currently live in Škofja Loka. I completed my secondary education at the Ravne na Koroškem Gymnasium, where I also graduated.

The decision to study at FTPO was one of those turning points that you remember forever. When I was in my fourth year of high school, I still didn't have a clear idea of what I wanted to study. In my chemistry class, we had a lesson dedicated to the presentation of polymers, which was conducted by representatives of FTPO. I was so excited that I attended the information days, and from that moment on, this faculty was my only choice. Today, I am grateful that I decided to study this particular subject.

Studying at FTPO was a pleasure and never a chore. What I liked most was that the faculty was small and homely, where we students were treated as individuals with first and last names, not as numbers. The lecturers were always willing to help, we were never afraid to ask questions, and at the same time, they provided us with materials, books, or articles when we wanted to learn more. I found it particularly valuable that we always got practical and industrial examples to go with the theory. Organized field trips, laboratory exercises, and contacts with companies were an excellent opportunity to get to know the real environment while still studying. What meant the most to me was the practical orientation of the faculty: the use of equipment in exercises and compulsory practical training, which provided a real link between theory and practice. This is what later enabled me to quickly become independent in my first working environment and I had no problems getting started.

Since I used public transport to get to the faculty, I didn't live the classic student life, but I really liked the location in Slovenj Gradec. The town is small, quiet, and cozy, but at the same time offers everything you need.

During my studies, I participated in the KORA project, where we presented the profession of researcher to different generations. I also participated in promoting the faculty in kindergartens, primary, and secondary schools. In my final year, I had the opportunity to do my mandatory internship at the Chemical Institute, in the Department of Polymer Chemistry and Technology. There, I learned about the work of a researcher in practice and wrote my thesis under the mentorship of Dr. Alojz Anžlovar. After graduation, I remained at this department as a student through student work. In the meantime, I enrolled in an extraordinary master's program at FTPO, where I prepared my master's thesis in collaboration with ZAG. It was this connection between the faculty and companies and research institutes that opened up many opportunities for me.

After graduating, I first got a job as a student at the Chemical Institute, where I worked on polymer synthesis. Then I saw an advertisement on the faculty website for a job at the accredited laboratory of LOTRIČ Certificiranje d. o. o. in Železniki. I was hired there as a laboratory engineer and later as the head of the Polymers Laboratory. I chose this job because of the nature of the work, as I really enjoy working in a laboratory. The advantage I brought with me from my studies was my practical orientation – when I started the job, I was already familiar with most of the procedures and methods for characterizing polymer materials and working with the equipment, so I was able to work independently very quickly.

I got a job almost immediately after graduating. Today, I work at LOTRIČ Certificiranje d. o. o., where I am responsible for performing accredited and non-accredited tests on polymer materials and products – from mechanical and thermal tests to material identification, viscosity measurement, and combustion rate measurement. I take care of preparing certificates, supervising measuring equipment, performing control charts with reference materials, participating in interlaboratory comparisons, and also in assessments, such as those by Slovenian Accreditation or Volkswagen. One of the major achievements in my career is my participation in the VW assessment, where we became an approved laboratory for testing according to automotive standards.

Although I can't say exactly where I see myself in ten years, I definitely want to stay in the research and development environment. I am still in contact with the faculty – either through business via the company, through training courses, conferences or lectures.

In my free time, my greatest joy is spending time with my family – we prefer to be at home, in nature or on a trip.