Career story of FTPO graduate Rok Pogorevc

I come from Mislinja, a small town near Slovenj Gradec, which is considered the administrative, cultural, and educational center of the Koroška region. That is where I attended a general secondary school, which gave me a broad general education and a good foundation for further study. I developed analytical thinking and prepared myself for the challenges that awaited me in higher education.

At first, I was sure that I would study chemical engineering – I was considering the Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Technology in Ljubljana or Maribor, as I had always been interested in chemistry. But everything changed after I visited the Faculty of Polymer Technology (FTPO) with my high school chemistry teacher. It's hard to describe exactly what happened then, but something about the atmosphere, the relaxed vibe, and the uniqueness of the faculty drew me in. I decided more based on feeling than logic – and I don't regret that decision today.

Studying at FTPO was very interesting for me and, above all, practically oriented. I appreciated this the most, because today, working in a research environment, I notice that some colleagues with theoretical knowledge have problems when it comes to applying it in practice. I also remember some funny moments, such as when someone thought that gas was leaking from the reactor – in the end, we found out that the reason was an open window and condensation due to the cold. Experiences like these taught me how important the connection between theory and real-life situations in the laboratory is.

At FTPO, I had many opportunities for practical work and real challenges from industry. To be honest, I didn't really miss anything. I was the "nerd in the corner" who usually finished the exam first – and then often ended up as a source of "inspiration" for others (laughs). One anecdote that particularly sticks in my mind relates to the lectures of Dr. Majda Žigon. Apparently, I looked quite bored in her lectures, because she brought me books on polymer engineering from the Chemical Institute and even sent me some literature by e-mail. I was sincerely grateful to her, as it allowed me to deepen my knowledge in a field that interested me – even if the lectures were perhaps a little boring for me (laughs). I was sincerely grateful to her, as it allowed me to deepen my knowledge in a field that interested me – even if the lectures were perhaps a little boring for me (laughs). This really says a lot about how professors know how to listen to individuals and support them.

During my studies, I first connected with employers through the Creative Path project, organized by FTPO in collaboration with the Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Technology and the company. In my final year, I also had to complete a mandatory internship, which led me to an important turning point. The Polymer Engineering course was taught by Prof. Dr. Blaž Likozar, who greatly inspired me with his research work at the Chemical Institute. I did my internship with him and later wrote my thesis. After that, I remained in his department as a student worker and later enrolled in a master's program at FTPO.

Throughout my master's studies, I worked at the Department of Catalysis and Reaction Engineering at the Chemical Institute. I gained a lot of practical experience, which helped me in both my research and professional development. I completed my master's thesis under the mentorship of Dr. Likozar, and later decided to continue with doctoral studies at the Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Technology at the University of Maribor. I was employed as a young researcher at the Chemical Institute and continued my work under the mentorship of Dr. Likozar and the co-mentorship of Dr. Brigita Hočevar.

Since I had been working in this department for a long time, the transition to doctoral studies did not require any additional introduction—I was familiar with the research environment and the methodology of work. Immediately after completing my master's degree, I was employed at the Chemical Institute as a young researcher, which means that I am researching the topic of my doctoral thesis and at the same time participating in numerous projects. My work includes optimizing catalytic processes, developing new technologies, writing articles and reports, and preparing project proposals. Every day brings new challenges and opportunities for learning.

I would highlight two things as the greatest achievements in my career. The first was as part of my master's thesis, where we proved that industrial waste from the paper industry—lignin—can be used as a substitute for diglycidyl ether bisphenol A in the preparation of epoxy resins. For this work, I received an award for the best completed work at FTPO. The second achievement is a recently published review article on the topic of my doctoral research in the Chemical Engineering Journal, which I consider an important milestone in my research career.

Where do I see myself in ten years? It's hard to say for sure, but I think I'd like to stay in research—either in academia or industry.

I'm still in touch with the faculty, mainly through the FTPO Alumni Club. In my free time, I like to do 3D printing. I became interested in it during my studies, and today I have three printers of different sizes at home. I print everything from artworks to useful tools for laboratory work, such as sample holders, attachments, etc. I am happy that I can combine my hobby with a practical contribution to my work.