From Slovenia to Australia: ASEF Junior Fellow 2024 Zala Perko Tackles the Plastic Waste Problem

Zala Perko on her ASEF research visit at The University of Queensland, Australia.

ASEF Junior Fellow 2024 Zala Perko has completed her 10-week research visit at The University of Queensland, School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences (Brisbane, Australia), under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Boštjan Kobe. Her research focused on the structural biology of PETases, enzymes that degrade the plastic polymer polyethylene terephthalate (PET).

She conducted the research visit as part of her Master’s thesis at The Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Technology, University of Ljubljana, where she is investigating the effects of introducing a coiled-coil motif on the structural properties, oligomerisation, and activity of PETases. During her stay, she learned and applied a variety of techniques used for protein structural and biochemical characterisation, including X-ray crystallography, mass photometry, and SEC-MALS.

Zala actively participated in weekly research group meetings, attended seminars across different scientific fields, and presented her own research.

The research visit led to a closer collaboration with Prof. Dr. Boštjan Kobe, who is now also the co-supervisor of her Master’s thesis.

Outside the lab, Zala spent most of her time in nature. She joined the UQ mountain club and climbed many mountains in Queensland. She explored Australia’s bushland and national parks, encountered unique wildlife, enjoyed morning coffee runs, sunrises and Asian cuisine.

Her most memorable moments were climbing Mount Barney, surfing in Byron Bay, living in a rooftop tent, and driving along the endless sandy beaches of the East Coast.

The ASEF research visit was an unforgettable experience that significantly contributed to her personal and professional development. She would like to express her sincere gratitude to ASEF for this opportunity, and to Prof. Dr. Boštjan Kobe and his research group for their support and the valuable knowledge she gained.

Read more about Research Abroad Fellowship here. Follow us for updates, the date for our next call for applications will be announced shortly.