Felix M. Wensveen

Work Experience:

2024 – Present Professor. Department of Histology & Embryology, Rijeka School of Medicine, University of Rijeka, Croatia.

2019 – 2024 Associate Professor. Department of Histology & Embryology, Rijeka School of Medicine, University of Rijeka, Croatia.

2013 – 2019 Assistant Professor. Department of Histology & Embryology, Rijeka School of Medicine, University of Rijeka, Croatia.

2014 – 2017 Independent postdoctoral research fellow (Veni Laureate). Department of Experimental Immunology, Academic Medical Centre, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands

2011 – 2013 Independent postdoctoral research fellow (Marie Curie Laureate). Dept. of Histology & Embryology, Rijeka School of Medicine, University of Rijeka, Croatia.

2010 – 2011 Postdoctoral research fellow (FP7 Transmedri project). Dept. of Histology & Embryology, Rijeka School of Medicine, University of Rijeka, Croatia.

2006 – 2010 PhD. Student. Department of Experimental Immunology, Academic Medical Centre, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Education

2006 – 2010 PhD. Topic: Immunology. Faculty of Medicine, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

2003 – 2006 Master of Science. Topic: Bio-Medical Science (Oncology). Faculty of Science, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

2000 – 2003 Bachelor of Science (Cum Laude). Topic: Bio-Medical Science. Faculty of Science, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

Research projects

2023 – 2027 HRZZ, research grant of the Croatian science foundation €200.000, Title: The role of adiponectin in CD8 T cell biology.

2021 – 2025 HRZZ, research grant of the Croatian science foundation (collaborator) €184.000. Title: The impact of Diabetes mellitus type 2 and its therapy on Lymphocyte function.

2020 – 2022 HRZZ, COVID-grant of the Croatian science foundation €165.000. Title: Memory manipulation;

development of novel strategies to enhance the memory CD8 T cell response against COVID-19 following vaccination.

2020 – 2021 MZO, research grant for ERC applicants €54.000, Title: Unravelling reciprocal regulation of the immune and endocrine systems

2017 – 2021 HRZZ, research grant of the Croatian science foundation €135.000. Title: Rewriting memory; Manipulation of T cell memory to enhance vaccine efficiency

2014 – 2017 CIG, EU Career Integration Grant €75.000. Title: Memory control; Molecular mechanisms that control the scope of immunological memory

2014 – 2017 Veni, NWO Innovational Research Incentives Scheme €250.000. Title: Memory control; Molecular mechanisms that control the scope of immunological memory

2013 – 2015 UKF, Research Cooperability Program €200.000. Title: The role of pathogen-driven inflammation of visceral adipose tissue in the development of Diabetes Mellitus type II

2013 – 2015 EFSD New Horizons Collaborative Research Initiative €100.000. Title: Fat Killers:

The role of Natural Killer cells in the development of Diabetes Mellitus Type 2

2011 – 2013 Marie Curie Fellowship (IEF) €173.221. Title: Memory Control; The role of NKG2D and the T-cell receptor in memory T cell biology.

SUPERVISION OF GRADUATE STUDENTS AND POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCHERS:

2020 – Present PhD. Student Dora Gašparini Senior-Supervisor. University of Rijeka

2020 – Present PhD. Student Sanja Mikašinović Co-supervisor. University of Rijeka

2020 – 2023 PhD. Student Karlo Mladenić Co-supervisor. University of Rijeka

2020 – Present Postdoc Inga Kavazović Senior supervisor. University of Rijeka

2017 – Present Postdoc Maja Lenartić Co-supervisor, University of Rijeka

2019 – 2023 PhD. Student Mia Krapić Senior-Supervisor. University of Rijeka

2018 – Present PhD. Student Ante Benić Co-supervisor. University of Rijeka

2015 – 2020 PhD. Student Inga Kavazović Senior-Supervisor. University of Rijeka

2014 – 2018 PhD. Student Marko Šestan Co-supervisor. University of Rijeka

2013 – 2018 PhD. Student Sonja Marinović (Valentić) Co-supervisor. University of Rijeka

2010 – 2016 PhD. Student Vedrana Jelenčić Co-supervisor. University of Rijeka

2010 – 2017 PhD. Student Maja Lenartić (Gulin) Co-supervisor. University of Rijeka

Awards

2022 – EFIS Eastern star award

2020 – Award from the Croatian Academy of Science for the best scientific achievement of 2019 in the field of Medical Science

2017 – Award for the best scientist in the field of Biomedicine of the University of Rijeka.

2016 – Award for the best junior scientist at the Rijeka School of medicine

2016 – Award for the best immunological publication of 2015 from the Croatian society for Immunology (HID)