Tamara Turk Wensveen

Work Experience:

Clinics:

2020 – Present, Head of the department of Endocrinology, diabetology & Cardiometabolism, Thalasspterapija Opatija, Opatija, Croatia

2016 – Present, Subspecialist of endocrinology, KBC Rijeka, Rijeka, Croatia

2012 – 2016, Specialist of internal medicine, KBC Rijeka, Rijeka, Croatia

2008 – 2012, Specialist of internal medicine in training, KBC Rijeka, Rijeka, Croatia

2005 – 2010, Resident of internal medicine, department of endocrinology, diabetes and metabolic disease

Academia:

2022 – Present, Associate Professor, University of Rijeka, faculty of medicine, Rijeka, Croatia

2017 – 2022, Assistant Professor, University of Rijeka, faculty of medicine, Rijeka, Croatia

2010 – 2017, Postdoctoral researcher, University of Rijeka, faculty of medicine, Rijeka, Croatia

2005 – 2010, PhD student, University of Rijeka, faculty of medicine, Rijeka, Croatia

Education

2015 – 2016, Subspecialist of endocrinology and diabetology, Univ. of Rijeka, faculty of medicine, Rijeka, Croatia

2008 – 2012, Specialist of internal medicine, University of Rijeka, faculty of medicine, Rijeka, Croatia

2004 – 2010, Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), University of Rijeka, faculty of medicine, Rijeka, Croatia

1998 – 2004, Medicine (MD), University of Rijeka, faculty of medicine, Rijeka, Croatia

Research projects

2023 – 2027 HRZZ IP-2022-02-3414, (Co-applicant), research grant of the Croatian science foundation €200.000, Title: The role of adiponectin in CD8 T cell biology.

2025 – 2029 UNIRI, IZ-25-197 (Project leader), €50.000 Uncovering immunogenomic predisposition to anti-diabetic therapy resistance,

2021 – 2025 HRZZ, IP-2020-02-7928 (Project Leader) research grant of the Croatian science foundation €184.000. Title: The impact of Diabetes mellitus type 2 and its therapy on Lymphocyte function.

2017 – 2021 HRZZ, IP-2016-06-9306 (Collaborator), research grant of the Croatian science foundation €134.000. Title: Immune mechanisms in development of inflammation and metabolic syndrome in obesity.

2018 – 2024 UNIRI, 18-117-1256 (Project Leader), €15.000, The direct impact of hypoglycemia on changes in hart rhythm in patients with T2D.

2013 – 2015 UKF (Collaborator) 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 (Collaborator) New Horizons Collaborative Research Initiative €100.000. Title: Fat Killers: The role of Natural Killer cells in the development of Diabetes Mellitus Type 2

SUPERVISION OF GRADUATE STUDENTS AND POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCHERS:

2025 - Present PhD Student Marija Troskot Cuculić, Mentor, University of Rijeka

2020 – 2024, Postdoctoral Researcher Dr. Inga Kavazović

2020 – 2024 PhD. Student Dora Gašparini, Co-mentor. University of Rijeka

2019 – 2023 PhD. Student Mia Krapić, Co-mentor. University of Rijeka

Awards

2025 HLZ Board for special contribution to professional, scientific and teaching work

2024 Title of Science Professor, category competitive projects, University of Rijeka, Faculty of medicine

2024 Croatian Society for Diabetes and Metabolic Diseases Award for Scientific Achievements

2019 Rising star award in the field of Diabetology, International diabetes summit, Belgrade 2019

2013 Award of the Faculty of Medicine, University of Rijeka for the best young scientist in the field of clinical medical sciences

2011 Award of the Endocrinological Society of the Republic of Croatia for the best young scientist

Career breaks

2017 – 2018 Maternity leave

2012 – 2013 Maternity leave