Autumn graduation ceremony for Doctors of Science at UP
At UP, the autumn promotion ceremony for new Doctors of Science took place on Thursday, 14 October 2025. The Vice-Rector for Scientific Research and Development, Prof. Dr. Štefko Miklavič, together with the deans of the faculties and mentors, conferred doctoral degrees on 12 new Doctors of Science, who have now joined the growing community of PhD graduates from the University of Primorska.
The new Doctors of Science are:
- Dr. Jesenko Hadžihasanović
- Dr. Marianna Gergely
- Dr. Nika Pavletić
- Dr. Meta Lavrič
- Dr. Monica Bertok Vatovec
- Dr. Jovan Mitrović
- Dr. Jernej Pleša
- Dr. Janja Zorko
- Dr. Benjamin Osmančević
- Dr. Leilani Štajer
- Dr. Karin Šik Novak
- Dr. Matic Sašek.
Among the newly promoted Doctors of Science is Dr. Meta Lavrič, the second doctoral graduate of the Suicidology and Mental Health program, which has been implemented at UP FAMNIT since 2021 in collaboration with the UP IAM Slovene Centre for Suicide Research.
Dr. Meta Lavrič who defended her doctoral thesis at UP FAMNIT entiteled »Experiencing storytelling: Developing and sharing written stories as an intervention to strengthen mental health in gatekeepers« under the mentorship of Prof. Dr. Vita Poštuvan
Doctoral dissertation summary
»Experiencing storytelling: Developing and sharing written stories as an intervention to strengthen mental health in gatekeepers«
Psychological storytelling interventions include creating, receiving, and sharing stories, yet research is inconsistent about which components are used, leaving gaps in knowledge about how these interventions work. 10 correctional officers who had experienced suicide in the course of their work participated in our intervention and study.
We examined perceived effects of each element on well-being and mental health and developed a Model of Processing and Integrating Experience in Storysharing, highlighting mutual story-sharing as key.
We sincerely congratulate the new Doctor of Science and wish her continued success in her research career!