Slovenian balances career, family and life abroad

Textile chemist, Dr. Pavla Križman-Lavrič, 33, recently moved to Enschede to work under the Faculty of Engineering and Technology (CTW). Baby girl Aurora (Italian for ‘dawn’) also brought new changes for Križman-Lavrič and her husband Miha.

While we stomped through the snow during a UT campus tour and later chatted in her office, lab, and campus apartment, Križman-Lavrič shared some of her thoughts about being a scientist, a woman, mother, and Slovenian. Born on the Adriatic coast, Križman-Lavrič, graduated from the University of Ljubljana with a PhD from the Faculty of Natural Sciences and Engineering. She is now a Marie Curie post doctoral researcher on the Advanbiotex project under the professional chair Engineering of Fibrous Smart Materials.

What does your research at the UT involve?

‘Basically, we are trying to develop a surface modifying system, using hydrogel microparticles. Once these hydrogels, which are sensitive and responsive to temperature, pH and humidity, are incorporated into textile materials, the liquid management of textiles can be adjusted. In this way, we can create fabric for sportswear that will permit the accumulated body sweat to evaporate properly, allowing for more comfort.’

Have you always wanted to be a scientist?

(laughing) ‘Oh, no! I became a scientist because I happen to be good in math and sciences. Better than languages! (She says this in perfect English, which she speaks besides Serbian, Italian, and her native Slovenian.) I scored well on my exams and my studies were funded by the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology in Slovenia. The University of Ljubljana has a renown Department of Textiles, so I did my research on how best to bleach and prepare cotton for dying.’

What about Slovenia? It’s a fairly new European country; isn’t it?

 ‘Yes, it was part of Yugoslavia but gained its independence in 1991. After WWII, the province of Istria, where I was born, was divided into two zones. In 1954 with the signing of the London Declaration, it was decided the zone where my family lived would become part of Yugoslavia. But my father was without any documents and unable to travel for three years. During that time, his Italian name was changed to a Slavic one and finally in 1958, he received a passport. Much of our land was nationalized, and we are still trying to reclaim it from the government today.’

‘There is a Slovenian tourist slogan: ‘In two hours, you can swim in the sea and then go skiing.’ We have the Alps and I miss the mountains very much. Everything here in the Netherlands is so flat!’

What other impressions do you have about the Netherlands?

‘I like their way of living. I was impressed at first to find so many people on bicycles and how cars have to give right-of-way. I think the Dutch people are very brave to bicycle in winter weather with these icy conditions. And all the beautiful flowers! I am a woman, after all.’

How is it to be a new mom and a scientist?

‘It’s difficult to organize my time between being a mother and my career. My husband is a microbiologist and could not find work in his research area at the UT. Since we are here for one year, he has agreed to take care of Aurora and that is a big help. But, for me, being a mother is the most important role in my life. The feelings are so huge. I feel like a volcano sometimes. Where does all this love come from?’

Where do you find your inspiration?

‘I very much respect climatologist Dr. Lučka Kajfež Bogataj, a Slovenian woman scientist who shared the Nobel Peace Prize with Al Gore in 2007. She stands up for what she believes in, is brave and self-confident. I also like to relax with knitting and cross-stitching. And then, there’s always my playtime with Aurora!’

Križman-Lavrič uses a padder to impregnate functional finishing into the textiles. (Photos: Gijs van Ouwerkerk)

Home is where the heart is: Križman-Lavrič (left), her husband Miha and their daughter Aurora relax in their UT campus apartment.