Vera Šnajder Award 2025: Emina Korić Advances Pharmaceutical Research Through Specialized Training in Belgrade
The Bosnia and Herzegovina Futures Foundation (BHFF) is proud to highlight Emina Korić, a 2025 recipient of the Vera Šnajder Award, whose professional development was strengthened through specialized research training at the Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Belgrade.
At the time of applying for the Award, Emina was completing the final year of her third-cycle studies at the Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Sarajevo. On February 17, 2026, she officially earned her degree as a Doctor of Pharmaceutical Sciences, marking an important milestone in her academic journey.
The Vera Šnajder Award enabled Emina to undertake specialized training focused on advanced analytical approaches in pharmacognosy and phytochemistry, providing her with an opportunity to work alongside experienced researchers and gain practical knowledge that directly supports her scientific work.
Advancing Skills in Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry
During her training at the University of Belgrade, Emina gained advanced practical knowledge in the application of LC-MS (liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry) methods in phytochemical research.
Through hands-on work with experienced researchers, she further developed her skills in sample preparation, chromatographic method optimization, mass spectral interpretation, and data analysis.
These techniques are particularly relevant to her research in pharmacognosy and phytopharmacy, where the identification and characterization of naturally occurring bioactive compounds play an important role.
The training provided Emina not only with new technical competencies, but also with an opportunity to explore how advanced analytical methods can strengthen the quality and scope of future research.
Science as a Community of Collaboration
One of the most valuable aspects of the experience was the opportunity to work within an interdisciplinary research environment.
Emina had the chance to meet and exchange experiences with researchers and young scientists from different areas of the Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Belgrade, including pharmacognosy, clinical pharmacy, biochemistry, and pharmaceutical technology.
This environment encouraged the exchange of ideas and perspectives while creating opportunities for potential future scientific collaborations between institutions in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the region.
For Emina, the experience also reinforced an important lesson about scientific development: progress does not happen through technical expertise alone. It is also shaped by the people who share their knowledge, challenge one another, and create opportunities for collaboration.
The openness and dedication of her colleagues left a particularly strong impression and strengthened her belief in the importance of mentorship and knowledge-sharing in developing the next generation of researchers.
From Training to Future Research
The knowledge acquired through the Vera Šnajder Award will continue to influence Emina’s scientific work beyond the training itself.
She plans to apply her newly developed skills to research in pharmacognosy and phytochemistry, particularly through the use of advanced LC-MS methods for the identification and characterization of natural bioactive compounds.
The experience has also opened possibilities for new research projects and scientific collaborations, strengthening connections between academic institutions in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the wider region.
Emina also plans to share the knowledge she gained with students through teaching and practical exercises, allowing the benefits of the training to extend beyond her own research.
In this way, the experience becomes part of a broader cycle of knowledge transfer—where an opportunity received by one young scientist can eventually benefit students, colleagues, and future researchers.
The Impact of the Vera Šnajder Award
For Emina, the Vera Šnajder Award was instrumental in making the specialized training possible.
Beyond financial support, the Award provided access to advanced research methods, experienced scientists, and an academic environment that contributed significantly to her scientific and professional development.
The experience also gave her new motivation and ideas for future research while reinforcing the importance of international and regional scientific collaboration.
Emina hopes that, in the future, she will be able to support younger researchers in the same way that she was supported during her own development—sharing knowledge, providing guidance, and encouraging new generations to pursue scientific careers.
She strongly encourages other young women scientists to apply for the Vera Šnajder Award, emphasizing that the opportunity extends far beyond funding.
For emerging researchers, experiences such as specialized training can provide access to new methodologies, professional networks, confidence, and long-term scientific collaborations that can shape the trajectory of an academic career.
Investing in the Next Generation of Women Scientists
Through the Vera Šnajder Award, BHFF continues the legacy of Vera Šnajder by investing in young women scientists from Bosnia and Herzegovina and creating opportunities for their academic and professional advancement.
Emina’s experience demonstrates how targeted support can strengthen individual research capacity while also contributing to broader scientific development.
By bringing advanced knowledge and methodologies back to Bosnia and Herzegovina, and by sharing that knowledge with students and future researchers, the impact of one professional development opportunity can extend far beyond the individual recipient.
Her journey reflects the broader purpose of the Award: supporting young women scientists, strengthening research capacity, encouraging collaboration, and creating pathways for Bosnian researchers to participate in a wider scientific community.