Andrej A. Gajić Email & Phone Number

I review and evaluate grant applications, making crucial decisions about future funding of the Level I projects and the appointment of new National Geographic Explorers.

Atlantic, Mediterranean Sea

Head scientist of the Shark Tales, focusing on the effects of pollution on disease development in sharks, skates and rays. Experienced researcher in the fields of macroscopic pathomorphology, histopathology and immunohistochemistry. Researching the prenatal development, the roles of mother in viviparous species, and associated pathology. Further working on the neurological disorders in sharks and their connection to behavior Developing techniques regarding the application of melanomacrophages in lower vertebrates as histological biomarkers for the activation of immune system and monitoring wider environmental pressures.

Experienced in organizing, strategic planning and documentary filmmaking. Featured scientist in Sharkfest 2018 and 2020 at National Geographic WILD. Besides, I lectured (both keynote and invited) numerous National Geographic events and conferences across United States and Europe, while through Explorer in Classroom program I have lectured students from more than 75 countries.

In my role, as Editorial Board member of the Aquatic Conservation (Q1, Wiley) I am providing advice, reviews, and support for manuscripts and journal strategy focusing on sharks, elasmobranchs, conservation biology, management of threatened species, and community engagement. Visit our webpage: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10990755

Vlorë, Albania

What lurks in the depths? Despite the global interest in sharks and progress in deep-sea research, many life history traits of deep-sea sharks have never been studied. Through the innovative and unique approach, we will explore the ancient sharks, skates and rays that live in the depths where the light is so scattered that there is almost nothing left to detect. For the very first time, we will deliver data on disease development, presence of microplastics and responses to environmental pressures. Such results will shed a new light on the living conditions and vulnerability and will be further used for effective climate-smart regional conservation. As they far more resemble the extinct sharks of the Triassic Period than well-known living species, we anticipate meeting the most bizarre, the most unknown and the most interesting species. Unfortunately, they are facing severe pressures, and some are on the edge of extinction – thus, we hope to contribute to their conservation before it's too late.

New York, United States

Head scientist of the ECDC “Plastics Shark” expedition in the Mediterranean Sea studying how human plastic waste works its way up the food chain and into the ocean’s top carnivores. Qualitative and quantitative composition of microplastics in different organic systems (using filtration, stereomicroscopy and RAMAN spectroscopy).

Naxxar, Malta

Currently supervises, coordinate and conduct macro-regional scientific research in the northern Mediterranean Sea, and further envisioning research capacities. As Head scientist, I was the principal investigator for 20 cross-border research projects in the fields of pathology, immunology, embryology, ecology and conservation. Experienced in media and storytelling with over 250 media appearances and several documentary films.

Principal Investigator which received the maximum number of funded projects, as follow:COMPLETION GRANT: Effective conservation and research of threatened sharks, skates and rays through rescue, rehabilitation, tagging and re-introduction2nd BOOSTER GRANT: Sharks, skates and rays of Albania: the final step towards the regional conservation, governance and management1st BOOSTER GRANT: Let's create a better future for sharks, skates and rays in the eastern Adriatic: towards the unique regional protection2nd RSG: The next step for the establishment of the long-term in-situ conservation of sharks, skates and rays in Bosnia and Herzegovina1st RSG: Assessment of Degree of Exploration and Conservation Strategy of the Protection of Sharks, Skates and Rays in the Neum Bay

Copenhagen, Capital Region, Denmark

Featured explorers and content creator for Voices series. Voice is a seven-level, integrated-skills program for adults and young adults that enables instructors to teach with confidence in all classrooms.

Ancona, Marches, Italy

Academic co-advisor on the thesis "Quantitative and macromolecular assessment of hepatic melanomacrophages and lipids as promising tools for the conservation of elasmobranchs in the Adriatic Sea". Candidate: Federico Clementoni, other advisors GiorgiaGioachhini and Luca Marisaldi.

London, United Kingdom

Sarajevo, Bosnia And Herzegovina

Sarajevo, Bosnia And Herzegovina

The 3-year long DeFishGear project undertook the challenge to address the need for accurate, coherent and comparable scientific data on marine litter in the Adriatic-Ionian macroregion. The DeFishGear project also piloted coordinated and harmonized actions on the science-policy-society interface for litter-free Adriatic and Ionian Seas. The DeFishGear project provided a strategic input to regional efforts in successfully achieving good environmental status in the Mediterranean Sea. The DeFishGear project was implemented within the framework of the IPA Adriatic Cross-border Cooperation Programme, co-funded by the European Union.

Doctor Of Science - Ph.D., Veterinary Pathology And Pathobiology

Activities and Societies: Res.

Master Of Science - M.Sc., Ecology And Conservation

Bachelor Of Applied Science - Basc, Ecology And Evolutionary Biology