Andrej A. Gajić Email and Phone Number
Andrej A. Gajić, a Ph.D. researcher in veterinary medicine focusing on fish pathology, holds M.Sc. degrees in Biology and Conservation, and a B.Eng. degree in Ecology. His research focuses on the post-capture survival and reproduction of sharks, skates, and rays, as well as the adverse effects of fisheries on their conservation.Despite his upbringing in a war-torn country distant from the sea, Andrej has become an internationally awarded scientist, published author, distinguished lecturer, advanced diver, skydiver, and documentary filmmaker. With over 75 published papers and two books, he served as the Principal Investigator for 21 regional scientific projects in the past seven years. He is widely known for his engagements as head scientist at National Geographic and Discovery Channel. Andrej has delivered speeches at various conferences, including a TED talk, across United States, Europe, Asia and Africa. Currently, he serves as the general director of Sharklab ADRIA: Center for marine and freshwater biology in Vlorë.For his scientific achievements and contributions to effective conservation he was appointed as the Ambassador for the Mediterranean by UNEP MAP - Barcelona Convention in 2022. Besides, Andrej has received several other honors/awards, including a Special Governmental Recognition for extraordinary scientific achievements in 2021, the National Geographic EC Leadership award in 2020, Man of the Year title in 2019, and a few more.
National Geographic
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Expert ReviewerNational Geographic Jan 2022 - PresentI review and evaluate grant applications, making crucial decisions about future funding of the Level I projects and the appointment of new National Geographic Explorers.
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Head ScientistNational Geographic Jan 2018 - Dec 2021Atlantic, Mediterranean SeaHead 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.
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Talent And LecturerNational Geographic Jan 2019 - Nov 2021Experienced 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.
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Editorial Board Member, Aquatic ConservationWiley Jun 2024 - PresentIn 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 -
Head ScientistDiscovery Inc Dec 2022 - PresentVlorë, AlbaniaWhat 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. -
Expedition LeaderDiscovery Inc Oct 2020 - PresentNew York, United StatesHead 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).
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Founder And Chief Executive OfficerSharklab Adria: Center For Marine And Freshwater Biology Aug 2008 - PresentNaxxar, MaltaCurrently 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 InvestigatorThe Rufford Foundation Dec 2016 - Dec 2023Principal 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 -
Principal ConsultantUnep/Map - Spa/Rac Jan 2022 - Dec 2022 -
Head Of The National Reference Center For Marine, Coastal And Maritime AffairsEuropean Environment Agency Jan 2021 - Dec 2022Copenhagen, Capital Region, Denmark -
Content CreatorNational Geographic Learning Elt Jul 2019 - Mar 2022Featured 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. -
Academic AdvisorUniversità Politecnica Delle Marche Jan 2021 - Feb 2022Ancona, Marches, ItalyAcademic 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. -
Research FellowshipUnesco Jan 2020 - Dec 2021 -
TalentFox Networks Group Jul 2018 - Mar 2019London, United Kingdom -
External Expert AssociateUniversity Of Sarajevo Sep 2016 - Jan 2019Sarajevo, Bosnia And Herzegovina -
Lead ExpertHydro-Engineering Institute Sarajevo (Heis) Sep 2015 - Jun 2016Sarajevo, Bosnia And HerzegovinaThe 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.
Andrej A. Gajić Skills
Andrej A. Gajić Education Details
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Veterinary Pathology And Pathobiology
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Ecology And Conservation
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Ecology And Evolutionary Biology
Frequently Asked Questions about Andrej A. Gajić
What company does Andrej A. Gajić work for?
Andrej A. Gajić works for National Geographic
What is Andrej A. Gajić's role at the current company?
Andrej A. Gajić's current role is Ph.D. res. vet. med. | National Geographic Head Scientist | UNEP MAP Barcelona Convention - Honorary Ambassador | Sharklab ADRIA Founder | UNESCO fellow.
What schools did Andrej A. Gajić attend?
Andrej A. Gajić attended University Of Sarajevo, University Of Sarajevo, University Of Sarajevo.
What are some of Andrej A. Gajić's interests?
Andrej A. Gajić has interest in Technical Diving, Skydiving, Ice Diving, Biosystematics And Taxonomy, Dance Morphology And Anatomy, Night Diving, Underwater Navigation, Underwater Photography, Parachuting.
What skills is Andrej A. Gajić known for?
Andrej A. Gajić has skills like Cell Culture, Biochemistry, Western Blotting, Molecular Biology, Cell Biology, Cell, Protein Chemistry, Microscopy, In Vitro, Conservation Biology, Fish, Conservation Issues.
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