Dr. Zdravko Kutnjak is a Scientific Councillor at the Jožef Stefan Institute (JSI) and a Full Professor of Physics at the JSI Postgraduate School (MPŠ IJS) and the Faculty of Mathematics and Physics, University of Ljubljana (FMF UL). At JSI, he leads the Laboratory for Dielectric Spectroscopy and Calorimetry. He is a recipient of the Zois Award for outstanding scientific achievements, the IJS Golden Emblem, and a Fulbright Fellowship. Additionally, he is a member of several scientific societies, including the Sigma Xi Scientific Research Society, the American Physical Society, the International Liquid Crystal Society, and the American Ceramic Society.
His primary research interests include the physics of ordered and disordered materials, liquid crystals, polymers, multiferroics, nanomaterials, and energy conversion processes. One of his key areas of study involves quantum phenomena in multiferroics near critical points. In his research, he employs various complementary experimental techniques, including high-resolution calorimetry, dielectric spectroscopy, X-ray scattering experiments at major international research facilities, as well as AFM and PFM microscopy. The primary goal of his research is to investigate novel critical quantum phenomena, such as those observed in quantum paraelectrics and ferroelectrics.
