Research Group

The UP FAMNIT Research Group was established in 2008.

Researchers work in the fields of mathematics as well as computer science, particularly in algebra, combinatorics with graph theory, and probability theory, as well as data structures, data mining, and large distributed GRID architectures. Their research activities are closely connected to mathematical modelling and computer simulations, experimental economics, and the study of social systems. Research also extends into the fields of electronic data protection, including cryptography, data security, and computer security.

It is worth emphasizing that the UP FAMNIT Research Group is one of the four leading research groups in the field of algebraic graph theory worldwide — the other three are located in China, Australia, and South Korea. Through this achievement, the faculty has also placed the University of Primorska on the global map of established research institutions.

Other major research areas within the natural sciences include biotechnical sciences, plant production and processing, zoology and zoophysiology, biology, ecosystems and environmental protection, botany, chemistry, analytical chemistry, biochemistry, and molecular biology.

Within the social sciences, the predominant areas of study are psychology, economics, and law, while in the medical sciences the focus lies on neurobiology, microbiology and immunology, and psychiatry. In the latter field, the faculty’s research is particularly directed toward the study of mental health, suicidal behaviour, and the prevention of such disorders. The research group, which includes experts in psychology, psychiatry, genetics, neuroscience, biology, informatics, bioinformatics, and biostatistics, focuses on investigating the biopsychosocial determinants of one of the major public health issues of modern times — suicide.

The biopsychological research activities at UP FAMNIT are also focused on neurodegenerative diseases, which are becoming increasingly common in modern society. These diseases affect not only the elderly but also a growing number of younger individuals. Research at UP FAMNIT examines both the psychosocial consequences of such diseases for patients and their relatives, as well as the neurobiological aspects of neurodegenerative disorders. In addition, the biopsychological research field at UP FAMNIT also investigates the psychological and biological determinants of various forms of psychotherapeutic work (such as the prevention and management of distress, suicidal behaviour, stress, addictions, neuroses, and others), as well as the biopsychological aspects of prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation.