Job title: Postdoctoral researcher
Ivana Keser is a researcher at the Department for Resource Economics, Environmental Protection and Regional Development, Institute for Development and International Relations(IRMO), Zagreb since 2011. She graduated from the Faculty of Political Science, University of Zagreb, holds an LL.M. in European Legal Studies, Europa-Kolleg, Institute for European Integration, University of Hamburg, completed the Centre for Peace Studies Zagreb one-year interdisciplinary peace education program, and obtained a Ph.D. from the International joint degree doctoral programme in the Sociology of regional and local development organised and implemented by the University of Zadar and the University of Teramo, Italy. During her master’s studies in Germany, she received a DAAD scholarship. Keser conducted a two-month internship as a researcher at the Max Planck Institute for International and Comparative Private Law in Hamburg, Germany. Keser conducted a two-month research at the Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies, Erasmus University Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands. Additionally, Keser completed professional training and professional practice for five weeks in the field of planning and management of projects financed by EU funds as part of the Italo-Croatian Mobility in Europlanning – IcroME project, at the Regione Friuli Venezia Giulia – Administration for Infrastructure, Mobility, Spatial Planning and Public Affairs, Trieste, Italy. Her research interest and practical work are placed in an intersection of urban policy research and practices of sustainable local and regional development and integrated governance. Additionally, her research and practical work focus on practices that promote sustainability, inclusivity, and social economy within local and regional contexts. Keser has co-authored several scientific articles and book chapters in her area of expertise. She has also been engaged as a lecturer at the Faculty of Law, University of Zagreb course: Local and regional development; the post-graduate interdisciplinary University of Zagreb course “Preparation and Implementation of EU Projects”, course: EU cohesion policy and development in the Republic of Croatia; at the postgraduate specialist interdisciplinary study of City Management, University of Zagreb, course: “Regional Development and Project Management”, and at the postgraduate university doctoral study Business Economics and Sustainable Development, Libertas University, course: “Sustainable Regions and Cities”. Keser is a member of the Institute for Public Administration, the Croatian Section of the European Regional Research Association, the Croatian Sociological Society, and the Croatian Evaluation Society. Keser participated in the creation of a series of strategic documents and studies in the field of regional and local development and strategic planning.