Prof. Dr. Slavenka Petrak | Functional Clothing | Best Researcher Award 

Prof. Dr. Slavenka Petrak, Faculty of Textile Technology, Croatia

Prof. Slavenka Petrak is a renowned scientific advisor and full professor at the University of Zagreb, Faculty of Textile Technology, where she has been a faculty member since 1995. She holds a PhD in textile technology and has developed a distinguished academic and research career in the Department of Clothing Technology. Her work spans automatic digital clothing construction, anthropometric studies using 3D scanning, digital prototyping, CAD/CAM integration, and textile material characterization. In recent years, her research has focused on sustainability and the digital transformation of the textile and fashion industry, incorporating artificial intelligence and emphasizing environmental impact reduction. Prof. Petrak has contributed extensively to scientific literature, with numerous journal articles, book chapters, and conference papers. She has led and participated in multiple national and international research projects, served on editorial boards, and taken on various leadership roles within her faculty and the broader textile engineering community. She actively mentors students, teaches across all levels of study, and manages three specialized laboratories. Her contributions have made a significant impact on both the academic and industrial aspects of textile and clothing technologies.

Professional Profile:

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Summary of Suitability for Best Researcher Award – Prof. Slavenka Petrak, PhD

Prof. Slavenka Petrak is a highly qualified and accomplished candidate for the Research for Best Researcher Award. With three decades of academic and research excellence in textile technology, her career is marked by continuous innovation, leadership, and impactful scientific contributions, particularly in the fields of digital garment design, textile simulation, anthropometry, and sustainability.

Education

• 1995: Graduated from the University of Zagreb, Faculty of Textile Technology.

• 1999: Earned a Master’s degree from the same faculty.

• 2007: Received a Ph.D. in Textile Technology.

Work Experience

• 1995–2004: Research Assistant, Department of Clothing Technology, Faculty of Textile Technology, University of Zagreb.

• 2004: Promoted to Assistant.

• 2007: Appointed Senior Assistant.

• 2008: Became a Research Associate.

• 2009: Promoted to Assistant Professor.

• 2014: Became a Senior Research Associate.

• 2015: Promoted to Associate Professor.

• 2019: Appointed Scientific Advisor.

• 2020–Present: Full Professor at the Faculty of Textile Technology, University of Zagreb.

Additional roles:

• 2009–2012: Vice Dean for Education.

• 2017–2019: Head of the Department of Clothing Technology.

• Leads three specialized laboratories at the Faculty:

  • 3D Body Measurement Studio

  • Laboratory for Computer Clothing Construction

  • Laboratory for CAD/CAM Systems in Clothing Engineering

She also teaches at all study levels and serves as a visiting lecturer at the Technical Faculty of the University of Bihać.

Achievements

• Led and participated in over a dozen national and international research projects, including those funded by:

  • Ministry of Science and Education (Croatia)

  • Croatian Institute of Technology

  • Croatian Science Foundation (HRZZ)

• Spearheaded research in digital garment modeling, 3D body scanning, CAD/CAM systems, and sustainability in fashion.

• Published:

  • 19 scientific papers in WoSCC/Scopus-indexed journals

  • Over 50 conference papers and abstracts

  • Several book chapters and professional articles

• Delivered invited lectures at international and national conferences.

• Served as:

  • Guest Editor for Sustainability journal (Special Issue on Textile Technologies)

  • Reviewer for monographs, textbooks, and scientific papers

  • Scientific and program committee member in multiple conferences

• Supervised numerous undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral students.

• Led student teams in national and international competitions.

• Operates a wide range of CAD, CAM, and 3D software tools used in the textile industry.

Awards and Honors

• Appointed Scientific Advisor in 2019, a prestigious recognition of scientific excellence.

• Corresponding Member of the Croatian Academy of Technical Sciences, Department of Textile Technology.

• Member of the Balkan Society of Textile Engineers (BASTE).

• Editorial Board Member of the scientific-professional journal Koža & Obuća.

• Contributed as a sector expert in Croatian national standardization and qualification bodies:

  • Member of TO 120 Leather and Footwear Committee (since 2015)

  • Member and expert of Sector Council IV: Textiles and Leather (2017–2021)

Publication Top Notes:

Anthropometry, apparel sizing and design

CITED:140

Systematic representation and application of a 3D computer-aided garment construction method: Part I: 3D garment basic cut construction on a virtual body model

CITED:57

Impact of male body posture and shape on design and garment fit

CITED:44

An exploratory study of fit and size issues with mass customized men’s jackets using 3D body scan and virtual try-on technology

CITED:38

Systematic representation and application of a 3D computer‐aided garment construction method: Part II: spatial transformation of 3D garment cut segments

CITED:32

Analysis of dynamics and fit of diving suits

CITED:26