Dr. Maja Žutić Receives International Award for Best Doctoral Thesis

We are proud to announce that Assistant Professor Dr. Maja Žutić from the Department of Psychology has been awarded the prestigious Best Doctoral Thesis Award by the Society for Reproductive and Infant Psychology (SRIP), one of the oldest and largest international associations in the field! The award was presented to her on 28 August 2025 at the University of Liverpool, United Kingdom.

This award recognizes outstanding doctoral research in the field of reproductive mental health and represents one of the most significant distinctions for young researchers. Along with a monetary prize and a commemorative plaque, Dr. Žutić also delivered a keynote lecture at the University of Liverpool entitled Testing the Diathesis-Stress Model in Peripartum Depression: The Role of 5-HTTLPR/rs25531 Genotype.

In her dissertation, Dr. Žutić provided empirical confirmation of the diathesis–stress model, showing that women’s genetic traits—specifically polymorphisms in the serotonin transporter gene—do not act independently but rather interact with stressful experiences during pregnancy in shaping the risk of depression both during pregnancy and postpartum. The results have important clinical implications for early risk assessment and preventive programs aimed at reducing stress in pregnant women.

The study is among the few to simultaneously examine biological and psychosocial determinants of peripartum depression and confirmed the importance of approaching it through a biopsychosocial theoretical framework. For this reason, SRIP recognized Dr. Žutić’s dissertation as a valuable scientific contribution in an under-researched area of the etiology of peripartum depression.

This recognition not only confirms a high level of scientific excellence but also serves as encouragement for the further development of international collaboration and the global visibility of our University.

Congratulations to Dr. Žutić on this outstanding achievement!