Irina Dobrean

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Irina Dobrean is from Cluj-Napoca, Romania, and has graduated from “Emil Racovita” National College. She plans to major in Materials Science.

Her passion for physics sparked in middle school and developed into intensive Olympiad preparation and research projects. Throughout high school, she participated in the National Physics Olympiad, where she obtained numerous medals and distinctions. 

To move beyond the theoretical approach of the Olympiad, she participated in a research project at the Institute for Interdisciplinary Research in Bio-Nano-Science at Babes-Bolyai University. Irina contributed to an ongoing project to developa dual-function nanoparticle system that functions as both an MRI contrast agent and a phototherapeutic agent for cancer treatment. Irina participated inin vitro cell studies, staining and visualizing fixed cells with a confocal fluorescence microscope to study cellular uptake and nanoparticle localization. Later, she contributed to photodynamic therapy experiments, where she helped irradiate cancer cells previously treated with the synthesized nanoparticles to evaluate their therapeutic response.

By engaging with diverse communities, Irina came to understand the importance of human connection. She joined the “Let’s CEE” initiative, an Eastern European organization focused on mental health projects for youth. After much thought and preparation, she pitched the idea of a webinar on the loneliness crisis to her mentors within “Let’s CEE”. To turn her idea into reality, she further collaborated with local and international professionals and, in the end, moderated an international online event on loneliness. 

In her free time, Irina plays the guitar and has even performed at some winter festivals in her city. She likes sports such as tennis or volleyball, which led her to join her high school's team, where she participated in local competitions. Above all, she likes crafts and creating handmade gifts.