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1. Urška Gradišar Centa, Polymer nanocomposites based on biocompatible polymers and molybdenum oxide nanowires: doctoral dissertation, Ljubljana, 2021 (mentor Maja Remškar).

2. Apparao Gudimalla, Chirality and nanoparticles enforced stabilization of topological defects in liquid crystals: doctoral dissertation, Ljubljana, 2021 (mentor Samo Kralj; co-mentors Sabu Thomas, Brigita Rožič).

3. Saša Harkai, Reconfigurable networks of nematic topological defects: doctoral dissertation, Ljubljana, 2021 (mentor Samo Kralj).

4. Neelakandan Marath Santhosh, Plasma‐enabled design of hybrid carbon nanostructures for energy storage applications: doctoral dissertation, Ljubljana, 2021 (mentor Uroš Cvelbar; co-mentor Gregor Filipič).

5. Urban Mur, Photonic modes in anisotropic topological soft matter: doctoral dissertation, Ljubljana, 2021 (mentor Miha Ravnik).

6. Marion Antonia van Midden, Scanning tunneling spectroscopy of correlated electron materials and molecular structures: doctoral dissertation, Ljubljana, 2021 (mentor Miha Škarabot; co-mentor Erik Zupanič).

Since March 2020, the researchers at "Jožef Stefan" Institute have been researching protective masks, which have turned out to be one of the key protective measures against the COVID-19 pandemic, as they reduce the aerosol viral transmissions. "Jožef Stefan" Institute researchers Anja Pogačnik Krajnc, Luka Pirker, Urška Gradišar Centa, Anton Gradišek, Igor B. Mekjavić and Maja Remškar in collaboration with other partners have recently published the article Size- and Time-Dependent Particle Removal Efficiency of Face Masks and Improvised Respiratory Protection Equipment Used during the COVID-19 Pandemic in the Sensors journal. The studied the efficiency of aerosol particle filtration for different types of masks, including masks that are categorized as PPT, as well as improvised masks, such as fabric masks, modified diving masks and modified gas masks. When it comes to different fabrics, poplin masks performed better than tetra fabrics. JSI researchers observed filtration of particles in the size order 10 to 570 nm, including the efficiency through time. These information is helps both the general public and the decision-makers in this fight against the pandemic.