Sonja Šiljak-Yakovlev

World class scientist in the field of plant evolutionary systematics, professor emeritus and scientific advisor of the National Center for Scientific Research of France (CNRS) Paris-Sud. She grew up and obtained her bachelor degree in Sarajevo prior to commencing her research career with a five-year engagement at the Biological Institute of the University of Sarajevo. She obtained her Ph.D at University of Paris-Sud where she would stay for her entire career. She has made enormous contributions to the study of chromosome evolution and genome organization , cytogenetics and plant evolution , biodiversity , endemism , and plant systematics and evolution. She has published over 200 research papers, led over 50 international projects and supervised over 20 Ph.D. students. She is widely considered one of Bosnia & Herzegovina’s greatest female scientists.