Marina Zarić Kontić, PhD, is a Senior Research Associate at the Department of Molecular Biology and Endocrinology, VINČA Institute of Nuclear Sciences – National Institute of the Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, and the leader of the NeuroBellatrix Research Group. She obtained her MSc degree in 2014 and her PhD in experimental neurobiology in 2019 from the Faculty of Biology, University of Belgrade. Her research lies at the intersection of behavioral neuroscience, experimental neurochemistry, and synaptic plasticity, with a particular focus on the neurobiological mechanisms underlying neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders. Her current work primarily investigates the neuroadaptations associated with prolonged benzodiazepine exposure and withdrawal, including changes in rodent behavior, GABAergic and glutamatergic signaling, synaptic organization, neuronal morphology, and brain-circuit function. She also investigates neuromodulatory processes mediated by neurotransmitters, neuromodulators, and physical stimulation, including transcranial magnetic stimulation, and their effects on synaptic plasticity, neuronal network coordination, and behavior. Her broader research experience encompasses experimental models of cerebral ischemia, Alzheimer’s disease, and Parkinson’s disease. She is actively engaged in research-group leadership, interdisciplinary and international collaboration, and the development and coordination of scientific projects.