Maja Tolinački, PhD, is a molecular biologist with extensive research experience in host-microbe interactions and microbiota analysis in the context of human and animal health. She obtained her Bachelor's degree in molecular biology and physiology from the Faculty of Biology, University of Belgrade in 2003, followed by a Master’s degree in molecular genetics and genetic engineering in 2006. She earned her PhD in 2012 from the same faculty, with a dissertation focused on the biosynthetic potential of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) for the production of bioactive compounds. Since 2005, she has been affiliated with the IMGGE, where she has progressed from a research trainee to the position of Full Research Professor, which she has held since 2023 in the Group for Probiotics and Microbiota-Host Interaction (GPMHI). Her scientific work encompasses the characterization of autochthonous LAB strains and the evaluation of their functional potential in the prevention and treatment of various pathophysiological conditions, including neurodevelopmental disorders (such as autism spectrum disorder), metabolic syndromes like type 2 diabetes, and stress-induced conditions. Her research is particularly focused on the microbial production of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and glutathione (GSH), as well as the development of functional food products enriched with these bioactive molecules with proven biological activity. In addition, she is engaged in the analysis of microbiota composition using advanced molecular and bioinformatics approaches to better understand its role in disease pathogenesis and therapeutic potential through microbiome modulation. She has been actively involved in numerous national and international research projects and was a member of the Serbian Society for Microbiology.