Education

B.Sc. in Agronomy, Department for Plant Protection, Faculty of Agriculture at University of Belgrade, Republic of Serbia (2016)

M.Sc. in Weed Science, Department for Plant Protection, Faculty of Agriculture at University of Belgrade, Republic of Serbia (2017)

M.Sc.in Weed Science, Department of Agronomy and Horticulture, University of Nebraska-Lincoln (2020)

Ph.D. in Weed Science, Department of Agronomy and Horticulture, University of Nebraska-Lincoln (2023)

Awards

• 2022 First place Poster Presentation NCWSS – Agronomic and Specialty Crops
• 2022 Milton E. Mohr Fellowship
• 2022 Outstanding AHGSA Graduate Student Award
• 2022 Second place Poster Presentation WSWS – Agronomic Crops
• 2022 Srdjan Cirovic's Memorial Scholarship Award
• 2021 Srdjan Cirovic's Memorial Scholarship Award
• 2020 First place Oral Presentation NCWSS – Agronomic and Specialty Crops
• 2020 Farmers National Company Fellowship
• 2019 First place Video Contest NCWSS – Extension Talk
• 2015 First-place Undergraduate Student Poster at NCWSS
• 2010, 2011, 2012 Borka Vucic Fund for the Education of Young Serbian Farmers

Courses Taught

• Weed Contest Preparation (AGRO Ind. Study 496/896) and Invasive Plants (AGRO 426/826) (invited speaker); Spring 2020, 2022, 2023.
• Plants, Landscapes & the Environment (AGRO/HORT/TLMP 100 Section 700); 2021-2022
• Weed Contest Preparation (AGRO Ind. Study 496/896); Spring 2021.

Research Experience

The focal area of research is on advancing precision pesticide application technologies, aimed at improving decision-making, optimizing pesticide use to enhance crop yields, and minimizing environmental impacts. Research will include, but not be limited to, investigation of various integrated pest management strategies, employing a comprehensive method to effectively tackle challenges related to weeds, insects, and diseases in row and specialty crops. A critical aspect will involve evaluation of the performance and efficiency of a wide range of pesticide application technologies available worldwide and the feasibility of integration into existing cropping systems.

Extension interests

The extension interests will focus on enhancing agricultural practices working along with producers in broadening understanding of emerging pest management technologies, emphasizing the use of advanced methods to improve the resilience and sustainability of cropping systems. This involves organizing various educational activities such as workshops and seminars. Additionally, there is a strong commitment to developing additional educational content on safe and effective pesticide use, alongside active engagement with diverse stakeholders, including farmers, government agencies, and the pesticide industry, to understand their needs and assess the impact of these programs.

Publications

ResearchGate publication list

• Rilaković, A., da Silva Santana, A., Zaric, M., Manthena, V., Golus, J.A., Kruger, G.R., Vélez, A.M., & Peterson, J.A., 2025. Comparing simulated aerial and chemigation insecticide applications to manage western bean cutworm (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in corn. Journal of Economic Entomology, toae306. https://doi.org/10.1093/jee/toae306   
• Brankov, M., Simic, M.S., Vukadinovic, J., Zaric, M., Tataridas, A., Bozinovic, S., & Dragicevic, V., 2024. Could adjuvants serve as an agroecological tool? Frontiers in Agronomy, 6, p.1523208. https://doi.org/10.3389/fagro.2024.1523208 
• Zaric, M., Canella Vieira, B., Houston, B., Guilherme Sousa Alves, Wortman, S.E., Peterson, J., & Kruger, G.R., 2024. Industrial hemp biomass is negatively affected by herbicide drift from corn and soybean herbicides. Scientific Reports, 14(1), p.28148. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-78209-5
• Brankov Milan, Guilherme Sousa Alves, Bruno Canella Vieira, Milos Zaric, Barbara Vukoja, Trenton Houston, Greg R. Kruger. “Particle drift simulation of mesotrione and rimsulfuron plus thifensulfuron-methyl mixture to field and vegetable crops.” Environ Sci Pollut Res 30 (2023), 38226–38238. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-022-24938-x.
• Brankov Milan, Bruno Canella Vieira, Guilherme Sousa Alves, Milos Zaric, Barbara Vukoja, Trenton Houston, Greg R. Kruger. “Adjuvant and nozzle effects on weed control using mesotrione and rimsulfuron plus thifensulfuron-methyl.” Crop Protection (2023), Volume 167, 106 - 209, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cropro.2023.106209.
• Canella Vieira, B., Guilherme Sousa Alves, Barbara Vukoja, Vinicius Velho, Milos Zaric, Trenton W Houston, Bradley K Fritz, and Greg R Kruger. “Spray drift potential of dicamba plus S-Metolachlor formulations.” Pest Management Science (2021). https://doi.org/10.1002/ps.6772.