Ajda Pretnar Žagar

Description

Ajda Pretnar Žagar is a researcher at the Faculty of Computer and Information Science and at the Institute for Contemporary History. She recently defended her PhD on quantitative approaches for research in anthropology. By combining anthropology and machine learning she develops computationally supported methodologies for social sciences. She teaches data mining and machine learning with Orange

EDUCATION

2012 - B.A. degree from the Faculty of Arts, University of Ljubljana, Slovenia

2014 - M.A. degree from the School of Political Sciences, University of Bologna, Italy

2021 - PhD degree from the Department of Ethnology and Cultural Anthropology, Faculty of Arts, University of Ljubljana

Laboratory

Bioinformatics Laboratory, Laboratory Member

Projects

DALI4US - Data Literacy for upper primary schools
(DALI4US), 01.01.2024 - 31.12.2026
ERA Chair - AI4DH - Centre of Excellence in Artificial Intelligence for Digital Humanities - AI4DH
(ERA Chair - AI4DH), 01.02.2025 - 31.01.2030
LIFE4ADAPT - LIFE Project for Adaptatio
(LIFE4ADAPT), 01.01.2025 - 01.01.2032

Past projects

AXLE - Advanced Analytics for Extremely Large European Databases
European projects(AXLE), 01.11.2012 - 31.10.2015
BioPharm.si - BioPharm.SI:Next Generation of Biologics
Projects Structural Funds(BioPharm.si), 07.07.2016 - 30.06.2020
Izdelava gradiva in izvedba usposabljanj
26.09.2017 - 26.09.2018
TURIZEM 4.0 - Tourism 4.0 – Enriched Tourist Experience
Projects Structural Funds(TURIZEM 4.0), 01.09.2018 - 31.08.2021
ITzaSKP - Design of information-technology solutions in support of data-based implementation of Common agricultural policy of the EU
Research projects ARRS(ITzaSKP), 01.11.2018 - 31.10.2020
xAIM - eXplainable Artificial Intelligence in healthcare Managament
(xAIM), 01.05.2021 - 31.10.2024
L2-3170 - Computational Toolbox for Discovery of Prognostic Biomarkers for Survival Analysis
Research projects ARRS(L2-3170), 01.10.2021 - 30.09.2024
H6-8292 - »REIMAGINE ADM – Reimagining public values in algorithmic futures
(H6-8292), 01.10.2022 - 30.09.2025

Publications

MOATS, David, RUCKENSTEIN, Minna, BROGÅRD KRISTENSEN, Dorthe, EIDENSKOG, Maria, ELHADJ, Elisa, LEHTINIEMI, Tuukka, MØHL, Perle, PRETNAR ŽAGAR, Ajda, TANNINEN, Maiju, VELKOVA, Julia. 2026. The dark side of public values in algorithmic systems. Dialogues on digital society: 1-25. DOI: 10.1177/29768640261457507.

MOATS, David, PRETNAR ŽAGAR, Ajda. 2026. Meeting the machines half-way: testing LLMs for qualitative coding of values in texts. Human organization 85(3): 250-262. DOI: 10.1080/00187259.2026.2703871.

PRETNAR ŽAGAR, Ajda, MURŠIČ, Rajko. 2026. Blended sensory walks: teaching data literacy through anthropological practice. Practicing anthropology 48(2): 115-131. DOI: 10.1080/08884552.2026.2635502.

PRETNAR ŽAGAR, Ajda. 2025. Računalniška analiza slovenskih zgodovinskih časopisov (1771–1914): jezikovni, tematski in državotvorni uvidi. Prispevki za novejšo zgodovino 65(3): 42-66. DOI: 10.51663/pnz.65.3.0.

PRETNAR ŽAGAR, Ajda, PODJED, Dan. 2024. Ethnography beyond thick data. Annals of anthropological practice: 1-17. DOI: 10.1111/napa.12226.

PRETNAR ŽAGAR, Ajda, HOČEVAR, Tomaž, CURK, Tomaž. 2023. Open data and quantitative techniques for anthropology of road traffic. EPJ data science 12(28): 1-20. DOI: 10.1140/epjds/s13688-023-00396-4.