Overview
Background
Dr. Vilim Filipović’s area of interest are in environmental soil science and ecohydrology with expertise in soil physical processes, vadose zone hydrology, contaminant/nutrient transport, and numerical modelling. His research explores the complex interactions between soil, water, and contaminants/nutrients, with applications in environmental sustainability, agricultural resilience, and mine rehabilitation. By integrating long-term field monitoring, experimental research, and computational modelling, his work assesses environmental pressures and evaluates management strategies for soil and water resources.
Dr. Filipović obtained his PhD in Environmental Soil Science and Hydrology from the University of Zagreb, Croatia. He has held academic and research positions in Europe and Australia, and still currently holds an Adjunct Associate Professor position at the University of Zagreb. In 2022, he joined The University of Queensland, where he contributes to research and teaching in environmental soil science, vadose zone ecohydrology, and numerical modelling.
With an extensive international network, Dr. Filipović has led numerous national and international research projects on soil-plant-atmosphere interactions, preferential flow, and contaminant fate in soil systems. His research collaborations span institutions in Australia, Europe, and North America, and he has been a visiting scholar at CSIRO (Australia), SLU (Sweden), Penn State University, University of California, University of Florida (USA), BOKU (Austria), and ZALF (Germany), among others.
At UQ, Dr. Filipović plays an active role in undergraduate and postgraduate education, employing a research-led teaching approach in environmental soil science. He coordinates and lectures in key courses, including LAND2003, AGRC7053, LAND3005, and GEOS1100, emphasizing hands-on field and laboratory experiences, active learning methodologies, and the integration of cutting-edge research into student learning.
Dr. Filipović is a recognized leader in his field, serving as an Associate Editor for the Soil Science Society of America Journal, Vadose Zone Journal and Applied Soil Ecology. His contributions have been acknowledged with prestigious awards, including the Soil Science Society of America Early Career Award (2019) Visiting Fellowship at the Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (2021) in Germany and CRC TiME Award winner for Outstanding Research Communication award (2024), among other recognitions.
Dr. Filipović has held significant leadership roles, including Head of Department at the University of Zagreb, leadership of a Critical Zone Observatory, panel membership for national science foundations, curriculum development, and various committee positions. His work continues to contribute to advancing soil science research, education, and environmental management on national and international scale.
Research Interests
- Environmental sciences and agroecology
- Preferential flow and non-equilibrium transport processes in heterogeneous soils
- Fate of contaminants in soil (i.e., nutrients, pesticides, trace metals, pharmaceuticals)
- Vadose (critical) zone processes
- Soil physics and hydrology
- Soil hydraulic properties estimation
Teaching
- LAND2003 The Soil Environment (coordinator)
- LAND3005 Soil Plant Relationships
- AGRC7053 Sustainable Soil Management (coordinator)
- GEOS1100 Environment & Society
Availability
- Dr Vilim Filipović is:
- Available for supervision
Fields of research
Research interests
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Soil Hydraulic Properties and Their Role in Ecosystem Functions
Soil water dynamics influence biogeochemical cycling, plant water uptake, contaminant mobility, and ecosystem resilience. Understanding soil hydraulic properties is essential for predicting water movement in natural and managed landscapes and agroecosystems. Dr. Filipović’s research advances methodologies for estimating soil hydraulic properties using in-field, laboratory, and inverse numerical approaches, with applications in environmental monitoring, land rehabilitation, and ecosystem restoration.
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Transport Processes in the Soil-Plant-Atmosphere Continuum
The vadose zone acts as a critical interface regulating water and solute fluxes across soil, vegetation, and the atmosphere. Dr. Filipović investigates how preferential flow and non-equilibrium transport processes affect water availability, contaminant movement, and ecosystem sustainability. His research employs cutting-edge techniques such as displacement soil cores, lysimeter experiments, CT imaging, and in-situ monitoring to enhance the understanding of water and solute fluxes in structured soils.
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Numerical Modelling of Water Flow and Solute Transport in Heterogeneous Soils
Numerical modelling is an essential tool for predicting the effects of environmental change and land management strategies on soil-water interactions and transport of various contaminants or nutrients. Dr. Filipović applies advanced numerical models (e.g., HYDRUS suite) to simulate water flow and solute transport (i.e., nutrients, pesticides, trace metals, pharmaceuticals) in one-, two-, and three-dimensional porous media. His work emphasizes preferential flow and non-uniform solute transport in structured soils, contributing to improved environmental risk assessments and more sustainable land-use practices.
Research impacts
Soil, particularly the vadose (critical) zone, is a key component of terrestrial ecosystems, regulating water flow, solute transport, and biogeochemical cycling. As global environmental pressures intensify, there is an urgent need to enhance our understanding of soil-water-atmosphere interactions to mitigate pollution, support water security, soil health, and promote ecosystem resilience.
Dr. Filipović’s research is dedicated to understanding the transport processes within the soil-plant-atmosphere continuum, with an emphasis on reducing environmental pressures on soil and water resources. His work integrates advanced soil monitoring techniques and numerical modeling approaches to address key challenges in soil water dynamics, preferential flow, contaminant fate, mine rehabilitation ecohydrology, and ecosystem restoration. His research spans large-scale field experiments, lysimeter studies, glasshouse trials, and laboratory investigations, with a particular focus on numerical modeling of soil-water processes.
Through national and international research initiatives, Dr. Filipović contributes to sustainable environmental management and land-use strategies that minimize contamination risks and support ecosystem services.
Works
Search Professor Vilim Filipović’s works on UQ eSpace
2009
Conference Publication
Impact of drought on yields of field crops grown under different agroecological conditions in
Šimunić, Ivica, Husnjak, Stjepan, Ondrašek, Gabrijel, Mustać, Ivan and Filipović, Vilim (2009). Impact of drought on yields of field crops grown under different agroecological conditions in. Bulletin UASVM Agriculture Eurosoil Satellite Session, Cluj-Napoca, Romania, May 2009.
2008
Conference Publication
Genotypic characterisation of indigenous Sinorhizobium meliloti strains isolated from Istrian soils
Sikora, Sanja, Filipović, Vilim, Blažinkov, Mihaela and Babić, Katarina (2008). Genotypic characterisation of indigenous Sinorhizobium meliloti strains isolated from Istrian soils. 4th Croatian Congress of Microbiology with International Participation, Zadar, Croatia, 24–27 September 2008.
Funding
Current funding
Past funding
Supervision
Availability
- Dr Vilim Filipović is:
- Available for supervision
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Supervision history
Current supervision
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Doctor Philosophy
Estimation of soil hydraulic properties and related predictive modelling challenges
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Michael Bell
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Doctor Philosophy
Wheat responses to different sources of nitrogen as affected by phosphorus in the northern grain region of eastern Australia
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Michael Bell, Dr Mauricio Leite
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Doctor Philosophy
Impact of Soil Organic Carbon on Nitrogen and Water Dynamics under Rainfed and Irrigated Sweetpotato Production in Papua New Guinea Highlands
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Gunnar Kirchhof
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Doctor Philosophy
Modelling and Managing Soil Water Repellency: A Mechanistic Framework for Dryland Agricultural Systems
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Gunnar Kirchhof
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Doctor Philosophy
Quantifying fertiliser phosphorus use efficiency in Vertosols across the Northern Region
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Peter Kopittke, Dr Mauricio Leite, Professor Michael Bell
Media
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