Dr Milan Lukić was born on 28 September 1972 in Užice. He completed his primary and secondary school education, specialising in science and mathematics, in Arilje. In the academic year 1992/93, he enrolled at the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences in Čačak, and he graduated in 1998 with an impressive grade point average of 9.63, which earned him the title of Graduate Agricultural Scientist in the General Programme.

Dr Lukić completed postgraduate studies at the Faculty of Agriculture at the University of Belgrade, specialising in pomology. On 17 April 2006, he successfully defended his master’s thesis entitled Biological and Pomological Characteristics of Promising Apple Selections. On 23 March 2007, he was appointed as a research assistant and reappointed on 1 March 2010. On 28 December 2012, he obtained his PhD in Biotechnical Sciences by defending his thesis entitled The Influence of Pollinators on the Biological Characteristics and Fruit Quality of Apples (Malus domestica Borkh.), also at the University of Belgrade.

In September 2004, as part of the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences International Program (Norman Borlaug Fellowship), Dr. Lukić completed a research stay at Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, focusing on fruit genetics and breeding. He began his professional career at the Fruit Research Institute in Čačak, initially as a junior researcher and later advancing to research associate, senior research associate, and principal research associate. Throughout his career, he has been engaged in research and a wide range of scientific and professional activities at the Institute. His career trajectory at the Institute included roles such as head of the Experimental Fields and coordinator of the scientific team for international projects. He also managed numerous projects and led the Department of Pomology and Fruit Breeding. On March 1, 2015, he was appointed Director of the Fruit Research Institute, Čačak, and re-elected to this position on March 1, 2019. He held this role until January 1, 2021, when he became Director of the Institute for Medicinal Plants Research “Dr Josif Pančić”, Belgrade.

Dr. Lukić has participated in seven research and technological development projects, funded by the Ministry of Education, Science, and Technological Development of the Republic of Serbia. He has led or participated in numerous tasks related to pomology and fruit-growing technologies. At the Institute for Medicinal Plants Research “Dr Josif Pančić”, Belgrade, his research focuses on the genetic resources of medicinal plants, the potential for their cultivation in specific regions of Serbia, the introduction of new cultivation technologies, and the collection of medicinal plants.

He has participated in three international projects and was a member of the
International working group on fruit growing for the Alpe Adria Group. Additionally, he has led or participated in 28 projects funded by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Water Management of the Republic of Serbia, one project by the Ministry of Environmental Protection, and eight projects financed by local governments. Dr. Lukić has been a member of numerous national and international programs and organizing committees for scientific conferences.

Dr. Lukić is the editor-in-chief of several monographs, including 70 Years of the Fruit Research Institute, Čačak, Fruit Varieties Created at the Fruit Research Institute, Čačak (1946–2016), and Hazelnut. He also served as editor of the Book of Abstracts for the 15th Congress of Serbian Fruit Growers and Viticulturists with International Participation.

He is a member of the editorial board of the Journal of Mountain Agriculture on the Balkans and has membership in several prestigious organizations, including the Presidency of the Association of Institutes of Serbia, the Working Group for the Development of the European Research Area Roadmap, and the Commission for the Recognition of Varieties and Rootstocks of Apple-like Fruit Species at the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Water Management of the Republic of Serbia. He also participates in various working groups within the same Ministry and is a member of the Serbian Pomological Society.

To date, Dr. Lukić has authored or co-authored 206 bibliographic entries.