ABOUT ME
High-skilled and result driven Senior Scientist with strong leadership experience and a proven record of achieving scientific and personal goals. Eager to provide better health and food production by developing novel technologies with a focus on human microbiota, probiotics, prebiotics, and fermented product. Established scientist in the field of probiotics and human microbiota but my mind is always in search of new ways to improve and develop things. I am motivated and open to work with other scientists on joint projects or as your consultant trying to find the best solution for you. Working together will offer me tremendous opportunities to take scientific results to the next level, which will translate to the general public and our modern society.
RESEARCH INTERESTS
Probiotics and Prebiotics
Human microbiota
Vaginal microbiota and women's health
Host-microbe and microbe-microbe interaction
Molecular techniques and genome editing
EDUCATION
2009 - 2013
KU Leuven and University of Antwerp, Belgium
Ph.D. of Bioscience Engineering.
Thesis title: “Molecular and functional analyses of lectins in Lactobacillus rhamnosus.”
2006 - 2008
Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”, Bulgaria
Master of Microbiology and Microbiological Control.
Thesis title: ”Antimicrobial activity of lactic acid bacteria against problematic clinical strains.”
2002 - 2006
Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”, Bulgaria
Batchelor of Molecular Biology
WORK EXPERIENCE
2017-2018
Research associate at KU Leuven, Belgium
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Lead a small research team (1 technician, 2 Ph.D. students);
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Manage funds and resources (two group projects and two Ph.D. projects)
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Write projects and articles;
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Perform research experiments;
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Network and collaborate with other researchers, by attending meetings and international conferences;
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Present at international conferences and as an invited speaker at universities and companies;
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Organize scientific conferences (ISPP-SFA, “Women & their Microbes” and NSABS)
2014-2017
Postdoctoral FWO fellow at KU Leuven and University of Antwerp, Belgium
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Perform research experiments;
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Mentor and supervise bachelor, master and PhD students; teach new students how to work in the lab;
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Manage and supervise lab technicians;
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Write projects and articles;
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Lead a small research team;
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Network and collaborate with other researchers;
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Manage fund and resources.
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Organize scientific conferences (ISPP-SFA, “Women & their Microbes and NSABS);
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Attend scientific conferences (10 times invited speaker)
2015
A postdoctoral research program in Canada at the Canadian Centre for Human Microbiome and Probiotic Research at Lawson research institute and University of Western Ontario
Postdoctoral fellowship position based on FWO travel grant. The research stay was in the laboratory of Prof. Gregor Reid and Prof. Gregor Gloor. During the research exchange, I worked and learn:
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how to analyze microbiome communities,
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how to use R language,
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how to compare the genome of Lactobacillus species
2008-2009
Clinical Microbiologist at the Laboratory of Clinical Microbiology and Virology, Queen Giovanna Hospital, Sofia, Bulgaria
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Work in the laboratory and preform microbiology tests;
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Take decisions on the course of treatment;
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Supervise technical staff;
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Teach new staff members.
2006-2008
Medical Laboratory Technician at the Laboratory of Clinical Microbiology and Virology, Queen Giovanna Hospital, Sofia, Bulgaria
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Work in the laboratory and perform microbiology tests;
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Teach new staff members.