·      Place of Birth: Slatina, Bulgaria

·      Education:

Bachelor’s Degree (1999): Agromanagement

Master’s Degree (2000): Agromanagement

·      Language Proficiency: English (fluent)

Scientific Career & Research Focus

Academic Positions

·      Assistant Researcher (2007–present) at the Maize Research Institute – Knezha

Research Specialization

Insect Chemical Ecology & Behavior

·      Pheromone-based pest management

·      Electrophysiological studies of insect olfaction

Agricultural Pest Management (IPM)

·      Biocontrol of Lepidoptera & Coleoptera pests (e.g., Diabrotica virgifera, Oulema melanopus)

·      Plant-derived attractants/repellents

Biodiversity & Plant-Insect Interactions

·      Pathogen-host dynamics (e.g., Beauveria bassiana, Metarhizium pemphigi)

Project Involvement

1. Biodiversity of Insect Pathogens (2022–2025)

·      Funding: National Scientific Fund

·      Role: Team member

·      Focus: Cataloging entomopathogens of Coleoptera, Hymenoptera, and Lepidoptera in Bulgarian ecosystems

·      Coordinator: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Teodora Toshova

2. Cover Crops for Sustainable Maize (2024–2027)

·      Role: Investigate pest suppression via intercropping

·      Leaders:

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Lyuba Glogova

Prof. Dr. Viliana Vasileva

3. National Program "Healthy Foods" (2018–2023)

·      Task 2.3.2-5: Testing biopesticides against Tanymecus dilaticollis, Oulema melanopus, and Diabrotica virgifera

·      Coordinator: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Teodora Toshova

Key Publications

·      Velchev et al. (2023).
Effect of Beauveria bassiana on maize leaf beetles.
Journal of Central European Agriculture, 24(2), 434-446.
DOI:10.5513/JCEA01/24.2.378

·      Takov et al. (2023).
Entomopathogens of agricultural beetle pests.
North-Western Journal of Zoology, 19(2), e233301.

·      Toshova et al. (2022).
Oregano oil & Metarhizium against Diabrotica.
Cereal Research Communications, 50, 1045–1054.
DOI:10.1007/s42976-022-00266-1