Assistant Professor Ivan Iliev, PhD Building 23 Office 202, Lab 236 Phone: + 359 (2) 979 37 54, + 359 (2) 979 21 09 Е-mail: crazyalgae@gmail.com

RESEARCH INTERESTS

Ecophysiology and biochemistry of algae from extreme environments, Biotechnology and large-scale biomass production of microalgae, low-molecular-weight metabolites (lipids, isoprenoids and fatty acids) from algae.

EDUCATION AND ACADEMIC DEGREES

• PhD in plant physiology, Acad. M. Popov Institute of Plant Physiology – Bulgarian Academy of Sciences. PhD Thesis: “Effect of physicochemical conditions on the growth and composition of algae from extreme habitats“
• 2005 – Magister degree in Ecology and Environmental Protection – University of Chemical Technology and Metallurgy, Sofia, Bulgaria

ACADEMIC POSITIONS

• 2011 – Senior Assistant Professor, Institute of Plant Physiology and genetics, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia, Bulgaria
• 2008 – 2011 – Assistant Professor, Acad. M. Popov Institute of Plant Physiology, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia, Bulgaria
• 2006 – 2010 – Full-time PhD student at Department Experimental Algology, Acad. M. Popov Institute of Plant Physiology, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia, Bulgaria

PROJECTS IN THE LAST TEN YEARS

2020 – 2022 Project coordinator of bilateral scientific cooperation in the frame of exchange agreement between Bulgarian and Czech Academies of Sciences. Project topic: “Biodiversity and biotechnology of green and blue-green algae from hot springs“. Partner organization: Centre for Algology at the Institute of Botany, CAS – Trebon, Czech Republic

2017 – 2019 Project coordinator of bilateral scientific cooperation in the frame of exchange agreement between Bulgarian and Czech Academies of Sciences. Project topic: “Snow algae – prospective strains for biotechnology“. Partner organization: Centre for Algology at the Institute of Botany, CAS – Trebon, Czech Republic

2014 – 2016 Project coordinator of bilateral scientific cooperation in the frame of exchange agreement between Bulgarian and Czech Academies of Sciences. Project topic: “Study of biotechnological potential of extremophilic and extremotolerant algae and cyanobacteria“. Partner organization: Centre for Algology at the Institute of Botany, CAS – Trebon, Czech Republic

2012 – 2015 Project member: “Support for the construction and development of young competitive research potential in the field of physiology, phytochemistry, genomics, proteomics and biodiversity of eukaryotic organisms”. Project BG051PO001-3.3.06-0025. ESF Fund, Ministry of Education and Science, Bulgarian Human Resources Development operational programme (2007-2013)

2013 – 2015 Project member: “Anaerobic biodegradation of lignocellulosic wastes in order to produce biogas and utilization of carbon dioxide in it by using microalgae”. Grant DFNI-E01/0001, National Science Fund of Bulgaria

2012 – 2014 Project member: “Oxidative stress in economically important plant species and possibilities for its alleviation by application of ecologically friendly sustanes”. Grant DMU 03/60, National Science Fund of Bulgaria

2010 – 2013 Executive secretary of project: “Remediation of soils polluted with mineral oil products by means of microalgae”. Grant DMU-02/2, National Science Fund of Bulgaria

2008 – 2012 Project member: “New microalgal strains – potential producers of economical and medical important products”. Grant DОО2-299/08, National Science Fund of Bulgaria

PARTICIPATION IN PROJECTS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF INNOVATIVE SCIENTIFIC PRODUCTS

2013 – 2014 Project ”Spirulina large-scale biomass production” – Building of an enterprise for the production of algae biomass, located in Septemvri, Bulgaria

2013 – 2014 Project “Chlorella large-scale biomass production” – Building of an enterprise for the production of algae biomass located in Varvara village, Septemvri Municipality, Bulgaria

2012 – 2013 Project BG161PO003-1.2.02 “Creating new and strengthening existing technology transfer offices”. IPPG-BAS – “Bioinovativeв” Ltd collaboration.

2012 – 2013 Project BG0713EFF-351-220096 Center for Innovative Practices – Bulgaria:  “Testing of innovative technology for extraction of algae biomass and construction of aquaculture farm“. Operational Programme for the development of the Bulgarian fisheries (2007-2013) – 3.5. Pilot projects

 INTERNATIONAL PATENT

• 2010 – continuing. Lukavsky J, Cepak V, Rezanka T, Petkov G, Furnadzhieva S, Iliev I, Andreeva R, Bankova V. 2010. The alga Trachydiscus minutus strain Lukavský et Přibyl 2005/1 which produce oils with a high content of polyunsaturated fatty acids. Patent №: 302118/19.10.2010. Industrial Property Office – Journal № 42/2010, Prague, Czech Republic.

PROFESSIONAL TRAINING

• June 2014 – September 2014: Four months specialization – “Centre for Algology” at the Institute of Botany, CAS – Trebon, Czech Republic
• 2007 – 2018: Eight short-term specializations – “Centre for Algology” at the Institute of Botany, CAS – Trebon, Czech Republic

 Pedagogical Activities

• 2017 – Scientific mentor of a Bachelor degree thesis: “Physiological and biochemical characteristics of the alga Stichococcus sp. Rod 42, isolated from snow surface at Rhodope Mountains. Graduate student: Borislava Kirqkova (Faculty № 10535). Department of Plant Physiology – Sofia University, “St. Kliment Ohridski”
• 2013 – 2014 – Mentor of a graduate student Pavel Videv from Sofia University, “St. Kliment Ohridski”, in the frame of program: Procedure for “Student activities”
• 2011 – Scientific consultant of a Magister degree thesis “Influence of the herbicide Roundup on the alga Trachydiscus minutus”. Graduate student: Svetoslav Alexandrov (Faculty № 38682). Department of Plant Physiology – Sofia University, “St. Kliment Ohridski”

PUBLICATION ACTIVITY

Scientific publications:

Total: 23

Citations: 334

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS

Toshkova-Yotova T, Georgieva A, Iliev I, Alexandrov S, Ivanova A, Pilarski P, Toshkova R. 2022. Antitumor and antimicrobial activity of fatty acids from green microalga Coelastrella sp. BGV. South African Journal of Botany. in press (Q2; IF 2.32)

Hristozkova M, Geneva M, Stancheva I, Iliev I, Azcon-Aguilar C. 2017. Symbiotic association between golden berry (Physalis peruviana) and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in heavy metal-contaminated soil. Journal of Plant Protection Research, 57(1): 174-184. (Q2, SJR: 0.438)

Iliev I, Petkov G, Lukavsky J. 2015. An approach for bioremediation of mineral oil polluted soil. Genetics and Plant Physiology, 5(2): 162-169.

Kvíderová J, Elster J, Iliev I. 2015. Application of databases in polar research – Data evaluation and outputs. Czech Polar Reports, 5(2): 143-159. ISSN:1805-0689 (Print), 1805-0697 (On-line). (Q2; SJR: 0.36)

Vassilevska-Ivanova R, Kraptchev B, Stancheva I, Geneva M, Iliev I, Georgiev G. 2014. Utilization of related wild species (Echinacea purpurea) for genetic enhancement of cultivated sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.). Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry, 38: 15-22. ISSN 1300-011X, E-ISSN 1303-6173. (Q1; IF₂₀₁₈ 1.731; SJR₂₀₁₈: 0.58)

Gacheva G, Gigova L, Ivanova N, Iliev I, Toshkova R, Gardeva E, Kussovski V, Najdenski H. 2013 Suboptimal growth temperatures enhance the biological activity of cultured cyanobacterium Gloeocapsa sp. Journal of Applied Phycology, 25(1): 183 – 194. ISSN: 0921-8971, E-ISSN 1573-5176. (Q1; IF 2.635; SJR₂₀₁₈: 0.76)

Najdenski HM, Gigova LG, Iliev I, Pilarski PS, Lukavsky J, Tsvetkova IV, Ninova MS, Kussovski V. 2013. Antibacterial and antifungal activities of selected microalgae and cyanobacteria. International Journal of Food Science and Technology, 48(7): 1533-1540. ISSN: 0022-1155, E-ISSN: 0975-8402. (Q1; IF 2.281; SJR₂₀₁₈: 0.8)

Petkov G, Ivanova A, Iliev I, Vaseva I. 2012. A critical look at the microalgae biodiesel. European Journal of Lipid Science and Technology, 114: 103-111. (Review article). ISSN: 1438-9312. (Q1; IF 1.852; SJR₂₀₁₈: 0.66)

Iliev I, Petkov G, Lukavsky J, Furnadzhieva S, Andreeva R. 2011. Do Cyanobacterial Lipids Contain Fatty Acids Longer than 18 Carbon Atoms? Zeitschrift für Naturforschung, 66c: 267 – 276. ISSN 0939-5075. (Q3; IF 1.0; SJR₂₀₁₈: 0.25)

Iliev I, Petkov G, Lukavsky J, Furnadzhieva S, Andreeva R, Bankova V. 2010. The alga Trachydiscus minutus (Pseudostaurastrum minutum): Growth and Composition. Gen. Appl. Plant Physiology, 36(3-4): 222-231.

Iliev I, Petkov G, Furnadzhieva S, Andreeva R, Lukavsky J. 2006. Membrane metabolites of Arthronema africanum strains from extreme habitats. Gen. Appl. Plant Physiology, 32(1-2) 117-123.

Iliev I, Petkov G. 2006. Growth, Lipids and Fatty Acids of the Desert Tolerant Blue-Green Alga Arthronema africanum. Comp. rend. Acad. bulg. Sci, 59(10): 1079-1082. (Q2; IF 0.321; SJR₂₀₁₈: 0.21)

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