Ferihan Ahmed-Popova

Ferihan Ahmed-Popova, DMD, PhD, is an Associate Professor in the Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology at the Faculty of Medicine, Medical University of Plovdiv. She holds dual academic qualifications in dentistry and anatomy, with a PhD focused on dermatoglyphic biomarkers in mental disorders. Her roles include serving as Chief Assistant and Executive Secretary of the Bulgarian Anthropological Society's Board of Directors since 2019.

Education:

• Bachelor of Dental Medicine (2003), Medical University of Plovdiv
• Doctor of Philosophy (2015), specializing in dermatoglyphics and neurodevelopmental disorders
• Academic specialty in Anatomy, Histology, and Cytology (2018)

Research interests span translational neuroscience, neuromorphology, and medical anthropology, with a focus on dermatoglyphics and minor physical anomalies as biomarkers for schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. She leads projects like the Medical Informatics Platform (MIP) for global brain disease data sharing and contributes to Bulgaria's 'Research Complex for Translational Neuroscience' funded by the Competitiveness Program.

Her work emphasizes neurodevelopmental hypotheses in mental disorders and integrates imaging technologies like fMRI and ultrasound fusion. She collaborates internationally in anthropological and psychiatric research, with 19 publications and 29 citations to date.

Professional memberships include the Bulgarian Anatomical Society, Bulgarian Anthropological Society, and Bulgarian Dental Association.