Mariya Goncheva

Dr. Mariya Goncheva is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology at the University of Victoria, Faculty of Science. She leads the Goncheva Lab, which focuses on understanding interactions between respiratory viruses and bacteria during co-infection, particularly influenza A virus, seasonal coronaviruses, and Staphylococcus aureus. Her work combines molecular bacteriology, virology, microscopy, and -omics approaches to uncover host-pathogen and pathogen-pathogen dynamics for developing novel treatments.

Dr. Goncheva holds a BSc and PhD from the University of Edinburgh. Her research is funded by organizations such as the Canada Research Chair Programme, CIHR, and the BC Lung Foundation. She was awarded a Canada Research Chair Tier II in Virology in 2022. The lab’s current projects examine how Staphylococcus aureus proteins enhance viral replication and impact host outcomes, with a focus on therapeutic interventions.

Her research trends emphasize viral-bacterial synergies in respiratory infections, with recent studies exploring SARS-CoV-2 interactions and mechanisms of antibiotic resistance. Funding sources highlight the clinical and public health relevance of her work. The lab is currently not accepting undergraduate applications before January 2026.