Teodora Karamelska

Teodora Karamelska, PhD, serves as Associate Professor in the Department of Philosophy and Sociology at New Bulgarian University since 2011. She also holds a position as scientific collaborator at the Institute of Philosophy and Sociology at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences since 2007. Her academic work spans teaching bachelor's and master's courses in sociology, cultural studies, and related fields.

Dr. Karamelska earned her education at Sofia University 'St. Kliment Ohridski', specializing in Cultural Studies with a second specialty in History. Her academic journey includes research stays at prestigious institutions including Goettingen University in Germany, University of Sussex in the UK, and Mainz Institute of European History.

Her research focuses primarily on the sociology of religion and biographical studies, with additional expertise in the sociology of culture and history of sociological ideas. Her work explores contemporary religious phenomena in post-socialist contexts, particularly examining holistic spirituality, alternative religious practices, and the transformation of religious experience in Bulgaria.

The analysis of Dr. Karamelska's recent publications reveals a strong focus on the intersection of religion, aging, and biographical experience. Her work demonstrates consistent engagement with how religious and spiritual frameworks shape responses to life crises, particularly in the context of dementia care and aging populations. She has made significant contributions to understanding non-institutional religious practices, particularly holistic spirituality in Bulgarian contexts.

• Deputy Editor-in-Chief of the journal 'Sociological Problems'
• Member of the Bulgarian Sociological Association
• Coordinator of the Erasmus program department

Dr. Karamelska has actively participated in numerous research projects funded by the Ministry of Education and Science and international organizations. Her collaborative work includes significant contributions to the European Values Study and projects examining religious attitudes, biographical approaches to understanding socialism, and the oral history of communism in Bulgaria. She has coordinated several special journal issues on religious topics and has extensive experience as an academic translator from German to Bulgarian.