Vasil Georgiev Tsunizhev is a Professor of Computer Informatics at the Faculty of Mathematics and Informatics, Sofia University, with office hours Monday and Wednesday 13:00-14:00 in room FMI-110. Contact: v.georgiev@fmi.uni-sofia.bg, +359 2 8161-594. His research spans cloud computing, distributed systems, and grid technologies with emphasis on resource management, load balancing, and service modeling. Key contributions include numerical solutions for cloud servicing, distributed coordination mechanisms, and fault-tolerant information services. His work integrates open-source components and addresses scalability challenges in cloud environments. Analysis of his 2009-2015 publications reveals consistent focus on cloud infrastructure optimization, with recurring themes in resource frameworks, quality-of-service models, and distributed coordination. His research demonstrates strong technical depth in numerical modeling and system architecture while addressing real-world scalability and fault tolerance requirements. Professor Tsunizhev collaborates internationally through projects like CoreGRID (contributing to grid security white papers) and works with researchers including R. Zhelev and L. Kirchev. His laboratory work focuses on commodity grid platforms and lightweight resource management systems for distributed computing environments.
Assoc. Prof. Boyan Zhekov, PhD is an active faculty member at the University of Library Studies and Information Technologies (UNIBIT) in Sofia, Bulgaria, where he serves in the Department of Computer Science under the Faculty of Information Sciences. He teaches courses including Case Studies in Digital Transformation (SHEB609) and holds academic appointments at Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski" and New Bulgarian University as a visiting lecturer. MSc in Information Technologies from Technical University - Sofia Specialized in IT and Economics across UK, France, Netherlands, South Korea, Japan, and Taiwan His research focuses on the intersection of digital governance and emerging technologies, with significant contributions to Internet of Things applications in public administration, smart city ecosystems, and open data frameworks. His work demonstrates a consistent emphasis on practical implementations of ICT solutions for governmental modernization, particularly through EU-funded projects and national initiatives. Current projects examine IoT business models and startup ecosystems within smart city contexts. Prof. Zhekov actively contributes to European research policy as a Horizon 2020 National Contact Point for Future and Emerging Technologies, ICT, and Secure Societies, while serving on the Programme Committee for ICT. His professional engagement extends to leadership roles in Japanese-Bulgarian academic networks including JICA Alumni Bulgaria and Nihon Tomono Kai. Member of Horizon 2020 National Contact Network Board member of Union of Electronics, Electrical Engineering and Communications (SEES) President of JICA Alumni Bulgaria Vice President of JSPS Alumni Bulgaria His advisory work includes technical ICT audits for EU-funded projects under Operational Program RCBIS (2007-2013) and development of sectoral information strategies for regional governance (2014-2020). Recent projects for the Ministry of Education analyze national research infrastructure roadmaps and map Bulgaria's scientific infrastructure landscape.
Bruce Sterling is a Professor of New Media and Science Fiction at The European Graduate School (EGS), where he has taught intensive summer seminars since 2003. He also served as "visionary in residence" at the Art Center College of Design in Los Angeles starting in 2005. Sterling is internationally recognized as a science fiction writer, net critic, and cyberspace theorist, with significant influence in the cyberpunk movement. Sterling graduated with a degree in journalism from the University of Texas, Austin, in 1976. His academic journey was followed by a prolific writing career that began with the publication of Involution Ocean in 1977. Sterling's research interests span the intersection of technology, culture, and narrative. He is particularly known for his work on cyberpunk literature, new media theory, and futurism. His concept of "design fiction" has influenced how designers and technologists think about future scenarios. Sterling's Viridian Design Movement promoted environmental awareness through design, while his Dead Media Project documented obsolete communication technologies. His writings consistently explore how technological change reshapes human experience, society, and our understanding of the future. Sterling's recent publications reveal a continued focus on the cultural implications of emerging technologies. His articles examine topics ranging from wearable computing and hyperlocal media to sustainable design and energy transitions. A recurring theme is the relationship between technological progress and environmental sustainability. Sterling frequently employs speculative approaches, using science fiction techniques to explore possible futures and challenge current assumptions about technology's trajectory. Sterling's scientific achievements have been recognized with numerous prestigious awards: Campbell Award (1989) for Islands in the Net Hugo Award (1997) for Bicycle Repairman Hugo Award (1999) for Taklamakan Hayakawa Award (1999) for Taklamakan Clarke Award (2000) for Distraction Sterling has been instrumental in shaping digital culture discourse through his teaching, writing, and activism. As a co-founder of the Electronic Frontier Foundation, he has advocated for digital rights and freedoms. His work bridges academic theory, creative practice, and public engagement, making complex technological issues accessible to diverse audiences. Sterling founded both the Dead Media Project, an archive of obsolete media technologies, and the Viridian Design Movement, an environmental aesthetic initiative. These projects reflect his unique approach to understanding technology through both historical and future-oriented perspectives. His work often explores the lifecycle of technologies, from emergence to obsolescence, and considers how design choices today shape possible futures.
Valeriya Nikolaeva Simeonova is an Associate Professor at the Faculty of Mathematics and Informatics, University of Sofia, specializing in Information Technologies . Her research focuses on interdisciplinary applications at the intersection of Bioinformatics , Machine Learning , and Parallel Computing , particularly for error discovery in metagenomics data and QSAR modeling in plant biology. Her work emphasizes Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) data analysis, where she develops algorithms for error detection and correction. She has contributed to optimizing genome assembly techniques through soft computing approaches and explored distributed computing for financial time series forecasting. Notable publications include studies on Golden Root in vitro culture growth (2013) and metagenomics NGS error detection (2015) in journals like BIOTECHNOLOGY & BIOTECHNOLOGICAL EQUIPMENT . Her collaborations span institutions in Bulgaria, France, and Belgium.
Boyan Paskalev Bontchev is a Professor in the Department of Software Technologies at Sofia University's Faculty of Informatics. With a PhD in Computer Science from the Center of Informatics and Computer Technology - Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, he has established himself as a prominent academic in software engineering and educational technology fields. His academic career includes teaching Java Server/Side Programming and OOAD-UML courses at Sofia University and New Bulgarian University since 2000. Professor Bontchev's research focuses on e-learning systems, adaptive hypermedia, and software architecture. His work centers around developing self-adaptive educational platforms, with significant contributions to the ARCADE e-learning platform that complies with IEEE LTSA standards. He has published extensively on topics including courseware composition, learning content interoperability, and assessment frameworks, demonstrating a consistent research trajectory in educational technology systems. His publications reveal a strong emphasis on practical applications of educational technology, particularly in self-adaptive hypermedia navigation, e-learning courseware delivery, and assessment interoperability. The research shows progression from foundational work on software architecture to increasingly sophisticated adaptive learning systems that incorporate learner modeling and personalized educational experiences. Professor Bontchev maintains active industry connections, having worked as a software engineer and project manager at companies including Rila Solutions, ESDI Ltd., and OBLOG Software Ltd. His international experience includes research stays at the University of Vienna and Technical University of Aachen, contributing to his broad perspective on educational technology development. With proficiency in multiple programming languages and environments including Java, JSP, Oracle, and web technologies, he bridges theoretical computer science with practical educational applications. His multilingual capabilities (English, Portuguese, German, Russian, Spanish) further enhance his international research collaborations and academic contributions.
Dessislava Georgieva Petrova-Antonova is a Professor at Sofia University's Faculty of Mathematics and Informatics , specializing in the Department of Software Technologies . Her work focuses on service-oriented architectures, web services, and big data systems for smart cities. She holds a PhD in Software Technologies from Technical University of Sofia (2007) and an MSc in Computer Systems and Control (2000). PhD: Technical University of Sofia, Faculty of Computer Systems and Control (2007) MSc: Technical University of Sofia, Faculty of Computer Systems and Control (2000) Research Interests: She pioneers methodologies for testing web service compositions (e.g., TASSA ), develops big data platforms for smart governance, and explores digital twin modeling for urban environments. Her projects integrate IoT, quality of service (QoS) frameworks, and data-driven policy tools. Projects: Leads initiatives like National CogniTwin (National Science Fund, 2019–2022) and Big4Smart (NSF, 2017–2020). Collaborates in EU programs such as Digital Twin Cities Centre (2020–2025) and People Network+ (FP7, 2012–2013). Labs & Collaborations: Affiliated with the GATE Center of Excellence and contributes to international teams in big data and smart city research. Her work bridges academia and industry through tools like TESSI (Web Service Testing Tool) and faultInjector (BPEL Fault Injection Tool).
Edgar Vadimovich Vatamanitsa serves as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Computer Science at Chernivtsi National University, specializing in cross-platform software development and cloud computing applications. His work bridges academic research with industry practice through active engagement in both university teaching and commercial software development. Education: Yuriy Fedkovych Chernivtsi National University (2013): Systems Software, Software Engineer Dr. Vatamanitsa's research centers on Java/Android pattern development, client-server architectures, and distributed systems. He pioneers practical implementations of design patterns in cloud environments, with significant contributions to optical field simulation, semiconductor modeling, and intelligent transportation systems. His methodology emphasizes cross-platform efficiency and real-world applicability of theoretical computing concepts. Analysis of his 2022-2024 publications reveals dominant themes in cloud-based optical computation (AWS infrastructure), Java pattern implementation for Android, and cross-platform solutions for traffic management and semiconductor physics. His work consistently integrates distributed systems with domain-specific challenges in optics, printing technology, and educational analytics, demonstrating exceptional versatility across engineering disciplines. Professional Activities: Member of Bukovina Information Technology Cluster (since 2022) Senior Software Developer at EPAM SYSTEMS Certificate in Cross-platform Programming and Information Security (Ternopil National Technical University, 2023) Tech Summer Bootcamp for Teachers participant (2023)
Minka Miteva Yordanova serves as a Part-time Lecturer in the Department of Mathematics, Computer Science and Natural Sciences at Technical University - Gabrovo, actively contributing to academic and research activities since 2011 through multiple institutional projects. Her research focuses on the intersection of management theory and information technology applications, with primary expertise in: Organizational Management and Business Process Modeling Information Systems Design and Security Computer-Based Educational Methods and Web Accessibility Economic Growth Analysis in National Sectors Analysis of her 15 publications (2011-2016) reveals consistent emphasis on practical implementations of management models in Bulgarian academic and business contexts, particularly in IT project execution, organizational communication, and time management systems. Her work predominantly appears in UNITECH and INFOTEH conference proceedings, demonstrating strong institutional collaboration within Southeast European academic networks. Dr. Yordanova has participated in seven internal research projects at TU Gabrovo (2011-2018) as both researcher and team member, addressing critical areas including modern educational technologies, economic forecasting for EU structural funds, and computer-based research methodologies. These projects involved cross-functional teams of 5-10 specialists focused on translating theoretical models into operational frameworks for national economic development.
Professor Krassen Stefanov Stefanov is a researcher at the Faculty of Mathematics and Informatics (FMI), Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski", with over 30 publications and leadership roles in 15 European Commission RTD projects. He holds a PhD in Computer Science from Sofia University and is a Cisco Certified Academy Instructor. 2003–2004: Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP) Instructor, Birmingham, UK 2002: Euro Innovation Manager certification, Brno University of Technology 2000–2001: Cisco Certified Academy Instructor (CCAI and CCNA) 1996–1997: MSc in Educational and Training Systems Design, University of Twente 1977–1982: MSc in Mathematics and Computer Science, Sofia University His research focuses on Technology Enhanced Learning , Semantic Knowledge Systems , Mobile Applications , and Open Development Platforms . He specializes in designing educational programs, modeling social processes, and consulting SMEs on ICT adoption. His publications from 2010–2012 emphasize digital libraries , metadata repositories , serious games , and cloud-based learning networks , with a strong emphasis on lifelong competence development and ICT standardization . Scientific Awards Best Paper Award, 5th International ePortfolio 2007 Conference He has led projects like the Share.TEC portal and weSPOT cloud platform , contributing to teacher training, SME consulting, and European RTD initiatives. His work involves designing competence assessment models and service-oriented e-learning infrastructures . Labs & Teams Professor Stefanov is affiliated with FMI Researchers and has collaborated extensively in the TENCompetence network, developing open-source infrastructures for lifelong learning. He co-created the Share.TEC portal for educational resource sharing and contributed to the I*Teach methodology for teacher training.
Dovgun Andriy Yaroslavovych is an Associate Professor at the Department of Computer Science, Yuriy Fedkovych Chernivtsi National University. His academic profile includes a Candidate of Physical and Mathematical Sciences degree (specialty 01.05.01 - Theoretical Foundations of Informatics and Cybernetics) and formal certification in computer science teaching methods. Research Focus : Stochastic dynamic systems, automatic control, biomedical optics, algorithms, and information technologies. Key Publications : Authored educational manuals on data structures (2024), algorithms (2022), and contributed to cross-platform decision support systems analysis (2023). Professional Affiliation : Member of the Chernivtsi IT Cluster since 2019.
Dr. Yuliya Volodymyrivna Tanasyuk is an Associate Professor at the Department of Computer Systems and Networks, Chernivtsi National University named after Yu. Fedkovych . She holds a Candidate of Physical and Mathematical Sciences degree (2003) and has been an active researcher and educator in computer science and physics domains. Academic Rank: Associate Professor Email: y.tanasyuk@chnu.edu.ua Her research spans multiple disciplines: Cryptography Cellular Automata Internet of Things (IoT) Software Engineering Network Technologies Project Management Notable trends in her publications include: Applications of cellular automata in cryptographic hash functions (2017–2021) Advancements in CdTe semiconductor materials (2003–2007) Interdisciplinary work bridging physics and computer science Scientific recognition includes: Multiple Cisco certifications (CCNA Security, DevNet Associate) 2023 UGEN Uni-Biz Bridge award for teaching flexibility British Council Academic Teaching Excellence (2016) International conference presentations at E-MRS and ISCP As an academic advisor, she has supervised numerous student research projects including: TensorFlow-based pattern recognition Traffic sign tracking systems Blockchain interaction frameworks University event planning software Smart parking detection systems Her work often intersects hardware-software integration and security protocols, with educational contributions through methodological guides in C++ programming and network technologies.
Nikolay Naydenov is a Chief Assistant Professor at the University of Architecture, Civil Engineering and Geodesy (UACEG), Faculty of Geodesy, Department of Photogrammetry and Cartography. He has extensive experience in cartography, GIS, and spatial planning, with numerous research projects and publications in these fields. His educational background includes a Master of Science in Geodesy from UACEG (1990-1995) and a Doctoral degree in Cartography (2015). He is proficient in English and Russian and possesses high-level computer literacy, particularly in geographic information systems, database development, traffic modeling, and laser scanning. Naydenov's research interests focus on practical applications of geospatial technologies in urban planning, transportation management, and territorial development. His work demonstrates a strong emphasis on GIS methodologies for parking management, traffic analysis, and spatial planning in Bulgarian cities, with publications showing a progression from foundational cartographic techniques to advanced applications in navigation systems and open-source GIS solutions. He has participated in over 15 research projects related to spatial planning, GIS development, and infrastructure management, including significant contributions to territorial regulatory plans across Bulgaria from small villages to the Kozloduy Nuclear Power Plant area. His professional activities bridge academic research with practical implementation in municipal planning contexts. Chamber of Engineers in Investment Design member Chamber of Engineers and Surveyors member Bulgarian Cartographic Association member Expert Council on Spatial Planning in Pravets Municipality His teaching responsibilities include courses on Open source GIS application, Cartography, Navigational mapping, and WEB cartography, reflecting his dual expertise in both theoretical cartographic principles and practical GIS applications for contemporary urban challenges.
Ioannis Parmenion Patias is an Associate Professor at the Faculty of Mathematics and Informatics , Sofia University , specializing in Project Management , Robotics , and Ethically Aligned Design . He holds a PhD in Computer Informatics (2001), a PMP certification (2010), and an MBA (2013). Education: MSc, Technical University of Sofia (1993) Candidate of PhD, Technical University of Sofia (1994-2000) PhD, Computer Informatics (2001) PMP Certification, PMI USA (2010) MBA, International Hellenic University (2013) Research Interests span Project Risk Management , Robotics , and Prompt Engineering , with a focus on ethical design , cloud federation , and knowledge-based systems . His work bridges autonomous systems and public policy . Scientific Projects include EU-funded initiatives like SUMMIT (2023-) and me_HeLi-D (2022-), alongside MIRACle (2020-2022) and GATE (2019-2020), emphasizing robotics , cloud integration , and mental health resources . Publications cover topics from ethical robotics to mobile healthcare apps , reflecting his interdisciplinary approach. He has authored books such as Embedded Control in Autonomous Systems (2024) and Design of Robotics Systems (2017).
Krassen Kirov Angelov is a full professor at the Department of Communication Equipment and Technologies within the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Electronics at Technical University - Gabrovo . He has led and participated in 15 research projects, focusing on wireless communication platforms, IoT systems, and optical network optimization. Head, Department of Communication Equipment and Technologies Project Manager for 5G/IoT research (2022) Co-author of 3 textbooks on communication circuits Research Interests include: 5G network design and optimization IoT communication protocols Optical network modeling Secure data transmission Satellite broadcasting systems Smart infrastructure development His recent publications (2021-2025) demonstrate expertise in: Chaotic encryption techniques Neural network applications LoRaWAN coverage planning DVB-S2 signal transmission Passive optical network modeling Radio frequency optimization PhD Students : Plamen Tashev (Radio Channel Monitoring) Mikhail Angelakis (Wireless Resource Management) Victor Krustev (Security Identification) Ivan Zlatev (Network Resource Allocation) Evelina Vaseva (Beekeeping Monitoring)
Achim Menges is a contemporary architect and Professor of Digital Design at The European Graduate School (EGS) and the founding director of the Institute for Computational Design at the University of Stuttgart. He also holds a visiting professorship at Harvard University's Graduate School of Design. His research integrates biomimetic engineering, parametric design, evolutionary computation, and computer-aided manufacturing through interdisciplinary collaboration with engineers, computer scientists, and biologists. Education: Began at Technical University of Darmstadt (Germany), graduated with honors from the Architectural Association School of Architecture in London (2002). Taught at AA School (2002-2012), Rice University (visiting professor), and Offenbach University of Art and Design (2005-2008). Currently at University of Stuttgart since 2012. Research focuses on biomimetic principles applied to architecture, such as humidity-responsive wood structures (e.g., FAZ Pavilion, 2010). Key themes include material computation, adaptive systems, and the synergy between biological processes and digital fabrication. His work emphasizes translating natural phenomena into functional architectural solutions without mechanical control systems. Scientific contributions include the FEIDAD Awards (2002, 2003), RIBA Tutor Prize (2004), Bentley Educator of the Year (2005), and ACADIA Award (2007). Over 10 major publications since 2004, including Material Computation: Higher Integration in Morphogenetic Design (2012). Labs/Teams: Leads the Institute for Computational Design (ICD), affiliated with Germany's Biomimetics Competence Network and Computer Science in Architecture Network. Active in international research evaluations and conference committees.
