Vesela Evtimova
Personal information
- Contacts
Vesela Evtimova
Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research,
Bulgarian Academy of Sciences
1 Tsar Osvoboditel Blvd.
Sofia 1000
Bulgariahttps://www.researchgate.net/profile/Vesela_Evtimova/contributions
e-mail: vesela.evtimova@gmail.com
- Curriculum vitae
Work experience
- May 2015 – present: Language editor, Acta Zoologica Bulgarica, BULGARIA
- April 2023 – present: Associate professor, Department of Aquatic Ecosystems, Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, BULGARIA
- Sept 2014 – March 2023: Assistant professor/ PostDoc, Department of Aquatic Ecosystems, Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, BULGARIA
- Aug 2011 – Aug 2014:Associate researcher (part-time), Department of Aquatic Ecosystems, Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, BULGARIA
- Oct 2011 – Apr 2012: Research assistant (part-time), Trinity College Dublin, University of Dublin, IRELAND and Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute, NORTHERN IRELAND
- Mar 2003 – Jan 2008: Specialist in Biology, Institute of Zoology, Department of Hydrobiology, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, BULGARIA
Teaching experience
- Oct - Dec 2021: Teaching assistant, Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski"
Main subjects taught:
▪ Hydrobiology (2nd year (Y) students in Ecology and protection of the environment);
▪ Hydrobiology and water quality (3rd Y); Biomanagement and sustainable development) - Jan 2016 - present: Supervisor of Monika Subeva (MSc) PhD candidate
- Jan 2016 - Introduction to pupils from the National Vocational High School of Precise Engineering and Optics "M.V. Lomonosov" to application of optics in research
- Jan 2015 - Introduction to pupils from the National Vocational High School of Precise Engineering and Optics "M.V. Lomonosov" to application of optics in research
- Jan 2008 – Apr 2012: Teaching assistant (part-time), Trinity College Dublin, University of Dublin, IRELAND
Main subjects taught:
▪ Biology (1st year (Y) students);
▪ Ecology (2nd Y);
▪ Microbiology (2nd Y);
▪ Applied molecular techniques (3rd Y);
▪ Comparative physiology (3rd Y) and
▪ Data Handling (4th Y). - Nov 2010 – May 2011: Teaching assistant (part-time), Royal College of Irish Surgeons, Dublin, IRELAND
Teaching Biomedical laboratory to medical students in their foundation year.
Education
- Oct 2007 - Oct 2012: Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), School of Natural Sciences, Trinity College Dublin, University of Dublin, IRELAND
▪ Doctorates' thesis title: Water level fluctuations and their effects on lake ecology
▪ Supervising undergraduates in the laboratory and while conducting field- and experimental work. - Oct 2008 – May 2009: Postgraduate diploma in Statistics, School of Computer Science and Statistics, TCD, University of Dublin, IRELAND
▪Including three modules: Basic statistics; Regression analysis and Time series analysis. - Oct 1997 – Aug 2002: MSc in Biology, Faculty of Biology, Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”, BULGARIA
▪Specialised in Hydrobiology and Waste Water Treatment (achieved average score 5.94/6.00)
▪Master’s thesis: Zooplankton communities: assessment tool of the eutrophication in the Strouma River- Pchelina Reservoir system and the ecotone between them - Sept 1992 - Jun 1997: Sofia English Language High School, BULGARIA (top 1% of year group, achieved average score 5.97/6.00)
Training and courses
- Jul 2022: CMAS Science Diver, Marine Cluster Bulgaria
- Jul 2022: CMAS **
- Feb 2011: Data Analysis Tools in Ecology course, IMAR– Marine and Environment Research Centre, University of Coimbra, PORTUGAL
- Apr 2010: Science at Sea: research shiptime training in multidisciplinary marine science, Marine Institute and Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology (GMIT), Cork, IRELAND
- Oct 2009 – May 2010: Practical academic writing and speaking skills in English course for Postgraduates, School of Linguistic, Speech and Communication Sciences, TCD, University of Dublin, IRELAND
- Nov 2009: Multivariate Statistical Analysis and Artificial Neural Networks course, Dublin City University (DCU), Dublin, IRELAND
- Feb 2008: Introduction to teaching and supporting learning for postgraduates, Centre for Academic Practice and Student Learning, TCD, University of Dublin, IRELAND
- Jul 2005 – Apr 2006: In-service training with the Joint Research Centre Directorate-General of the European Commission, European centre of ecological water quality and intercalibration, DG of the EC, Ispra, ITALY
▪ Involved in European water quality assessment and Water Framework Directive intercalibration
▪ Surveying Prealpine lakes and sample processing
▪ Administrative duties.
Achievements and grants won
- June 2016 – Dec 2022: 1st Collaborative European Freshwater Science Project for Young Researchers (“FreshProject”), Team representative for Bulgaria, Project title: EuroRun - Assessing CO2 Fluxes from European Running Waters, PI for Bulgaria
- June 2015: Grant for participation in Networks in ecology workshop. Funded by the Integrated Science Lab & Ecosystem Change Group, Umea University, SWEDEN
- Oct 2013 – April 2014: Science and Business grant for one-month training in the Biostatistics unit of Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, SWEDEN
- Oct 2010 – Sept 2012: Higher Education Grant, Dublin City Council, Dublin, IRELAND
- Oct 2010 – Sept 2011: School of Natural Sciences Continuation Student Award. TCD, Dublin, IRELAND
- Oct 2007 – Sept 2010: Government of Ireland Postgraduate Scholarship in Science, Engineering and Technology for a Doctorate with TCD, Embark Initiative by IRCSET, Dublin, IRELAND
- Mar 2007: Marie Curie Conferences & Training Courses Grant to attend Symposium on Time in Karst, SMART- KARST project, Postojna, SLOVENIA
- Jun– Jul 2006: TAXOFAN project, funded through the FP6 Transnational Access Programme ATANS of the European Commission and the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, Abisko, SWEDEN
- Jul 2005 - Apr 2006: In-service training grant, Joint Research Centre DG of the European Commission, ITALY
- Jul– Jul 2004: Taxonomy, faunistics and zoogeography of copepods (Crustacea) from the littoral zone of the Reykjanes peninsula, Iceland. Funded through the FP5Transnational Access to Research Facilities (ARI) Grant of the EC, Sandgerdi Marine Centre, ICELAND
- May 2004 – May 2005: Grant from the Sigma Xi Grants–in–Aid of Research Programme, USA
- Oct 1997 – Jul 2002: Awarded Best Biology Student of class 2002, Sofia University, BULGARIA
- Oct 1998 – Jul 1999: Grant for Excellent Academic Performance. EVRIKA Foundation, established to encourage the technical and scientific creativity of young scientists, BULGARIA
Languages
Mother tongue Bulgarian
Other languages
English - proficient
Italian - very good
Russian - good
Spanish - basic- Research interests
My research has been focusing mainly on aquatic ecosystems, their biodiversity, structural and functional complexity. It comprises exploring the role of environmental factors (unmodified or anthropogenically-altered) in shaping aquatic biota and aims at conservation and stability, while meeting the societal needs in a sustainable manner. I am also interested in the impacts of global environmental changes and major disturbances, such as climate change; hydrological pressures; introduction of invasive alien species and nutrient loading. In order to achieve these goals, I employ both experimental and observational approaches.
I am a versatile scientist with 15+ years of professional experience and interests in the field of aquatic investigations, associated with expertise in taxonomy and ecology of zooplankton, stygofauna and benthic macroinvertebrates. Proven record of operating field sampling equipment and excellent command of field sampling techniques (water chemistry and biota) of lakes, rivers, caves, interstitial and coastal waters.
Experience in experimental design, mesocosm construction and controlled experiments.Current and recent projects
- Complex ecosystem study of the water area of the natural phenomenon "Underwater Petrified Forest", Sozopol Bay. (Dec 2022 – ongoing). National Science Fund, Ministry of Education and Science of Bulgaria, Project No. KP-06-N61/11-15.12.2022. Project PI: Lyubomir Kenderov (Sofia University)
- Functioning and adaptations of model aquatic ecosystems under high UV radiation in polar region (Aug 2021 – Jul 2023). National Centre for Polar Studies. Project PI: Vesela Evtimova (Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research, BAS)
- EUROPOND (2020 - Dec 2022). European Federation of Freshwater Sciences (EFFS) board, European Fresh and Young Researchers (EFYR), Fresh Blood for Fresh Water (FBFW). Project PIs: Lena Fehlinger (University of Vienna, WasserCluster Lunz, Danube University Krems) and Biljana Rimcheska (Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research, BAS)
- Indicative role of copepods (Crustacea, Copepoda) for assessing global change in Antarctic and Arctic aquatic ecosystems (Nov 2019 – May 2022). National Centre for Polar Studies. Project PI: Ivan Pandourski (Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research, BAS)
- Ichthyological study in the marine littoral in the region of the Bulgarian Antarctic Base on Livingston Island (Nov 2019 – May 2022). National Centre for Polar Studies. Project PI: Tihomir Stefanov (ational Museum of Natural History, BAS)
- Transportation of bat guano from caves to above-ground habitats through gound waters and its effect on above-ground biota (May 2018 – Dec 2020). Project PI: Gloriana Chaverri (Universidad de Costa Rica, Recinto de Golfito, Costa Rica) and for Bulgaria: Stanimira Deleva (Brunca Bats Project)
- The magnitude and drivers of sediment methane production in streams across Europe – EuroMethane (July 2017 – Dec 2020). German Research Foundation Project. PI: Pascal Bodmer (University of Koblenz-Landau, Germany); Bulgarian team PI: Vesela Evtimova
- Assessing CO2 fluxes from European running waters – EuroRun (June 2016 – Dec 2022). European Federation of Freshwater Sciences; European Fresh and Young Researchers; Fresh Blood for Fresh Water; Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries. Project PIs: Katrin Attermeyer (Uppsala University) and Pascal Bodmer (Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries); Bulgarian team PI: Vesela Evtimova
- Cave-dwelling fish from Bulgaria (May 2016 – ongoing). Project PI: Nikolay Simov (National Museum of Natural History, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences)
- Freshwater ecosystem services mapping and assessment in Bulgaria – FEMA (2015 – ongoing). Financial Mechanism of the European Economic Area (EEA) 2009 - 2014 Programme BG03 Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services. PI: Yordan Uzunov (Department of Aquatic Ecosystems, BAS)
- Improving the Bulgarian biodiversity information system – IBBIS (2015 – ongoing). Financial Mechanism of the EEA 2009 - 2014 Programme BG03 Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services. PI: Vladimir Vladimirov (Department of Plant and Fungal Diversity and Resources, BAS)
- East and South European network for invasive alien species: a tool to support the management of alien species in Bulgaria – ESENIAS-TOOLS (2015 – ongoing). Financial Mechanism of the EEA 2009-2014 Programme BG03 Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services. PI: Teodora Trichkova (Department of Aquatic Ecosystems, BAS)
- Intercalibration of the methods for analysis of biological quality elements (BQE) for the types of surface waters on the territory of Bulgaria, corresponding to common European types in the Geographical intercalibration groups. Ministry of Environment and Water of Bulgaria. Contractor: Consortium “Dicon - UBA”
- Characterisation of water levels and the importance of their alteration for the ecology of the Danube River (2013 – ongoing). Assistance by the Science and Business Programme of the Ministry of Education and Science, Bulgaria; European Social Fund, European Community; Unit of Biostatistics, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm; Ecosystem Change Group, Umea University, Sweden. PIs: V. Evtimova, Paolo Frumento (Karolinska Institute)
- Potential threats to environmental and economic sustainability in the Danube and Black Sea region: Danube River as invasive alien species corridor (2012 – ongoing). International Association of Danube Research (IAD) and East and South European Network for Invasive Alien Species (ESENIAS). PI: T. Trichkova (Department of Aquatic Ecosystems, BAS)
- Climate change and invasive alien species – growing threats to biodiversity and ecosystem functioning in ancient Lake Ohrid and its watershed (2012 – ongoing). Royal Norwegian Embassy – Skopje/ Belgrade; Hydrobiological Institute Ohrid. PI: T. Trichkova (Department of Aquatic Ecosystems, BAS)
- Development of targeted ecological modelling tools for lake management – DOLMANT (October 2011 – April 2012). EU-INTERREG funded project PIs: Ken Irvine and Ian Donohue (Freshwater Ecology Research Group, Trinity College, University of Dublin)
- Water-level fluctuations and their effects on lake ecology (October 2007 – October 2012). Irish Research Council for Science, Engineering and Technology; School of Natural Sciences and Zoology, Trinity College Dublin; Dublin City Council. PI: V. Evtimova
- Assessment and management of Dreissena spp. invasion in Bulgarian water bodies (2008 – 2012). National Science Fund, Bulgarian Ministry of Education and Science. PI Ivan Pandourski (Institute of Zoology, BAS)
- Biological assessment of the karstic ecosystem in the Ponor Mountains, Western Bulgaria: role of crustaceans as bioindicators of hydrological connectivity (March 2003 – December 2006). BAS with the financial assistance of the Scientific Research Society Sigma Xi. PI: V. Evtimova.
- Copepods and rotifers from Abisko Natural Park and its surroundings, Sweden: zoogeography, morphology and species distribution - TAXOFAN project (June 2006 – September 2007). Transnational Access Programme ATANS under the FP6 and by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, Abisko Scientific Research Station, Sweden. PIs: V. Evtimova and I. Pandourski (Institute of Zoology, BAS)
- Taxonomy, faunistics and zoogeography of brackish and freshwater copepods (Crustacea) from the Reykjanes Peninsula, Iceland (June 2004 – September 2007). European Union, Improving Human Potential Programme under the FP5. PIs: V. Evtimova and I. Pandourski (Institute of Zoology, BAS)
- Assessment of the ecological status of lakes: use of benthic macroinvertebrates – LESMA (2005 – 2006). European Commission-Joint Research Centre, Institute for Environment and Sustainability (JRC), Ispra (VA). PI: Gary Free (European Commission-Joint Research Centre, Institute for Environment and Sustainability)
- High-mountain lake ecosystems in the Rila Mountains: biological and chemical characteristics and classifications (September 2003 – December 2004). PI: Mladen Zhivkov† (Institute of Zoology, BAS)
- Contemporary condition of fish stock – a factor for sustaining the biodiversity of Rabisha, Drenovets and Kula Reservoirs (Northwestern Bulgaria) (2001 – 2005). Ministry of science and education of the Republic of Bulgaria. PI: M. Zhivkov† (Institute of Zoology, BAS).
- Publications
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Fehlinger, Lena, Misteli, Benjamin, Morant, Daniel,... Evtimova V., et al. 2023. The ecological role of permanent ponds in Europe: a review of dietary linkages to terrestrial ecosystems via emerging insects. Inland Waters 13(1): 30-46.
Pandourski, I., Evtimova, V., Kenderov, L., De los Rios Escalante, P. 2023. Distribution of Boeckella poppei (Mrázek, 1901) (Copepoda: Calanoida) on the Livingston Island, Maritime Antarctica. Acta Zoologica Bulgarica, 2023: 445-447.Evtimova V., Y. Vidinova, V. Tyufekchieva 2019. Chapter 3. Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, and Trichoptera (Insecta) from the Bulgarian stretch of the Danube River and adjacent territories. In: Shurulinkov P., Hubenov Z., Beshkov S., Popgeorgiev P. (Eds) Biodiversity of the Bulgarian-Romanian Section of the Lower Danube, Nova Science Publishers Inc.: 73-118
Evtimova, Vesela. Diversity of the caddisflies (Trichoptera) of Bulgaria, doi 10.3897/aca.2.e46453
Kalchev R., M. Beshkova, Evtimova, V., R. Fikova, H. Kalcheva, V. Tzavkova, V. Vassilev. 2018. Long-term trophic changes in Bulgarian–Romanian Danube River section and in adjacent wetland on Bulgarian territory during its restoration. Službeni glasnik, Belgrade, ISBN:978-86-7025-779-5: 55-77
Subeva, M., V. Evtimova, L. Kenderov 2018. New data on zooplankton communities of two Bulgarian reservoirs: Konush and Sinyata Reka, Plovdiv Region. Journal of BioScience and Biotechnology 7(1): 17-22, ISSN:1314-6238
Vidinova, Y., V. Evtimova, V. Tyufekchieva 2018. Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera and Trichoptera (Insecta) from water bodies in the region of Plovdiv City. In: Mollov I., D. Georgiev, O. Todorov (Eds.) 2018, Faunistic diversity of the city of Plovdiv (Bulgaria), Volume 1 – Invertebrates, Bulletin of the Natural History Museum – Plovdiv. Supplement 1: 69-79
Skolka, M., Csanyi, B., Evtimova, V., Paunović, M.. ESENIAS Factsheets: Pectinatella magnifica (Leidy, 1851). In: Trichkova T., Uludağ A., Zenetos A., Vladimirov V., Tomov R. Cogălniceanu D. & Duplić A. (Eds.) 2017. ESENIAS Scientific Reports 2. East and South European Network for Invasive Alien Species – A tool to support the management of alien species in Bulgaria (ESENIAS-TOOLS). IBER-BAS, ESENIAS, Sofia, Bulgaria.
Van de Bund W. & V. Evtimova. 2006. River geographical intercalibration group (Chapter 2). – In: Intercalibration Steering Group (ed.): GIG Milestone 4 Report.
Trichkova T., M. Zivkov, T. Stefanov, I. Pandourski, V. Evtimova, Z. Hubenov. 2005. Food composition of European perch (Perca fluviatilis) in the Reservoir Drenovets (North-western Bulgaria). 14th International Symposium of Ecology 2005, Jun 13 – 17, Sunny Beach resort, Bulgaria (in Bulgarian).
Grekova M., N. Kachamakova, V. Dencheva, V. Evtimova, D. Harizanova, R. Dimkov, Y. Topalova. 2001. Sn-modulator of phenol –potential of biodetoxication activity of valuable for the practice microorganisms – Bacillus laterosporus BT-271 and Pseudomonas aureofaciens AP-9. Annuaire de L’Universite De Sofia “Kliment Ohridski”.
Affiliation
- Department
- Aquatic Ecosystems
- Division
- Biodiversity and Processes in Freshwater Ecosystems
History
- Member for
- 10 years 15 weeks