The Department of Biology was established in 1962 by Professor Maria Tsoneva, MD, DSc. The first assistant professors appointed in the same year were Dr. Elizaveta Boshnakova and Dr. Boyan Petrov. In 1973, Dr. Boshnakova was promoted to Associate Professor. In 1965, Dr. Teohari Avlavidov (Senior Research Associate, Second Rank) joined the department. That same year, the department welcomed its first doctoral candidate, Dr. Lilyana Vasileva, who successfully defended her dissertation and attained habilitation in 1976. Over the years, several distinguished academics contributed to the department's development, including Dr. Shideri Tomov (1967–1971), Dr. Georgi Karev (1971–1993), and Dr. Tsvetanka Marinova (1976–1992), who also completed her doctoral studies during her tenure. In 1975, Dr. Stoyan Stoyanov joined the department and was promoted to Associate Professor of Biology in 1986. Dimitar Kovachev began his career as an assistant professor in 1971, earned his PhD in plant hemagglutinin biochemistry, and was habilitated as Associate Professor in 1991. Dr. Hampo Divanyan joined the department in 1974, earned his doctorate in transplantation immunology in 1983, and became Associate Professor in 2006. Dr. Dimitar Tsanev started as an assistant professor in 1981, obtained his PhD in Germany, and was promoted to Senior Assistant Professor in 1990. From 2004 to 2007, Dr. Snezhana Ganeva served as an assistant professor. In 2007, Svetlana Stoeva (who left in 2013) and Vasilena Nestorova were appointed. Between 2008 and 2013, assistant professor Hristina Angelova was part of the department, and in 2009, Galina Yaneva joined as an assistant professor. In early 2010, assistant professors Svetla Slavova and Tsonka Dimitrova were appointed, followed by Maria Malcheva and Nikoleta Ivanova in 2013. In 2014, Dr. Neli Fialkovska joined the department, followed by Dr. Ivan Vachkov in 2015, and Daniela Pepieva in 2019. Ivayla Kuleva was appointed in 2020, Galina Nenkova in 2021, and Dr. Stoyan Stoyanov in 2022. In 2024, Maria Tsvetkova and Kosta Tepedelenev were added to the team. Over the years, 11 doctoral students have successfully defended their dissertations within the department. A well-established tradition exists for involving student demonstrators in the educational process, contributing significantly to practical training.
Leadership
The department has been led by a series of distinguished scholars:
- Prof. Maria Tsoneva (1962–1974)
- Assoc. Prof. Elizaveta Boshnakova (1974–1990)
- Assoc. Prof. Stoyan Stoyanov (1990–1992)
- Assoc. Prof. Dimitar Kovachev (1992–2010)
- Prof. Dobri Ivanov (2010–2022)
- Assoc. Prof. Galina Yaneva (2022– to present)
Between 2000 and 2003, in accordance with the university's new organizational structure, the department was restructured into a Teaching and Research Sector (TRS) for Medical Biology within the Faculty of Public Health, led by Assoc. Prof. Kovachev. From 2003 to 2005, the TRS was incorporated into the newly formed Department of Medical Physics, Chemistry, and Biology, with Assoc. Prof. Stoyanov as head. In 2009, the Biology Department was integrated into the Faculty of Pharmacy under the leadership of Assoc. Prof. Kovachev. In 2010, it merged with the Department of Pharmacy to form the Department of Biology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, headed by Assoc. Prof. Dobri Ivanov. Since 2012, the Department of Biology has functioned as an independent unit, initially under the Faculty of Medicine, with Assoc. Prof. Ivanov continuing as head. In 2015, it was transferred to the Faculty of Pharmacy, where Prof. Ivanov remained in leadership. In 2022, Assoc. Prof. Galina Yaneva was elected as department head, and in 2024 she was also appointed Vice-Dean for Research and Career Development.
Facilities and Equipment
The Department of Biology is situated within the building of the Medical College. It is equipped with three microscopy laboratories, one seminar room, and two research laboratories. The department has at its disposal a range of biochemical, immunological, and microscopy equipment to support both teaching and research activities.
