She received MSc in Optics and Spectroscopy from Physics Department, Sofia University, Bulgaria and PhD degree in 2000 from Bulgarian Academy of Sciences. After that she joined Photonics Department, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taiwan (NYCU) as post-doctoral researcher (2000 -2004), following by Flemish Fellowship for Senior Post-Doctoral researcher at Antwerp University, Belgium. Since 2008, she become visiting professor at the Electrophysics Department, NYCU, Taiwan where currently she is an Adjunct Professor.

Her research interests are in the field of synthesis of nanolayers and functional oxide materials and their implementation in optical devices such as liquid crystal displays, spatial light modulators, flat optical elements, etc. She is a Fellow of the International Society for Optical Engineering (SPIE), OPTICA, Material Research Society (MRS) and European Material Research Society (E-MRS). Vera is member of AcademiaNET, Women in Optics and Women in Science societies.

He is the director of the Thin Film Device Manufacture facility, which provides the lead UK Universities and industrial partners with facilities for nano-scale thin film deposition, device patterning, and electrical characterisation.

In 2024, Dr Petrov received the prestigious Henry Royce Institute Award for Innovation by a Technical Professional. This award recognises the crucial impact that technical professionals make in advancing our technology and understanding of the material world. (The award is administered by IOM3 on behalf of the Henry Royce Institute.)

She earned a BSc in Molecular Biology (2004) and an MSc in Biochemistry (2005) from Sofia University, followed by a Master’s in Materials Engineering (2007) from the University of Chemical Technology and Metallurgy. She received her PhD (2013) and Doctor of Science degree (2022) in Materials Science from Ruse University.

She heads the laboratories of Scanning Electron Microscopy, XRD analysis and Evaluation of Coatings and Materials and previously served as Vice-Dean of the Faculty of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering.

Her teaching includes Master’s courses in Vacuum Heat Treatment and Thermochemical Treatment of Metals and High-Performance Materials, as well as undergraduate and graduate courses in Materials Science and Electrophysical Methods.

Her research focuses on surface engineering, particularly thermochemical treatments and PVD coatings, as well as nanomaterials for biomedical applications. She has extensive expertise in SEM, XRD, spectroscopic techniques, and materials characterisation. Prof. Nikolova has authored more than 77 papers in Scopus- and WoS-indexed journals.

He received MSc in Physics from Physics Department, Sofia University, and PhD degree in 2009, doctor thesis entitled „Instability of vicinal crystal surfaces – step bunching“.

His research areas include phase formation and phase transitions in condensed matter; nucleation and crystal growth; epitaxy; diffusion and morphological instability of vicinal crystal surfaces; electron and optical microscopy; elemental analysis; and computer modeling of phase formation processes in solid and soft condensed matter using molecular dynamics.

Specializations Abroad and International Collaboration:

Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Nuremberg/Erlangen, Germany: Research on molecular surface reactions and catalytic properties of Pt(111) and Fe(100) crystal surfaces using HREELS (High-Resolution Electron Energy Loss Spectroscopy) and high-vacuum techniques.

Centre Interdisciplinaire de Nanoscience de Marseille (CINaM), Marseille, France: Study of spiral growth on Si(111) crystal surfaces, step density waves using REM (Reflection Electron Microscopy), and directed diffusion of atomic clusters under external forces using LEEM (Low-Energy Electron Microscopy); investigation of homoepitaxial growth on Si(111) and Si(100).

Institute of Semiconductor Physics, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences (ISP SB RAS), Novosibirsk, Russia: Investigation of epitaxial layer-by-layer growth on Si(111) crystal surfaces using REM (Reflection Electron Microscopy).

Her scientific interests are in the field of: biomaterials – dental materials and materials for implants; nanomaterials and nanocoatings; application of nanotechnologies, laser and 3D printing technologies in general and dental medicine. Dr Ts. Dikova has more than 150 scientific papers, 6 books, 4 textbooks and 6 books chapters, published in international journals. She has participated in more than 100 national and international congresses and conferences. Dr Dikova was invited lecturer on 18 international conferences in India, Turkey, Macedonia, China, Poland, France, Italy, Serbia and Australia. She gave lectures in Tokai University, Japan, Rice University, USA, and Xidian University, China.

She has conducted research in Canada, Japan, and the United Kingdom, focusing on molecular and cellular toxicology, environmental health, and proteomics.
Prof. Apostolova is a member of the Horizon Europe Programme Committee (Cluster 1) and an expert in technology transfer and innovation management, affiliated with GIS–Transfer Center and the Steinbeis Foundation.
She has served as the Bulgarian leader of several EU-funded projects, including IMPART/NANOTOX (013968/013908), SMEs Go Health (037292), Nanogenotox (DG SANTE Joint Action, 20092101), NanoREG II (646221-2) and ERA.Net RUS Plus (RUS_ST2019-126).
Her scientific achievements have been recognized with the First Place Research Award (Metal Specialty Section) from the Society of Toxicology, USA. Over the past five years, her research has focused on nanotoxicology and the biocompatibility assessment of nanoparticles, nanostructured films, and composites for biomedical implants.

Her doctoral studies in technological engineering were completed in 2010 at the same institution. Her primary research focuses on optimizing extraction processes for bioactive compounds and modifying their properties through encapsulation in polymer carriers. She currently serves in a leadership capacity as the Vice-Dean for Education (2021–2025). Furthermore, she is actively involved in national research initiatives, coordinating significant projects like RECAP and LAMINATION under the Serbian Science Fund.

He received MSc in Chemical Engineering in 1990 and PhD in 1994 from the University of Chemical Technology and Metallurgy, Sofia, Bulgaria. In the period 1995-1997 he was a Postdoctoral Fellow at the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Tsukuba, Japan and at the Central Laboratory of Photoprocesses (currently part of the Institute of Optical Materials and Technologies), Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia, working on preparation and investigation of novel materials in the ternary system B-C-N. In 1998 he joined the Institute of Nanostructure Technologies and Analytics at the University of Kassel, Germany. During his early stage career, he was granted Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS), Humboldt (Germany) and Marie-Curie (EC) Fellowships. His research interests cover deposition, characterization, nanostructuring and applications of nano- and ultrananocrystalline diamond films and monocrystalline diamond for biomedical and quantum applications.

He is an Adjunct Professor of Physics at Linköping University, Sweden (2010–present) and served as Visiting Professor of Surface Engineering at Sheffield Hallam University, U.K. (2000–2012). Prof. Petrov earned his Ph.D. in Physics from the Institute of Electronics, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, and received the Doctor Honoris Causa degree from Linköping University, Sweden. His research interests include nanostructural and nanochemical analyses, thin film physics, and surface science and engineering.