Name: Antoniya Georgieva

Country: Bulgaria

Highest level of education: PHD

Major or field of study: Synthetic Biology

Current position: CEO / Researcher Biogaria

Antoniya Georgieva is the CEO and a Researcher at Biogaria in Bulgaria. She holds a PhD in Synthetic Biology and leads innovative research and development initiatives in the field of biotechnology.

Obstacles Antoniya encountered throughout her educational and professional journey

The obstacles Antoniya faced stemmed from the limited resources available to doctoral students, particularly regarding the additional training and practice she sought to incorporate into her program. She also believes that more courses focusing on research protection, security, and intellectual property rights should be included in training programs. These two topics are crucial for any researcher, yet, unfortunately, they are not part of the curriculum at most universities in Bulgaria.

Strategies and actions adopted by Antoniya to overcome these obstacles

To overcome these obstacles, Antoniya focused on participating in extra-academic programs designed to introduce and develop innovations, as well as strategies for their protection and market introduction. Through these initiatives, she was able to gain a deeper understanding of international models for managing and safeguarding scientific innovation.

Key lessons and insights gained from Antoniya’s experience

The main insight Antoniya gained from her experience is that, as women in the STEM research community, it is essential to create strong platforms for collaboration, build role models, and offer complementary courses. These initiatives are crucial for maintaining a high level of knowledge about trends in managing innovation and bringing it to market.

The importance of increasing female representation in STEM education and careers

Antoniya believes that it is crucial for more women to occupy leadership positions in STEM fields, both as scientist-innovators and leaders of high-tech companies. There are many reasons for this, but one of the most important, in her view, is the growing need for coherence between scientific disciplines. To drive the technological revolution we urgently need, it’s essential to build systems that integrate diverse scientific knowledge and foster collaboration among experts. Antoniya feels that women possess exceptional potential for creating partnerships and cultivating an environment that encourages innovation and teamwork.

Encouraging more girls and women to pursue careers in STEM

Antoniya believes that an important factor in encouraging women to pursue STEM careers is their involvement in addressing global challenges, where the solutions often lie in the discovery of new scientific and technological processes. By emphasising the critical roles each individual plays in creating a more sustainable world, we can lay the foundation for improving the quality of life for both current and future generations.

Initiatives and Programs Driving Women’s Empowerment in STEM

Antoniya views science competitions and incubators as powerful tools for engaging a broad audience, creating the potential for initiatives to attract wider interest and reach more people. Even competitions aimed at upper-grade high school students can have a significant impact, influencing their decision to pursue STEM fields in higher education.

Antoniya’s advice to young girls considering a career in STEM

“Science is a vast universe with many interesting and fascinating facts that one can access. It starts with curiosity – a spark that turns into deep thoughts about the unknown. As we explore, the unknown gradually becomes known, and with each discovery we find more mysteries that inspire us further. For this, I want to enlighten perspectives and become part of the solution to some of the global challenges. I believe that everyone can contribute their unique potential to a better world.”