ASSOC. PROF. DR. ENG. ILIYA IVANOV ILIEV
Director of Dobrudzha Agricultural Institute
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Eng. Iliya Ivanov Iliev has been in the position of Director of Dobrudzha Agricultural Institute – General Toshevo since 2016. 
He was born in 1960 in the village of Paskalevo, Dobrich District. He graduated the Technical University in Varna in 1986 with a degree in Internal Combustion Engines and qualification for machine engineer.
He started work at DAI in 1989 in the research field of Agricultural Mechanization at the Agrotechnology Department. His research work is closely related to investigations on technological equipment for production of field crops, including soil tillage, planting, plant protection activities, harvesting and ways for plant residue utilization. His research work also involves optimization of machine equipment systems in the technologies for integrated and organic production.
His PH.D. thesis for acquisition of doctoral academic level in 2004 was on Justification and study on spraying system for sunflower. In 2012, he acquired the academic position of Associate Professor. Eng. Iliev is among the few specialists in Bulgarian on machines and technologies for spraying of field crops.
He constructed and received a patent certificate for a mechanized probe for taking soil samples as a useful model. He also developed and patented a method for improvement of field crops pollination. He elaborated and constructed a machine for whole-plant spraying of sunflower with fungicides. He designed a cyclone system for unheated air ventilation of grain.
He acquired management experience as a deputy director of the Production Sector at DAI during 2005 – 2006.
He is a member of the Union of Bulgarian Scientists – Dobrich branch.
He is also a member of ASABE.
As a Director of DAI he set as a specific goal the successful marketing of the basic seeds from cereals produced at the institute, which are a significant source of income for the Institute.
His work is also focused on raising the professional level of the researchers at the institute and making it a more attractive working place for young researchers.
Another goal of his is directing the researches toward solving topical problems of the agricultural practice, to a more flexible interaction with the grain producers and making the Institute an even more attractive business partner.
In his opinion, the realization of these goals will contribute to a higher image of Dobrudzha Agricultural Institute as a leader of the agrarian science in Bulgaria.
In the position of a Director, he performs his duties following the principle “Being at the top is a responsibility!
ASSOC. PROF. DR. DANIELA VALKOVA YANEVA
Scientific secretary of Dobrudzha Agricultural Institute
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Daniela Valkova Yaneva has been in the position of Scientific secretary of Dobrudzha Agricultural Institute since 2017.
She was born in 1967 in Dobrich.
She is a graduate of the Agrarian University in Plovdiv and of the Russian State Agrarian University “Timiryazev”- Moscow (year of graduation 1990) with a specialty in Agronomy and qualification for breeding and seed production.
She started work at Dobrudzha Agricultural Institute in 1995.
Her research work is focused on development of high-yielding conventional sunflower hybrids with increased oil content, which are resistant to stress factors; development of resistant hybrids by combining conventional and bio technology methods; developing variable genetic material of ornamental sunflower; using intraspecific, interspecific and intergeneric hybridization to develop variable initial material with valuable breeding traits; maintenance and study of a collection of wild sunflower species.
Her Ph.D. thesis, with which she acquired a doctoral degree in 2013, was on Study on species from genus Helianthus L. as sources of important breeding traits.
In 2022, she acquired the academic title of Associate Professor.
She is the main author of 2, and a co-author of another 10 registered sunflower hybrids.
She is also the author of more than 60 publications in Bulgarian and foreign scientific journals, refereed and indexed in world data bases.
Her management experience as a Scientific secretary encompasses the period 2017 – 2022.
She is a member of the Union of Bulgarian Scientists – branch Dobrich, and of the International Sunflower Association – ISA, EUCARPIA.
The specific goals she has set to achieve in her capacity as a Scientific Secretary are assisting the Director of DAI in the work on planning and reporting the research activities of the institute, being responsible and strict in the observing of the rules and procedure for admission of Ph.D. students, and the rules and procedure for granting academic titles according to the respective legislative documents.
PROF. IVAN DIMITROV KIRYAKOV
Head of Cereals and Grain Leguminous Crops Department
Prof. Ivan Dimitrov Kiryakov has been in the position of Head of Cereals and Grain Leguminous crops Department at Dobrudzha Agricultural Institute – General Toshevo since 2017.
He was born in 1960 in Kavarna, Dobrich District.
He graduated the Agrarian University – Plovdiv in 1987 with a specialty in general cropping and qualification of an agronomist-engineer.
He started work at Dobrudzha Agricultural Institute in 1987 in the Plant Protection Department, direction of research work Plant Pathology.
His research work is focused on:
- Study on the virulence variability in the populations of key causative agents of diseases on grain legumes in Bulgaria;
- Searching for sources of resistance to key diseases on the grain leguminous crops in Bulgaria;
- Analysis on the response of breeding materials to the causative agents of diseases on the grain leguminous crops.
His Ph.D. thesis for acquiring doctoral degree in 1999 was on Study on the bacterial diseases in dry bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) and means for their control. In 2002 he was granted the academic title of Associate Professor, and in 2015 – Professor.
He is the co-author of 12 bean varieties. He is also the author and co-author of 110 scientific publication.
He acquired management experience being in the positions of:
- Scientific Secretary of Dobrudzha Agricultural Institute during 2002-2010.
- Director of Dobrudzha Agricultural Institute during 2010-2016.
He is a member of the Union of Bulgarian Scientists – branch Dobrich.
His major specific goals in his capacity as a Professor and Head of Department are:
- Investigating individual aspects of the etiology and epidemiology of key phyto pathogens on the field crops in Bulgaria;
- Developing grain leguminous varieties with increased resistance to key diseases in Bulgaria;
- Increasing the qualification of young researchers.
ASSOC. PROF. DR. GALIN GEORGIEV
Head of Sunflower Breeding Department
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Galin Georgiev Georgiev has been in the position of Head of the Sunflower Breeding Department of Dobrudzha Agricultural Institute since 2018.
He was born in 1970 in General Toshevo, and graduated the Agrarian University in Plovdiv in 1994 with a specialty in Agroengineering and a qualification in General cropping.
He started work at Dobrudzha Agricultural Institute in 1995 in the Sunflower Breeding Department with a direction of research work in Seed production.
His researches are related to breeding and seed production of sunflower lines and hybrids.
His Ph.D. thesis for acquiring doctoral degree in 2004 was on Study on the variation of some traits in sunflower lines (Helianthus annuus L.) in relation to primary seed production.
In 2016 he acquired the academic title of Associate Professor in Breeding and seed production of cultural plants.
He is the main author of 9 sunflower hybrids and co-author of another 15 of them. His publications in Bulgarian and foreign journals are over 55.
He acquired management experience as Head of Department during 2018 – 2022.
He has membership in the Union of Bulgarian Scientists – branch Dobrich.
He is also a member of the International Sunflower Association – ISA.
His main specific goals as a Head of the Sunflower Breeding Department at Dobrudzha Agricultural Institute are the following:
- developing of new high-yielding sunflower lines and hybrids resistant to biotic and abiotic factors, their seed production, distribution and introduction in practice;
- optimizing and increasing the efficiency of the breeding process in sunflower;
- extending the international cooperation of the Department;
- participation in more national and international forums related to the activity of the Department;
- maintaining constant relations with the agricultural producers subjecting the research work to their needs and the demands of the market;
- attracting young research staff to the Department.
CHIEF ASSISTANT ZIRNITSA LYUBOMIROVA PETROVA
Head of Agrotechnology and Livestock Breeding Department
Chief Assistant Dr. Zornitsa Lyubomirova Petrova has been in the position of Head of Agrotechnology and Livestockstock Breeding Department of Dobrudzha Agricultural Institute since 2022.
She was born in 1981 in Dobrich. She graduated the agrarian University –Plovdiv in 2005 with a specialty in Agricutural pharmacology, and qualification as an agronomist.
She started working at Dobrudzha Agricultural Institute in 2012 in the former Department of Field Crops Techologies, research direction Plant protection – herbology. Her research work is related to testing the efficiency of herbicides and the selectivity of the field crops, as well as study on plant protection practices in the main field crops.
Her Ph.D. thesis for acquisition of doctoral academic title in 2015 was on Response of common winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) to a set of herbicides.
She is a member of the Union of Bulgarian Scientists – branch Dobrich, and currently is Chairman of the Agrobiology Department of the Union.
Her main specific goals as a Head of Agrotechnology and Livestock Breeding Department are testing of new preparations for plant protection, establishing and maintaining contacts with other institutes and universities and attracting young promising staff to the Department she is the head of.