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FOCUS Project announces a competition for admission of full-time doctoral students
Institute of Mathematics and Informatics at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences
announces a competition for admission of full-time doctoral students
under Art. 21, para. 7 of the Higher Education Act,
with an application deadline of 06.06.2026
In implementation of Project BGRFPR002-1.016-0002 “European Chair for the Promotion of Digital Cultural Heritage through Open Innovation and Open Science” (FOCUS), competitions are announced for the admission of full-time doctoral students under Art. 21, para. 7 of the Higher Education Act, in the field of higher education 4. Natural Sciences, Mathematics and Informatics, professional field 4.6. Informatics and Computer Science, doctoral programme “Informatics”, on the topics listed in the table below.
The competition is open to candidates from the country and abroad.
Only candidates who meet the requirements listed below are eligible to participate. They must be enrolled in full-time doctoral studies and, at the time of the announcement of the procedure, must not be registered as doctoral students at any higher education institution or scientific organization. Candidates who have already obtained the educational and scientific degree “Doctor,” as well as those who have been dismissed from a doctoral programme with or without the right to defend, are not eligible.
The admission examinations consist of two parts – one in the specialty and one in a foreign language. The questionnairy for the specialty examination is available for download at the following links:
Candidates who successfully pass the specialty examination (at least “Very Good” 4.50) and the foreign language examination (at least “Good” 4.00) will be invited to an interview conducted by the Project Management Team.
Approved doctoral candidates will be employed under a labour contract for up to 3 years (for the duration of the doctoral programme) at IMI-BAS, with a full-time workload of 8 hours per day and a salary of €1650. For international doctoral students, an additional €350 is provided. Additional funding is available for travel for conference participation and scientific exchanges up to €2000 per year.
For all other matters related to the admission of doctoral students under this competition, the Regulations for Doctoral Admissions at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences and national legislation shall apply.
| Doctoral Topic | Proposed by |
| Infrastructures and open solutions for collections as data in Bulgarian cultural heritage institutions | Assoc. Prof. Dr. Milena Dobreva |
| Methods and technologies for integration, semantic enrichment and mapping of open data for public art | Assoc. Prof. Dr. Milena Dobreva |
| 3D modelling of cultural heritage objects: methods for creation, semantic enrichment and valorisation as digital twins | Assoc. Prof. Dr. Vesela Statkova |
From 07.05.2026 to 06.06.2026, candidates shall submit an application form accompanied by the following documents:
- Curriculum Vitae (European format, in Bulgarian)
- Declaration under §5 of the Additional Provisions of Council of Ministers Decree No. 90/26.05.2000 for lack of prior/current full-time doctoral studies
- Master’s degree diploma with its annex. If the diploma has not yet been issued, the candidate must submit an academic transcript showing the average grade from semester examinations with the course workload and the grade from the thesis defence or state examination. A minimum overall grade of “Very Good” (4.50) is required.
- Certificate of recognition of higher education in Bulgaria (issued by a Bulgarian higher education institution or by the National Centre for Information and Documentation – NACID) for persons who obtained their Master’s degree abroad.
Documents are to be submitted to the Human Resources Department (Room 205) of IMI or sent to the email address a.avramova@math.bas.bg.
Contact phone: +359 2 979 3846 – Dr. Aneta Avramova, HR inspector, responsible for academic development.
Minister of Education and Science Krasimir Valchev visits the International Center for Mathematical Sciences at IMI-BAS
On February 5, 2026, the Minister of Education and Science Krasimir Valchev, visited the Institute of Mathematics and Informatics at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (IMI-BAS) to receive an overview of the development and achievements of the International Center for Mathematical Sciences (ICMS-Sofia).
Minister Valchev was personally welcomed at IMI by Prof. Julian Revalski – Director of the International Center for Mathematical Sciences, Prof. Velichka Milousheva – Deputy Director of both IMI and ICMS-Sofia, Prof. Hristo Kostadinov – Deputy Director of IMI, and Assoc. Prof. Krassimira Ivanova – Scientific Secretary of the Institute. During the visit, the leadership presented the newly established research groups within ICMS, each led by a distinguished internationally recognized scientist in key areas of modern fundamental and applied mathematics.
Founded in 2019, the International Center for Mathematical Sciences was established as a result of the determined and visionary efforts of Prof. Blagovest Sendov, Prof. Julian Revalski, Minister Krasimir Valchev, and his deputy Karina Angelieva, as well as with the support of the Bulgarian mathematical community and diaspora. Its activities are made possible due to the financial support of the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Bulgaria and Simons Foundation International, one of the most prestigious foundations for funding scientific research in the USA. Although it is only six years old, the Center has already managed to establish itself as a leading scientific organization, not only in the Balkans but far beyond.
Highlights for the 2020–2025 Period:
- Scientific Events: A total of 37 international conferences and seminars have been organized.
- Hired Researchers: 32 postdocs, 3 leading researchers, 11 established researchers, and 2 displaced scientists from Ukraine have been funded.
- Collaboration with World-renowned Scientists: five Fields Medalists have been attracted to participate in the initiatives of ICMS-Sofia: Maxim Kontsevich, Andrei Okounkov, Terence Tao, Maryna Viazovska, and Caucher Birkar.
The Center plays a particularly significant role in the global mathematical network as a member of the IMSAC (Institute of the Mathematical Sciences of the Americas Consortium). This partnership brings together institutions from Latin America, the Caribbean, Canada, the USA, and Europe for joint research projects.
The Center maintains active collaboration with the Institute of the Mathematical Sciences of the Americas (IMSA) at the University of Miami, with which ICMS has jointly carried out a successful postdoctoral program since 2021. The Center also sustains active cooperation with the French Institut des Hautes Études Scientifiques (IHÉS), a symbol of excellence in mathematics and theoretical physics.
During his visit, Minister Valchev held a constructive discussion with the ICMS young researchers. He expressed his strong appreciation for the Center’s ability to attract such a large number of highly qualified international scientists who choose Bulgaria as a place for scientific development. The discussion also addressed opportunities for the sustainable advancement of mathematical research in Bulgaria and the importance of international mobility for integrating Bulgarian scientists into the global scientific community.
IMI Mathematics Prize for 2026 Nominations
The Institute of Mathematics and Informatics (IMI) at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences opens a call for nominations for the IMI Mathematics Prize for the year 2026 for excellent achievements in Mathematics. The candidates must be Bulgarian citizens and must not have completed 40 years of age before January 1st, 2026.
The IMI award is a metal statuette, accompanied by a diploma and a cash prize. Funds for the premium are raised through donations. Details about the Prize and the nomination procedure can be found in the Statute of the Prize.
The members of the IMI Prize Committee for 2026 are:
- Julian Revalski, Director of the International Center for Mathematical Sciences–Sofia at the Institute of Mathematics and Informatics at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Bulgaria – Chairman of the Prize Committee
- Jean-Pierre Bourguignon, Institut des Hautes Etudes Scientifiques, France
- Jaqueline Mesquita, University of Campinas, Brazil
- Nikolai Nikolov, Institute of Mathematics and Informatics, Sofia, Bulgaria
- Yuri Tschinkel, Courant Institute, USA, Foreign member of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences
The deadline for nominations is May 8th, 2026. Nominations should be sent via e-mail to the Chairman of the Prize Committee at revalski@math.bas.bg.
Nominations must include the following:
- Name, date of birth and affiliation of the nominee;
- A brief description of the nominee’s most significant contributions presented in language comprehensible to mathematicians from various fields;
- List of most significant selected works (no more than 10).
For the first time, the Prize was awarded in 2014 to Martin Kassabov, a Professor at Cornell University, USA. In 2017, during the International Conference Mathematics Days in Sofia, the prestigious award was presented to Kiril Dachev, professor of mathematics at Purdue University, USA. The first woman recipient of the IMI Award is Greta Panova, associate professor at the University of Southern California, USA, who received the award in 2020. The 2023 IMI Prize was awarded to Vesselin Dimitrov, Georgia Institute of Technology, USA, and was presented to him on July 10, 2023, during the opening of the International Conference Mathematics Days in Sofia, personally by the President of the Republic of Bulgaria Rumen Radev, under whose patronage the conference is being held.
The winner of the IMI Mathematics Prize for the year 2026 for excellent achievements in Mathematics will be announced and presented on July 6, 2026, at the official opening of the International Conference Mathematics Days in Sofia 2026.
More about the laureates read here.
FOCUS Project: A New ERA Chair in Digital Cultural Heritage at IMI-BAS
The Institute of Mathematics and Informatics at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (IMI-BAS) is proud to announce the launch of the FOCUS project. This initiative aims to establish a prestigious ERA Chair in “Fostering Digital Cultural Heritage via Open Innovation and Open Science,” addressing a critical gap in current research and leadership within the field.
The FOCUS project is designed to bridge the gap between open innovation and open science, specifically within the domain of digital cultural heritage. By integrating these modern paradigms, IMI-BAS seeks to enhance its research capacity and establish itself as a regional and international leader in the digital preservation and interpretation of culture.
FOCUS aims to create an international team led by Assoc. Prof. Milena Dobreva from the University of Strathclyde, UK, bringing together international and Bulgarian researchers who are developing their own doctoral and postdoctoral research projects and have opportunities to participate in researcher mobility and training activities. The project coordinator for IMI-BAS is Assoc. Prof. Krasimira Ivanova.
Under her guidance, FOCUS will:
- Build a diverse international research team, uniting global and local experts.
- Support doctoral and postdoctoral researchers through dedicated projects and specialised training.
- Facilitate researcher mobility and knowledge exchange.
Through active collaboration with both Bulgarian and international cultural institutions, FOCUS will combine capacity-building with practical research. The project includes comprehensive sustainability planning and stakeholder mobilisation via secondments to ensure long-term impact.
The project is funded by the “Research, Innovation and Digitalisation for Smart Transformation” (PRIDST) Programme (2021–2027). This support is instrumental in improving the quality, impact, and international visibility of IMI-BAS’s scientific output. 
Merry Christmas! Happy New Year!
The Management of the Institute of Mathematics and Informatics at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences
extends its warm greetings to colleagues, partners, and friends on the occasion of the upcoming Christmas and New Year holidays.
At the close of another dynamic and productive year, we express our sincere gratitude for the trust,
cooperation, and shared dedication to promoting science, education, and the progress of mathematics and informatics.
We wish you bright holidays filled with health and peace, and may the New Year bring inspiration, new ideas, and meaningful achievements!
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