My name is Diana Cholakova. I graduated from the National High School of Mathematics and Natural Sciences with a profile in mathematics and informatics. Although my school years were all about mathematics, after graduating from high school, I decided to pursue further studies in the field of science. I enjoyed the Chemical Engineering and Contemporary Materials program because it combines the natural sciences like chemistry and physics with mathematics.

I had just finished the third semester of my studies when I became a part of the research team in the Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Engineering where I am working to this day. At first, I was involved in the study of a phenomenon whereby a small spherical drop of oil placed in water spontaneously changes shape upon cooling, turning from a sphere into a triangle, or, for example, into a rod. For a long time, we did not exactly understand what was happening (let alone why), but by conducting the appropriate experiments, we were able to explain this phenomenon.

Although nearly 10 years have passed since then (during which years we conducted and published more than 20 different studies on the subject ), a part of my current research is still related to this extremely unexpected process of drops changing shape upon cooling. We are currently investigating how this process could improve the properties of the ice cream while simultaneously preparing it with reduced fat content, but also what would happen if similar experiments were conducted in space (i.e., in the absence of gravity).

In addition to the diverse topics to deal with, my work as a researcher allows me to travel to many different places, and meet scientists from all over the world. I attended my first scientific conference during my studies in the Chemical Engineering and Contemporary Materials course. It was held at the University of Cambridge, and despite coming from Bulgaria and being a student who had yet to complete my bachelor’s studies, I managed to win the “Best Poster” award presented at the conference. Subsequently, my work has taken me many other places, including the USA, Japan, Italy, and Germany.

I can confidently say that pursuing a scientific career in Bulgaria is completely possible, and the Chemical Engineering and Contemporary Materials program gives a solid foundation for doing so. One can find job opportunities not only in the field of chemistry, but also in materials science, pharmacy, physics, and even get involved in projects on biology-related topics. In addition to scientific development, graduates interested in topics with a more practical application could easily find employment in industrial companies.

I’m also currently one of the student mentors for Chemical Engineering and Contemporary Materials students, so if you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact me 😊