Gergana Mihailova

The research of Assoc. Prof. Dr. Gergana Mihailova focuses primarily on the response of the photosynthetic apparatus of plants to abiotic stress, and especially how resurrection plants overcome extreme drought. Her interests also encompass protective mechanisms in response to stress, such as changes in the antioxidant system, the synthesis of stress-induced proteins and expression of genes.

During her stay at CEFOBI-CONICET Dr. Mihailova will investigate the regulatory mechanisms of photosynthesis in Arabidopsis thaliana and tobacco plants in response to phytoactive compounds such as rosmarinic acid, and how this readjustment of photosynthetic performance contributes to enhancing plant adaptive responses under non-optimal growth conditions. In particular, tolerance to abiotic stresses, including drought and fluctuating light, will be evaluated using multidisciplinary approaches.