Picture of Velislava Ilieva

Dr Velislava Ilieva

Postdoctoral Research Associate

Faculty of Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics

velislava.ilieva@open.ac.uk

Biography

DPhil Astrobiology | The Open University | Thesis title: "The Microbial Communities of Sulfate-Rich Hypersaline Mars Analogue Environments"

BSc (Hons) Molecular Biology | The University of Manchester

About me

I am a PDRA with the MoonRISE project, conducting interdisciplinary research across astrobiology, planetary science, and astronomy literature on defining harm in lunar activity and identifying sites of scientific interest that would need protection. I have extensive and varied laboratory experience in the life sciences and environmental research. I have a PhD in astrobiology, for which I investigated the microbial communities of Mars-analogue environments. Prior to this, I obtained a BSc (Hons) in Molecular Biology (1:1) degree from the University of Manchester. In addition, I have three years’ experience as a research technician in molecular diagnostics, microbiology and astrobiology, and I have been awarded multiple internships in academia and industry.

Publications

Journal Article

Draft genome sequence of Solidesulfovibrio sp. strain C21 isolated from Laguna Grande (Lagunas de Villafranca), Spain (2025)

Presentation / Conference

Active microbial sulfur cycling in the Western Sahara salt plains and implications for life on early Mars (2023)

Functional potential of microbial communities within the Western Sahara salt plains and implications for life on early Mars (2023)

Western Sahara salt plains as a potential novel Mars analogue (2022)

First insights into the chemistry and microbial community composition of the Western Sahara salt plains, a potential Mars analogue (2022)

Presentation / Conference Contribution

Wastewater bioremediation potential (2025)

Thesis

The Microbial Communities of Sulfate-Rich Hypersaline Mars Analogue Environments (2026)