Stefan Shilev is a professor at the Department of Microbiology and Environmental Biotechnologies, Faculty of Plant protection and agroecology, Agricultural University – Plovdiv, Bulgaria. He earned his Master's in Plant Protection from the Agricultural University – Plovdiv. His Ph.D. thesis, "Phytoremediation of heavy metal contaminated soils: application of Pseudomonas fluorescens – Helianthus annuus L. model", was defended in Spanish in 2003 at the Universidad de Córdoba, Spain. In addition to his university work, Prof. Shilev has held various public positions: director of the "Ecology and Waste Management" Directorate, Plovdiv Municipality, 2011-2014, and director of "Regional Environment and Water Inspection", Plovdiv, Ministry of Environment and Waters, 2014-2020. His work addresses soil health and microbiome development, plant-soil-microbiome interactions, biowaste valorisation, and phytoremediation. Dr. Shilev is a member of the Union of Bulgarian Scientists – Plovdiv, Regional Expert of the European Federation of Biotechnology, Microbial Biotechnology Division.