Ekaterina Ilieva is currently a third-year student in the subject Ancient Balkanistics (Thracology). Her interests spread in the field of the Thracian history, archaeology and culture, including its relicts in the contemporary folklore. In the year 2012 she participates as a member of the research team in the preparation and realization of expedition “Struma” within the project ARCITEC (Archaeological centre for documentation and interpretation of cultural-historical heritage), as in the summer of the same year is part of the subsequent international archaeological surveys in the valley of Struma river, financed by the Bulgarian Science Fund (project ARCITEC) and the Heidelberg University (project “Asien und Europa im globalen Kontext”). Except from being an immediate researcher of the Thracian antiquity, she is also engaged in translating scientific publications in this field of work.