Valentin Valtchev obtained MSc at the University of Sofia (Bulgaria) and PhD at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences. Currently, he is a Distinguished Professor (Directeur de Recherche Class Exceptionnel) at the Laboratory of Catalysis and Spectrochemistry in Caen, France, and a Visiting Professor at the China Academy of Science. His research involves synthesizing and modifying zeolites and other porous solids for catalysis, separation, and molecular recognition. He has published over 350 refereed journal papers, 29 patents, and delivered over 50 plenary and keynote lectures. Valentin Valtchev is a recipient of the highest recognition of the Federation of European Zeolite Associations - "Baron Axel fon Cronstedt" award (2014) and the highest recognition of the International Zeolite Association - "Donald Breck" award (2016). In 2022 he received the all-carrier award of the International Zeolite Association (IZA), and currently, he is the Ambassador of IZA. Valentin Valtchev was President of the International Zeolite Association in 2016-2019.