In 2010 Maria Manolova graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Geography from St. Kliment Ohridski", Faculty of Geology and Geography. In 2012 she received her Master's degree in Geography - Regional Geo-energy Resources and Strategies. In February 2014 she was accepted as a full-time PhD student in the scientific specialty "Economic and Social Geography - Regional Geo-energy Resources and Strategies" at the Department of Regional and Political Geography, Faculty of Geology and Geography, Sofia University "St. Kliment Kliment".  In 2017 she defended her PhD in the field of Earth Sciences (Economic and Social Geography - Regional Geo-energy Resources and Strategies) at the Department of Regional and Political Geography, Sofia University. The topic of the defended dissertation is "Energy planning as a key tool for sustainable development of municipalities". 

In the period 2012-2017 he worked in the field of renewable energy sources and energy efficiency and in particular - research on the potential of biomass in Bulgaria, pre-investment studies for the construction of biomass plants, studies of energy planning models in municipalities, preparation of analyses of the potential of renewable energy sources (including GIS), work on projects and assessments for the implementation of investment intentions in the field of EE, RES, ESCO, etc.

Maria is a specialist in sustainable energy planning in municipalities. Since September 2017 she has been working at EnEffect. She assists in the preparation of energy efficiency and RES plans and programmes of the municipalities of the EcoEnergy network. Coordinates and supports the organization of conferences and events related to EcoEnergy and EnEffect activities.