His early work focused on: Bacillus thuringiensis endotoxins and their application as a plant defense mechanism against specific insect pests.

The main area of recent Nikola Staykov’s research interests is identifying the mode of action of a biostimulant, isolated from the brown alga Ascophyllum nodosum.

Nikola Staykov is also interested in studying the following topics:

• The atr mutants of Arabidopsis thaliana, resistant to oxidative stress, their corresponding genes and mechanisms, as well as possibilities for practical application.
• Deciphering the underlying model(s) of tolerance to multiple stressors of the Balkan “resurrection” endemite Haberlea rhodopensis.