I am a graduate of the Department of Chemistry of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (1987) and I hold M.Sc. (1988) and Ph.D. (1993) degrees in Chemistry from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA. I have worked as a post-doctoral researcher at the Institute of ISOF (formerly ICOCEA), CNR, Bologna, Italy (1994-1998) with Individual Marie Curie and Ciba-Geigy scholarships and the University of Crete (Marie Curie Return Grant and “Career Award for Greek-speaking researchers working abroad”, 1998-2000). I have served in the Department of Chemistry as Lecturer (2000-2004), Assistant (2004-2008), Tenured Assistant (2008-2010), Associate Professor (2010-2019) and Full Professor (2019-present).
During my term at the University of Athens, I have taught all semesters in the basic courses "Organic Chemistry I, II, III" at the Department of Chemistry, "Organic Chemistry I" at the Department of Biology, "Introduction of Computers in Chemistry" (course and laboratory), Laboratory in Organic Chemistry I & II, an elective 4th year course "Lessons in Bioorganic Chemistry" as well as postgraduate courses (Databases, Synthesis of Oligonucleotides and Stereoselective Synthesis). Within the framework of education, I have prepared students’ participation and were part of the scientific committee of the Chemistry Olympiad, I have given a seminar to the Hellenic Chemists’ Association and demonstration experiments for high school students and the Chemistry Department’s "Open Day" at the NKUA.
I'm currently serving as the Director of the Organic Chemistry Laboratory (2023 - present) and co-supervisor of the Chemistry Department building (2022-todate). I have served as the Director of Division II of the Chemistry Department (2019-2021), in Committees (OMEA Coordinator 2016-2018, General Assembly 2002-2007, 2008-2023, Committee for Improving Functions in ELKE, 2014-2020, member of AC (2003-today) of the graduate program “Organic Synthesis and Applications in the Chemical Industry", Practice Exercise Committee (2018-present), Fire Safety (2012-present), Seminars (2014-2018), etc and I have participated in organizational and administrative work of the Department of Chemistry to ensure proper operation. I have been a member of Electoral Bodies for Academic Staff tenure, new faculty positions and PD407 and as an alternate member of the University Senate. I have been a member and Supervisor of Scientific Committees of 5 Research Conferences, co-organizer of five conferences and reviewer for articles in scientific journals and research programs.
I have supervised the work of >103 young researchers (>61 undergraduates in >36 diploma theses, >34 M.Sc., >9 Ph.D. candidates with funding from "Heraclitus II" and "IKY" programs, of which 3 PhD and 7 MSc theses are in progress. Finally, I have employed 6 postdoctoral researchers (one in progress), funded by research projects (Cooperation 2011, European Research Training Network, Research Excellence Partnerships, etc).
I have secured funding through >20 competitive research projects from National and European funds and I have managed funds over € 2 million directly (ELKE) and indirectly (COST, LASERLAB, EPEAEK). Through them I have developed collaborations with laboratories in Greece and abroad to support my research activity.
Currently, I am the PI and coordinator of two financed research programs:
(a) To develop an "Algorithm for the tasting identity of extra virgin olive oil" in the framework of the project "SUB1.1. Research Excellence Partnerships" funded by the European Fund for Recovery & Resilience "Greece 2.0".
(b) For the creation, in cooperation with the Faculty of Chemistry and Pharmacy of Ludwig-Maximilians University (LMU), Munich, Germany, of a new English-language Joint Master's Program (MSc) entitled “Master's in Advanced Applied Organic Chemistry (MAAOC): Synthesis and Analysis of Pharmaceutically Relevant Compounds”, funded by the program “Internationalization of Academic Services of Higher Education Institutions”, within the framework of the SUB2 Project: “Universities of Excellence”, under the Recovery and Resilience Fund “Greece 2.0”. It has received the 2nd best evaluation score among the 9 proposals submitted by NKUA.
My research in the field of Synthetic Organic Chemistry focuses on three main directions: (a) Synthesis and study of oxidative produced DNA lesions, (b) Synthesis and study of glycogen phosphorylase inhibitors, and (c) Chemistry of oleuropein and related natural secoiridoid natural products.
The results of the research in the above fields have been published in >71 Theses (36 undergraduate, 34 MSc and 4 PhD) and >68 international publications with peer review (>15 reviews and/or book chapters and >53 original articles), and >70 oral & poster presentations in national and international conferences, (21 invited lectures).