Eleftherios Karapatzak (PhD, Msc)

Staff category

Academic staff

Academic rank

Assistant Professor

Scientific Field:

Evaluation and utilization of plant genetic resources

Short biography:

Dr. Eleftherios K. Karapatzak is an Agronomist, holding a master’s degree in Horticulture (School of Plant Sciences, University of Reading, UK) and a Ph.D. in Plant Physiology and Agronomy (School of Biological Sciences, University of Reading, UK) conducted with a scholarship from the UK Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board. He has worked on numerous research projects at the Institute of Plant Breeding and Genetic Resources, ELGO Dimitra, and at the School of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences (Democritus University of Thrace) on research deliverables related to plant physiology and reproduction of cultivated and wild-growing plants and to viticulture. He also holds extensive academic teaching experience (>15 years) in the fields of plant science and viticulture coupled with supervision of a plethora of undergraduate theses. He has worked in the private sector as an Agronomist in Greece and the United Kingdom, specializing in field experimentation. Dr. E. Karapatzak holds an extensive record of publications in peer-reviewed scientific journals (SCI) in the fields of conservation, reproduction, and agronomic evaluation of plant genetic resources, while also being a Review Editor in the scientific journal Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution. In addition, he has experience as a Principal Investigator of research programs and has participated in numerous scientific conferences focusing on Greek plant genetic resources.

Research Interests:

‒       Agronomic evaluation through experimental cultivation

of plants (cultivated and wild germplasm).       

‒       Study of vegetative growth and physiological functioning, focusing on the plant’s photosynthetic rates.       

‒       Study of the flower fertilization potential of angiosperms through the evaluation of pollen viability and germination capacity in vitro and in vivo.

‒       Study of seed germination / development of sexual propagation protocols via seeds.       

‒       Development of protocols for vegetative propagation using cuttings (physiology of cuttings, establishment of young plants) and division.

‒       Light microscopy – study of anatomical and morphological structures.

Curriculum Vitae (CV):

CV

Public Profiles:

·        ORCHID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4251-7908

·        Web of Science Researcher ID: L-8880-2019:

(https://www.webofscience.com/wos/author/record/L-8880-2019)

·        Scopus Author Identifier: 55420739700:

(https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=55420739700)

·        Google scholar profile:

https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=IQTmLoUAAAAJ&hl=en

·        Research gate profile: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Eleftherios-Karapatzak?ev=hdr_xprf

·        Sci profiles: https://sciprofiles.com/profile/1994994

·        Loop profile: https://loop.frontiersin.org/people/2722999/overview

Contact details:

Vassilios Ganatsios (PhD, Msc)

Staff category

Academic staff

Academic rank

Assistant Professor

Scientific Field:

Agricultural Microbial Biotechnology

Short biography:

Vasileios Ganatsios is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Viticulture and Oenology of Democritus University of Thrace, and a Chemist. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry from the University of Patras, a Master’s degree in “Energy Investments and Environment,” and a PhD in Food Chemistry and Technology from the University of Patras. His research work and interests focus on food chemistry and biotechnology, on quality control of foods and beverages, as well as on the biotechnological valorization of renewable raw materials of agricultural and industrial origin. He places particular emphasis on the development of modern biorefinery technologies for the production of high value-added products within the framework of the circular bioeconomy.

He has worked as a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Patras (Department of Chemistry), the University of Western Macedonia (Departments of Chemical Engineering and Agriculture), and Democritus University of Thrace (Department of Oenology and Beverage Technology — formerly of the Eastern Macedonia and Thrace Institute of Technology). He has been professionally active in the food and beverage sector, both as a freelancer and as a Chemist at the General State Chemical Laboratory of Greece. In parallel, he has substantial teaching experience, delivering courses such as Food Chemistry and Technology, Distillates Technology and Quality Control, Food Microbiology, Instrumental Chemical Analysis, and Biotechnology at undergraduate and postgraduate level.

He has served as President and Secretary General in bodies of the Association of Greek Chemists, and as the Greek representative at EuCheMS for Green and Sustainable Chemistry. His scientific and professional work includes international publications, research distinctions in the field of food and beverage biotechnology, participation in research projects, as well as authorship of educational and professional handbooks for the agri-food sector.

Research Interests:

– Development and optimization of bioprocesses for the valorization of agro-industrial by-products and waste
– Design and implementation of innovative winemaking and brewing technologies
– Development of modern food production technologies
– Production of biofunctional foods and novel food additives
– Biotechnological applications for the production of high value-added products

Curriculum Vitae (CV):

CV

Public Profiles:

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6818-5553

https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=Y6gfPFAAAAAJ&hl=en

https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=56406503300

https://sciprofiles.com/profile/519688

https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Vassilios-Ganatsios-2

Contact details:

Adriana Skendi (PhD, Msc)

Staff category

Academic staff

Academic rank

Assistant Professor

Scientific Field:

Processing and quality control of food and beverages

Short biography:

Adriana Skendi, holds a degree in Food Chemistry from the University (Faculty of Natural Sciences). She received her Master of Science (MSc) in Food Quality Management from the Mediterranean Agronomic Institute of Chania (M.A.I.Ch., CIHEAM) and her Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Food Science and Technology from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTH). She has worked as a postdoctoral researcher on various research programs focusing on the science of food and beverages. Her research proposals have been awarded a scholarship from the State Scholarships Foundation (IKY) and funding from AgroETAK. Since June 2025, she has served as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Viticulture and Oenology at Democritus University of Thrace. She has published numerous articles in high-impact, peer-reviewed scientific journals, contributed chapters to books, and presented her work at many national and international conferences. She serves as a reviewer for several international scientific journals and is a member of the editorial board of the journal Foods.

Research Interests:

‒       Food Processing and Product Development: Investigation and application of innovative processing methods, as well as the evaluation of novel ingredients, with the aim of optimizing the quality, safety, and nutritional value of food and beverages, including wine.

‒       Chemical Analysis and Food Safety: Focus on determining the chemical composition, studying bioactive compounds, and detecting potential contaminants in raw material matrices, food, and beverages.

‒       Sustainable Valorisation of By-products: Development of methods for the sustainable recovery and reuse (upcycling) of high value-added compounds from the by-products and waste of the food industry.

Curriculum Vitae (CV):

CV

Public Profiles:

https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=6504160260

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7995-4741

https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=QGE8UxQAAAAJ&hl=en&oi=ao

https://www.webofscience.com/wos/author/record/X-2345-2019

https://sciprofiles.com/profile/adrianaskendi

https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Adriana-Skendi

Contact details:

Irene Kamenidou (PhD, MSc, BSc, BSc, BA)

Staff category

Academic staff

Academic rank

Professor

Scientific Field:

Marketing 

Short biography:

Irene (Eirini) Kamenidou (PhD, MSc, BSc, BSc, BA), is Professor of Marketing at Democritus University of Thrace, School of Geotechnical Sciences, Department of Viticulture and Oenology (9/2025-present). She has served as a professor at the School of Management Science and Accounting, Department of Management Science and Technology, and a member of the Adjunct Academic Staff of the Hellenic Open University. She has also served as Dean of the School of Management and Economics of the Technological Educational Institute of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace. Her PhD, from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, focuses on Food Marketing (1999). She holds an MSc in Agricultural Economics (2020), a BSc in Agricultural Economics with a specialization in Marketing of Agricultural Products (1989), a BSc in Farm Management (1985) and a degree in Journalism from the Center for Liberal Philosophical Studies of Thessaloniki (1989). She has more than ten years of working - non-teaching - experience in the public and private sector. Her research has been published in international journals, such as: Journal of Business Research, International Marketing Review, Journal of Fashion Marketing and Management, Journal of Hospitality & Leisure Marketing, EuroMed Journal of Business, Agricultural Systems, Sustainability, International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, etc.

Research Interests:

‒ Agricultural, Food and Beverage Marketing

‒ Health Marketing

‒ Tourism Marketing

‒ Social Marketing

‒ Marketing and Generational Cohort Behavior

‒ Sustainability

Curriculum Vitae (CV):

CV

Public Profiles:

https://orcid.org/my-orcid?orcid=0000-0002-8213-5843

https://scholar.google.com/citations?hl=el&user=IvIvOnsAAAAJ

https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=12753285700

Contact details: