The University of British Columbia

● Demonstrated exceptional organizational skills by efficiently managing lab resources, coordinating experiments, and optimizing workflows for a team of ~20 people, fostering a collaborative research environment, and maintaining laboratory safety standards

● Utilized effective communication skills to liaise with vendors, suppliers, and internal stakeholders, ensuring smooth procurement operations, timely delivery of supplies, and identification of cost-saving opportunities, further contributing to overall cost efficiency and budget optimization

● Showcased effective mentoring and training skills to support undergraduate and graduate students, enhancing their laboratory proficiency and research skills

Laboratory Manager

National Council of Research, Institute of Endocrinology and Oncology

Research Project: "Mitochondrial dynamics as a new therapeutic target for neurodegenerative diseases."
→ resulted in *2x publications*, *3x poster presentations*, *3x departmental (DiSTABiF) talks*, *3x EU reports*, a doctoral dissertation, *3x grant proposals*, and a scientific conference organization

● Established high professional awareness by attending scientific meetings and seminars, being updated with research trends in the field of Neuroscience, and understanding Medical Biotechnology approaches

● Exceeded a results-oriented mindset with solid project management skills and high flexibility, emphasizing troubleshooting and strategic planning led to maximizing research efficiency and reproducibility

● Attained creative problem-solving skills, as evidenced by proficiency in protocol development, optimization, and experimental design to establish project completion within set deadlines

● Showcased a visionary leader mindset, as demonstrated by transferring competent knowledge on how to apply imaging equipment and techniques to solve scientific questions, which resulted in extending the availability of the institutional imaging core facility to more users

● Demonstrated management and cooperation skills by guiding Medical (2x) and Biology (5x) students to cell culture techniques, Western blots, immunofluorescence assays, and confocal microscopy to facilitate their independent research and enable them to get timely research outputs

● Participated in weekly science dissemination meetings to enjoy fruitful conversations and brainstorming activities with colleagues across disciplines and actively engaged in the production of 4x dissemination images (attached) uploaded on the DMMBM's social media page

● Promoted general public awareness about Stem Cells research and uses through active contributions in Futuro Remoto events (@DMMBM: Regenerating cells, tissues and organs, @CNR: INCIPIT corner) and European Researcher's Night in Naples, acting as an EU ambassador

Early Stage Researcher 1 | MSCA fellow | Research Project Manager

Hellenic Pasteur Institute

Thesis Research Project: "The pathophysiological role of the mitochondrial protein SLC25A46 in 
the spinal cord and the peripheral nervous system of mutant mice."
→ resulted in *3x poster presentations*, *2x conference talks*, a thesis dissertation (2016), *1x grant proposal*, and *1x original peer-reviewed publication*

● Implemented strong problem-solving skills in experimental design, protocol development, and optimization, with an advanced understanding of immunoassays, immunocytochemistry (ICC), immunohistochemistry (IHC), immunofluorescence applications, and confocal microscopy

● Developed practical time-management skills, exhibiting detailed organization to perform both experimental research (including cell culture maintenance, instrument validation, microscopy data gathering, and analysis) but also managing the general day-to-day laboratory activities (including supply chain lab inventory management and lab equipment routine maintenance to ensure operational efficiency)

● Developed excellent communication skills, as evidenced by a strong record in disseminating the latest research findings in conferences and journal clubs, sharing scientific insight with stakeholders, and exchanging knowledge and ideas among peers

● Assisted and actively participated in the coordination of science outreach events (HPI: Young Researcher's day, "Pasteurizing" xenophobia, Brain Awareness Week) to engage and promote public awareness in the field of Neurobiology

*Cognition and locomotion decline associated with lifestyle characteristics (nutrition and dietetics, exercise), sleep disturbances, aging, neurodevelopmental-neurodegenerative-neurological diseases or syndromes were among our subjects of interest*

Master's thesis @Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology

● Developed the ability to work independently on some projects and to provide support collaboratively on others while meeting project timelines

● Applied immunoassays (ELISA), colorimetric assays (enzymatic, non-enzymatic, UV methods), e.g., MTT, WST, LDH assays in neuronal cells (N2A, SHSY-5Y, primary cultures of cerebellum granule neurons from neonatal mouse), evaluating cellular metabolic characteristics and gaining drug mechanistic insights

● Succeeded in outperforming confocal microscopy and histology techniques (tissue processing: fixing, embedding, freezing, cryosectioning, staining specimens with e.g., Toluidine Blue, hematoxylin and eosin (H&E), etc., heat-induced epitope retrieval, immunostaining, and slide mounting tissue samples), delivering both analysis pipelines and high-end data

● Acquired resources necessary for experimental advancement, leading to research outputs and outcome transformation, by initiating collaborative partnerships

● Brought up and implemented new ideas and concepts as concerned the line of research, building robust and reliable cell-based assay pipelines that generate meaningful data

MSc Research Intern @Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology

Faculty of Biology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens

● Established effective conflict resolution strategies, facilitating open and constructive communication within the team

● Demonstrated excellent time management skills, breaking project work down to tasks and cultivating a flexible attitude towards meeting goals, ensuring delivery on time in a fast-paced working environment, and balancing personal and work life

● Exceeded excellent organizational skills, with the ability to prioritize, multitask and work to deadlines, being in a fast-paced working environment as a rotational student while attending in-person theoretical scientific courses

● Exerted a proactive spirit, contributing to ideas and establishment of protocols, leading to protocol improvements and yielding the highest quality level in lab procedures:
- genomic DNA extraction from whole human blood samples
- transformation of competent E. coli cells and plasmid DNA extraction
- transfection of the mammalian cancer cell line HEK293T
- cells harvesting and media collection, Bradford assays, loading samples preparation, SDS-PAGEs
- mouse (C57BL/6 strain) husbandry and care
- data collection, data visualization and interpretation, and scientific presentation

MSc Research Intern @Department of Animal and Human Physiology

Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology,  University of Thessaly

● Established strong technical expertise in:
- Cell culture (stable cell line generation, maintenance and manipulation of mammalian cell lines: HEK293, HeLa, MCF-7, MDA-MB-231, N2A, SHSY-5Y, FRT, FRTL-5)
- Biochemistry (Western blotting, immunoprecipitation, immunocytochemistry, luciferase assays), and
- Molecular Biology (plasmid vector construction, plasmid DNA extraction, TETracycline-controlled transcriptional activation) techniques
→ resulted in *3x poster presentations* and *1x peer-reviewed publication*

● Arranged internal science talks, which required producing content on time, with attention to detail, and an emphasis on identifying and pitching to a target audience, and demonstrated cooperation skills by helping colleagues in a scientific setting, both theoretically and technically

● Exhibited exceptional organization skills by conducting research experiments and keeping contemporaneous and accurate documentation of experiments, creating work package documents while attending the undergraduate program curriculum, and contributing to extracurricular activities (e.g., UTH Cinema Group)

● Demonstrated efficient relationship management, cooperating with and training 2x undergraduate and 3x postgraduate students in Biochemistry techniques, enhancing their familiarity with lab procedures, which resulted in successful graduations

Undergraduate Research Intern @Structural & Functional Biochemistry Research Lab

University of Thessaly

Thesis Research Project: "Transcription factor Prox1 as a regulator of glucocorticoid receptor-induced expression of genes in neuronal cells."
→ resulted in *1x poster presentation*, and a thesis dissertation (2013)

● Acquired substantial experience in N2A cell culture maintenance and performed transient and stable transfections (by optimizing chemically competent E. coli recombinant protein expression and purification protocols and the usage of lipofectamine and calcium phosphate protocols), yielding high efficiency

● Strengthened my verbal and written communication skills to excellence by participating in daily research discussions, redefining scientific concepts, and better understanding key issues in Biomedicine

● Participated in a strong teamwork orientation with demonstrable influence/interpersonal skills and the ability and willingness to work across professional and cross-functional teams

● Developed strong organizational skills, with the ability to prioritize, complete chunks of work, and deliver research results on time

Bachelor's thesis @Structural & Functional Biochemistry Research Lab

Agricultural Microbiology Lab, Department of Agrobiotechnology, Agricultural Research Institute

Project title: "Isolation and characterization of nitrogen-fixing rhizobia from root nodules of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) plants in Cyprus."
→ resulted in *1x technical and research summary report*

● Conducted both *field studies* to select and collect samples and *laboratory experiments* to analyze them

● Led experiments by applying Microbiology (sterilization/aseptic techniques, media preparation, bacteria isolation and identification),
and Molecular Biology (genomic DNA extraction, and optimization of PCR assays and agarose gel electrophoresis) techniques

● Initiated the partnership and established cooperation between the Agricultural Research Institute and the Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology (2011)

● Managed the day-to-day laboratory activities independently, ensuring effectiveness and efficiency in experimental design, data analysis and interpretation, and clear communication of progress in a group setting

Vocational trainee | Undergraduate Research Intern

R&D+I Scientist enthused | Research Project Management | Neuroscience | Biochemistry | Biotechnology | Microscopy | 3D Imaging | BioImage Data Analysis

A forward-thinking Biochemist and Biotechnologist with 10+ years of research experience in the academic sector, interested in developing disease-specific therapeutic strategies and applying translational approaches to improve patients' lives, further supporting equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility practices.

I can be of help with
● my interpersonal skills, like:
- Project Management and Development
- Problem-solving mindset
- Reliability and Fostering relationships
- Adaptability and Flexibility
- Time Management
- Communication strategies and Conflict resolution

● my advanced informatics skills in:
- Bioimage Analysis and Processing: ImageJ/FIJI, ICY, CellProfiler, ilastik, ZEN, LAS X, Imaris Bitplane, KNIME
- Image Editing: Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator
- Programming: macros, Python, Perl, Java
- Bioinformatics: BLAST, MEGA, UCSC Genome Browser tools, Cytoscape
- Molecular graphics: WinCoot, RasMol, VMD
- Statistical analysis: SPSS, GraphPad Prism, R

● my technical skills in:
- Microscopy: STED, confocal (Zeiss, Leica), fluorescence
- Cell Biology: cell culture maintenance and manipulation
- Molecular Biology: plasmid and genomic DNA extraction, molecular cloning, PCR assays
- Biochemistry: Western blotting, immunofluorescence, immunoprecipitation, immunoassays
- Microbiology: sterilization and aseptic techniques, media preparation, bacteria isolation, and identification
- Mouse handling: euthanasia with respect to the 3R principles, transcardial perfusion, tissue dissection (mouse spinal cord, sciatic nerve, diaphragm, and skeletal muscles), cryosectioning

I enjoy discussing medical and technological advancements. I am a keen cinephile, volunteering from time to time in film festivals, and I love reading about Science, Sociology, and Politics. I always fancy exchanging classic books and film recommendations over a hiking adventure.

⁑❀⁑ Let us connect on LinkedIn and discuss how I can contribute and add value to your organization ⁑❀⁑

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