Our Group

Nikolaos S. Thomaidis, Group Leader, Professor of Analytical Chemistry, NKUA

Nikolaos S. Thomaidis is Professor of Analytical Chemistry in the Department of Chemistry of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens. Prof. Thomaidis leads a dedicated scientific group, Trace Analysis and Mass Spectrometry (TrAMS) and has established a constant research activity in the last 25 years (213 papers and 15 book chapters, 213 articles, >6,000 citations, h- 45). Moreover, Prof. Thomaidis has extensive experience in supervising and coordinating research projects with both national and European funding. The current research interest of TrAMS group is focused on the development of cutting-edge methodologies and workflows to fully characterize the molecular picture “fingerprint” of food and environmental samples, based on High Resolution Mass Spectrometric (HRMS) analysis, using both LC-ESI- and GC-APCI- QTOFMS. The remarkable experience of Prof. Thomaidis and his research group in mass spectrometry, along with their constant progress and evolution, classify TrAMS in one of the top European research groups in the field of Analytical Chemistry. FoodTrAMS is part of the TrAMS group, devoted in Food Analysis and Foodomics. For more information regarding the research activities of the whole group please visit the TrAMS Group website.

Marilena E.Dasenaki, Assistant Professor in Food Chemistry, NKUA

Dr.Marilena Dasenaki is an Assistant Professor at the Laboratory of Food Chemistry of National and Kapodistrian University of Athens and her research activity focuses on the study of food authenticity using cutting-edge mass spectrometric techniques and advanced chemometric tools. Her research interests include thedevelopment of authenticity protocols for the determination of food adulteration, geographical origin and type offarming as well as food alterations during treatment. Her PhD research focused on food safety and thedevelopment of novel methodologies for the determination of food contaminants (veterinary drugs andpharmaceuticals). Overall, DrDasenaki’sresearch has been published in 20 peer-reviewed papers (10 firstauthorships) and two book chapters, attracting more than >400 citations, with h-index 9 and her work has beenpresented in several international scientific conferences. ORCID: 0000-0002-0853-4547

Reza Aalizadeh, Post-Doctoral Researcher, NKUA

Dr. Reza Aalizadeh is a Post-Doctoral Researcher at the Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry of National and Kapodistrian University of Athens and his research activity focuses on the development and application of chemometric techniques to facilitate the identification of unknowns by high resolution mass spectrometry. During his PhD, his key work was the development of retention time indices system in the liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry. His research interests include the development of chemometric assisted methods for the identification of unknowns in the environmental samples (emerging contaminants and quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs)) and food industry (discovery of natural products). Overall, Dr. Reza Aalizadeh’s reseach has been published in the 35 peer-reviewed papers, attracting more than >400 citations, with h-index 11 and his work has been presented in more than 20 international conferences.

Marios G. Kostakis, Post-Doctoral Researcher NKUA

Dr Marios Kostakis is a Post-Doctoral Researcher at the Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry of National and Kapodistrian University of Athens and his research activity focuses on the study of food safety using cutting-edge mass spectrometric techniques and advanced chemometric tools. His research interests include the development and validation of analytical protocols for the determination of heavy metals in food and food by-products, uncertainty quantification, laboratory accreditation, quality assurance  and statistical analysis of analytical results. His PhD research focused on development of methods for determination and identification of chemical freshness indices with mass spectrometry techniques. Overall, Dr Kostakis’ research has been published in 6 peer-reviewed articles and 15 scientific  conferences.

Georgios Koulis, PhD Candidate/Researcher, NKUA

M.Sc. Georgios Koulis is a PhD candidate at the Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry of National and Kapodistrian University of Athens and his research activity focuses mainly on the assessment of food authenticity using sophisticated analytical platforms and advanced chemometric tools. His research interests include the development of powerful analytical methods using liquid and gas chromatography coupled to high resolution mass spectrometry for the verification of food authenticity and adulteration using metabolomic and lipidomic approaches. During his PhD, botanical and geographical discrimination of honey sample as well as varietal and geographical discrimination of table olive samples have been studied. His work has been presented in several international scientific conferences.

Anthi Panara, PhD Candidate/Researcher, NKUA

M.Sc. Anthi Panara is a PhD candidate at the Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry of National and Kapodistrian University of Athens and her research activity focuses on a wide scope chemical characterization of herbal products with advanced high resolution mass spectrometric methods. Her PhD research focus on the application of advanced analytical techniques and data treatment via target, suspect, non-target screening and chemometric methods for the determination of unknown compounds and the evaluation of herbal’s authenticity. This will promote the better investigation of food fraud and adulteration, the evaluation of geographical origin and the control of other parameters, which might influence the bioactive content of the herbals of interest. Her master thesis focused on the development and optimization of a liquid chromatographic method for the simultaneous determination of nucleotides in infant formulas and study of HILIC mechanism.

Maria Katsa, PhD Candidate/Researcher, NKUA

M.Sc. Maria Katsa is a Ph.D. Candidate at the Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry of National and Kapodistrian University of Athens and her research activity focuses on the study of vitamins using liquid chromatographic techniques. Her PhD research focused on the development of novel methodologies for the determination of vitamins (water-soluble and fat-soluble) in various food matrices using advanced analytical techniques. Her master thesis focused on the development and optimization of a liquid chromatographic method for the simultaneous determination of fat-soluble vitamins A and E in Infant Formulas.

Sofia Drakopoulou, PhD Candidate/Researcher, NKUA

M.Sc. Sofia Drakopoulou is a PhD Candidate at the Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry of National and Kapodistrian University of Athens and her research activity focuses on the study of food authenticity using cutting-edge mass spectrometric techniques and advanced chemometric tools. Her research interests include the development of authenticity protocols for the determination of food adulteration, geographical origin and type of farming as well as food alterations during treatment. Her PhD research focuses on the development of advanced high-resolution mass spectrometry methods for the thorough characterization of olive oil.

Panagiota Katsianou, PhD Candidate/Researcher, NKUA

M.Sc. Panagiota Katsianou is a PhD candidate at the Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry of National and Kapodistrian University of Athens. Her PhD research focus mainly on the study of bioactive content of olive fruit, olive oil and olive oil by-products with the aim of high resolution mass spectrometric techniques (UHPLC-ESI-QTOF MS & GC-APCI-QTOF MS). Her master thesis focused on the target screening of phenolic compounds in honey samples in order to differentiate them according to their botanical or geographical origin with the use of ultra-high pressure liquid chromatography coupled with high resolution mass spectrometry.

Anastasia Kritikou, PhD Candidate/Researcher, NKUA

M.Sc. Anastasia Kritikou is a PhD Candidate at the Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry of National and Kapodistrian University of Athens and her research activity focuses on the study of food authenticity using cutting-edge mass spectrometric techniques and advanced chemometric tools. Her research interests include the development of advanced methodologies for the detection of food adulteration, geographical origin and type of farming as well as food adulterations during treatment. Her PhD research focuses on the development of novel HRMS-based methodologies mainly using MALD-TOF-MS technique for the detection of adulteration in food matrices (dairy products, meat etc.) and the investigation of the potential contamination. Her Master thesis focused on the determination of thyreostats in food of animal origin using HILIC-MS/MS technique.

Ioannis C. Martakos, PhD Candidate/Researcher, NKUA

M.Sc. Ioannis Martakos is a PhD candidate at the Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry of National and Kapodistrian, University of Athens and his research activity mainly focuses on method development for the determination of a variety of substances in food matrices. His PhD research focuses on the application of advanced analytical techniques and data treatment via target, suspect, non-target screening and chemometric methods for the chemical characterization, the determination of unknown bioactive compounds in food and food by-products and the evaluation of food product’s authenticity. His master thesis focused on the development and validation of a liquid chromatographic method for the simultaneous determination of tocopherols, pigments and squalene in olive oil by HPLC-DAD.

Anastasia Koupa, M.Sc. Student, NKUA

Anastasia Koupa is a technician and a M.Sc. student at the Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry of National and Kapodistrian, University of Athens. Her working experience focuses on the quality control of foods (e.g. heavy metals) and the determination of their nutritional value. Furthermore, she is handling samples according to ISO 17025 requirements. Her undergraduate thesis focused on the development of microorganisms in cheese Limburger.

Maria Glyniadaki, M.Sc. Student, NKUA

Maria Glyniadaki is a M.Sc. Student at the Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry of National and Kapodistrian University of Athens and her research activity focuses on the development of methods through gas chromatography techniques. Her master research focuses on the determination of fatty acids and triglycerides in infant formulas fortified with interesterified olive oil. The results of this research will be helpful for the achievement of better stimulation between these formulas and breast milk. Her undergraduate thesis focused on the validation of ampicillin drug analysis by liquid chromatography and the study of its degradation by ozonolysis.

Ioanna Barla, M.Sc. Student, NKUA

Ioanna Barla is a M.Sc. Student at the Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry of National and Kapodistrian University of Athens and her research activity focuses on the study of food authenticity using high resolution mass spectrometry techniques and advanced chemometric tools. Her research interests include the development of methodology for the determination of food fraud incidents, such as food adulteration and mislabeling. Her Master Thesis focuses on the development of novel methodologies for the determination of Greek dairy products authenticity and determination of potential adulteration. Her undergraduate thesis was related to the determination of residues of coccidiostasts in animal tissues.

Elvira Efstratiou, M.Sc. Student, NKUA

Elvira Efstratiou is a M.Sc. student at the Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry of National and Kapodistrian University of Athens. Her research interests focuses on the determination of phenolic compounds in olive products (olive oil, table olives) and by-products (olive leaves, olive oil wastewater, olive pomace) using  LC-ESI-QTOF-MS. Her Master thesis focuses on the development and validation of a HPLC-ESI-QTOF-MS method for the determination of phenolic compounds in olive leaves.

Apostolos Karagiannidis, M.Sc. Student, NKUA

Apostolos Karagiannidis is a M.Sc. student at the Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry of National and Kapodistrian University of Athens. His research interests include the determination of pesticides in food matrices by using multiple analytical instruments, both in low resolution and also in high resolution as well. He is experimenting with alternative sample preparation techniques and has also contribute in the development of a variety of pesticide databases for target analysis in GC-APCI-QTOF and GC-MS/MS.

Natalia Papalouka, M.Sc. Student, NKUA

Natalia Papalouka is a M.Sc. student at the Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry of National and Kapodistrian University of Athens and her master thesis focuses on the development of analytical methods for the determination of water-soluble vitamins using Liquid Chromatography – tandem Mass Spectrometry. Her research interests include method development for the determination of vitamins and vitamers in food matrices and the use of Liquid Chromatography Diode Array Detection or tandem Mass Spectrometry. Her undergraduate thesis focused on the method development for the determination of fat-soluble vitamins A and E in cocoa powder using High Performance Liquid Chromatography and Diode Array Detector.

Ilias Tzavellas, M.Sc. Student, NKUA

Ilias Tzavellas is a M.Sc. student at the Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens and his research is focused on the study of olive oil adulteration using High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry (HRMS). His research interests include finding markers used for the determination of olive oil adulteration, geographical origin and variety discrimination employing the use of suspect and non-target screening.

Foteini Tsiakoulia, Administrative Support, TrAMS Group

M.Sc. Foteini Tsiakoulia is Administrative Support in the Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, in National and Kapodistrian University of Athens. Ms. Tsiakoulia holds a B.Sc. in Psychology from University of Athens, Department of Psychology and two M.Sc. degrees in “Children and Adolescents’ Mental Health” and “Developmental Psychology”. Her main responsibilities are focused on Group members’ and Collaborators’ administration and public relations.

Panagiota Laggi, Administrative Support, TrAMS Group

M.Sc. Panagiota Langi is Administrative Support in the Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, in National and Kapodistrian University of Athens. Ms. Langi, holds a B.Sc. in Food Technology from Technological Educational Institute of Peloponnese, and a M.Sc. degree in Food Chemistry from University of Athens. Her responsibilities are focused on communicating with suppliers and third-party collaborators, organizing the meetings and business trips of the group members, collecting / archiving and registering of invoices and other documents, and handling the procedures needed for the scientific and European programs.