The people

Researchers (PhD)

Dr. Christina Kassara [CK]

about

Christina is a free-lancer biologist with a PhD (2012: University of Patras) on spatial ecology of a migratory falcon, specialized in movement ecology and species distribution modelling. Her research interests extend to conservation biology in terrestrial ecosystems. She currently works on the optimal spatial planning of windfarms in terms of fragmentation and land use change. She has participated in various conservation projects in the past, involved in project coordination, GIS and statistical analysis. BLC projects: WIND, ROADLESS, NATLAND, LIVEMOUNT.

Dr. Dina Zografou [DZ]

about

Dina (PhD on butterfly ecology 2015: University of Ioannina) was, until recently, a postdoctoral researcher at the Ecology and Evolution division, University of Bern Her research focuses on investigating and predicting how climate change leads to the decline of endangered species, changes in species communities, and how it modifies species interactions and impacts the ecosystem functions they provide. Her research is field-oriented and combines integrated methods, including landscape and laboratory experiments. In her previous postdoc she clarified long-term population trajectories for an extremely rare butterfly species (Speyeria idalia idalia) and was able to show how species traits anchor a dynamic pollination network. She is a lecturer under contract in BAT, teaching the course “Fauna of Greece: terrestrial invertebrates”. She gained an excellence post-doc grant and has runned the project MEIOSIS as P.I. in our lab. BLC projects : BUTALL, MEIOSIS, APOLLO, INTEGRADIV, LIVEMOUNT, EPIC, TEOSS

Dr. Olga Tzortzakaki

about

Olga is a free-lancer biologist with a PhD (2018: University of Patras) in urban ecology, focusing on the effects of urbanization on bird, butterfly and bat communities. She has participated in various biodiversity conservation projects, such as the national butterfly monitoring scheme, environmental impact assessment studies, and bird (“Ornithopolis”) and butterfly citizen-science projects. She compiled the first National Action Plan for invertebrates in Greece, specifically for the Apollo butterfly (Parnassius apollo), within the framework of the project LIFE IP-4 Natura. She has worked as a lecturer under contract in BAT Department. She is currently a NECCA staff and external collaborator in our Lab. BLC projects: WIND, ROADLESS, BUTALL, SOER, APOLLO, PINS, LAC, PARNO, OITI, ALEXANOR, NATLAND, INTEGRADIV, LIVEMOUNT.

Dr. Yorgos Iliopoulos [YI]

about

Yorgos is a freelance biologist working on conserving wolves and other large carnivores, which was also his PhD specialization (2010: Aristotle University of Thessaloniki). He has yearlong experience in coordinating and implementing large national and international multi-partner projects, such as the first LIFE program in Greece for wolf conservation, monitoring programs of the impacts of highways on large carnivores and mitigation of human-wolf conflicts. In his previous post-doc, he tested the efficacy of fladry corral fences by excluding wild wolves from experimental feeding sites. He has taught the course “Biology of Large Mammals” in the Department (2018-2020). He collaborates with Callisto NGO and is an external collaborator of our Lab. BLC projects: COEXIST, LIVEMOUNT

Dr. Haritakis Papaioannou [HP]

about

Haritakis is a Biologist (M.Sc. in Conservation Biology, Ph.D. Thesis on Balkan chamois) and Ichthyologist. He has been involved in nature conservation and wildlife management for more than 25 years, as a field researcher in projects for brown bear, Balkan chamois, amphibians, raptors, Natura 2000 habitats and protected areas management and conservation. He has been involved in nature and culture interpretation, authored 6 books. He has participated in more than 60 environmental studies, collecting data through extensive field research, mainly in the wider Pindus mountain range. Recently, he compiled the National Action Plan for Balkan Chamois in Greece and he is the coordinator of Vikos-Aoos UNESCO geopark. He works at the Epirus Development Society. Nature selected his profile to present it in the session “Where I work”. BLC projects: ROADLESS, AOOS, NATLAND, LIVEMOUNT.

Former PhD students

Dr. Kostantinos Papakostas

about

Kostas is an agronomist and has gained a PhD from our Lab (2026) concerning chamois ecology and conservation in Greece under an excellence grant for PhD students from the Hellenic Foundation for Research and Innovation (HFRI). He currently works as a postdoc fellow in large mammal ecology at the University of Primorska (Koper) and the Faculty of Environmental Protection (Velenje). When not doing science, he runs in the mountains. BCL projects: CHAMOIS

Dr. Elli Tzirkalli

about

Elli is an environmentalist and has a PhD (2022) on the patterns of plant, orthoptera and butterfly diversity along an elevational gradient in Cyprus (BCL doctoral student). She is interested in the composition and structure of ecological communities and patterns and drivers of biodiversity. Currently, she is working as a researcher at the Open University of Cyprus. She has participated in various research and monitoring programs in Greece and Cyprus concerning flora and fauna conservation and she is the co-chair of the Cyprus Butterfly Study Group (2012-present). BCL project: BUTALL, LAC2, EMBRACE (Coordinator – Erasmus +)

Dr. Maria Petridou

about

Maria gained her PhD from our Lab (2023) concerning wolf ecology and human-large carnivore conflict mitigation under a State Scholarship Foundation grant (IKY). She is an agronomist and a freelancer expert on large carnivores, having worked on several conservation and monitoring projects. She combines social surveys with fieldwork (sign transects, camera trapping, GPS telemetry), lab (diet analysis), and data analysis. She has been a postdoc fellow in the Bavarian Forest National Park in Germany, continuing her research on wolves. She currently teaches the course “Biology of large terrestrial mammals” at BAT. In recent years she has worked on old-growth woods and chamois conservation projects. BLC projects: COEXIST, ROADLESS, AOOS, NATLAND, LIVEMOUNT, INTEGRADIV, CHAMOIS, CHAMOIS II (BCL team coordinator).

Dr. Lavrentis Sidiropoulos

about

Lavrentis gained his PhD in 2025 on the ecology of the Golden Eagle in Northern Greece, focusing on its diet, movement ecology of territorial and dispersing individuals through high-resolution telemetry, and distribution modeling. He is an expert on telemetry and poisonous baits. He was supported by a Natural Research ltd – Scotland grant for telemetry and Leventis Scholars Foundation grants. Furthermore, he has been a renowned freelance field ornithologist since 2008, primarily on conservation and monitoring projects involving birds of prey. He teaches ornithology in the Biology Department of Aristotle University of Thessaloniki.

Dr. Apostolis Stefanidis

about

Apostolis is a biologist holding a PhD (2026) in the ecology and conservation of endemic and threatened Orthoptera in mountainous ecosystems. Since 2021, he has been working as a freelancer on various projects focused on the monitoring and conservation of rare insects in protected areas, examining their interactions with environmental variables. He serves as an IUCN assessor for Orthoptera in Greece, has contributed to the National Invertebrate Monitoring Programme, and has co-authored a regional identification guide for Orthoptera. He has received research grants from the Orthopterists’ Society and the Feraki Fund, and in 2023, was awarded a PhD scholarship from the Hellenic Foundation for Research and Innovation (HFRI). BCL projects: PINS, LAC, PARNO, OITI, DEMO, LIVEMOUNT, TEOSS, EPIC.

PhD students

Konstantina Nasiou

about

Konstantina is a PhD candidate (since 2024); her research focuses on the patterns of mountainous butterfly, Orthoptera and pollinator diversity along a grazing/aridity gradient in Pindos Mountain range. She is a biologist and has conducted her diploma thesis at BCL on butterfly and Orthoptera diversity patterns of Tymfi and Smolikas mountains. She has already gained two grants for her MSc and one distinction for her work. She is member of the coodination team of apollo-grBMS (national monitoring for butterflies in Greece by citizens). Konstantina is a butterfly expert teaching to EPIC-Butterfly and a Syrphidae expert in species taxonomy (certificate). Her PhD is supported by LIVEMOUNT project (HFRI 2024-2025). BCL projects: LAC2, APOLLO, INTEGRADIV, LIVEMOUNT, B-GUIDE, EPIC.

Eleana Kazila

about

Eleana is a PhD candidate (since 2026); her research focuses on the ecology, distribution patterns, and conservation of dragonflies (Odonata) in Greece, focusing on endemic and endangered species of Greece. She is a biologist with long-standing experience in conservation projects, serving as project manager at the Hellenic Zoological Society for the conservation status assessment of Greek fauna under IUCN criteria. BCL projects: CONSERVATIONCONNECT

Other Researchers

Nikos Bukas [NB]

about

Nikos is a freelance biologist and a renowned ornithologist. He has worked on several Special Protected Areas of Greece at different bird monitoring and conservation projects. He works on Management Plans for Protected areas, Environmental Impact Assessments and Specific Ecological Assessments. His previous research has focused on benthic macro-invertebrates’ abundance in the feeding areas of shorebirds, habitat selection of waterbirds, and Odonata diversity. He completed his MSc thesis at BCL, studying the breeding ecology of Glossy Ibis (Plegadis falcinellus). BCL project: AOOS, INTEGRADIV.

Tonia Galani [TG]

about

Tonia is a biologist and a freelance ornithologist. She conducted her MSc thesis at BCL on great crested grebes of Pamvotis Lake. She has gained experience as a project manager for several European programs about nature conservation, working for Pindos Perivallontiki NGO. She conducts Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) throughout Greece and she has an ecoguide business. When not doing science, she is a vivid birder with a special interest in wildlife photography. BCL projects: AOOS, ROADLESS, AOOS (Project coordinator for Pindos Perivallontiki), NATLAND, INTEGRADIV.

MSc students

Eleni Tsikki. 2026-…The importance of ponds for entomofauna: the case of Epirus. *Fieldwork expenses cover (CONSERVATIONCONNECT)
Alkistis Maria Kontou. 2006-…The importance of ponds for Balkan chamois and other large mammals: the use of infrared camera traps in Epirus. *Fieldwork expenses cover (CHAMOIS II)
Lena Asaloumidou. 2025-2026.Diversity patterns of bee genera in the mountainous grasslands of Pindus mountain range, Greece. BAT Department. *Fieldwork expenses cover (LIVEMOUNT)
Antigoni Karnesioti. 2025-…Connecting environmental education with citizen science for butterflies: Athens case study. MSc. “Environmental Sciences and Education for Sustainability”
Angeliki Tsopanidou. 2025-…Connecting environmental education with citizen science for butterflies: Thessaloniki case study. MSc. “Environmental Sciences and Education for Sustainability”
Alexandros Batsis. 2024-2026. Comparative value of roadless vs roaded forests for the conservation of bird communities in Epirus, Greece.BAT Department. Student contract: BCL-Project INTEGRADIV
Despoina Marouga. 2024-2026. The additive value of roadless areas for the preservation of old-growth forests: links to European biodiversity strategy. BAT Department. Student contract: BCL- Project INTEGRADIV
Elvira Sakkoudi. 2024-2026. Investigation of the floral composition and functional plant traits in mountainous habitats. BAT Department. *Fieldwork expenses cover (DEMO).
Eleutheria Kaltsouni. 2023-2025. Pieridae butterflies are shrinking over the last century: the ecological and life-history traits that mediate their responses to climate change. BAT Department. [project MEIOSIS (BCL)]
Nikos Filippidis. 2023-2025. Butterfly diversity patterns in the city of Ioannina, Greece. BAT Department. Student contract: BCL- Project EMBRACE
Katerina Zymarikopoulou. 2023-2025. The concept of “wilderness” and its institutional contribution to major global and European environmental policy objectives. BAT Department. Student contract: Pindos Perivallontiki (CHAMOIS).
Giota Papatzima. 2023-. Diversity and activity patterns of mammals vs. human disturbance in Ioannina region. BAT Department.
Vassilis Papathemelis. 2023-2024.Producing educational material for the value forest: the case of Amarandos in VIKOS-AOOS UNESCO Geopark.MSc. “Environmental Sciences and Education for Sustainability”
*Konstantina Nasiou. 2022-2023. Mountainous insect communities of Northern Pindos National Park: the role of grazing. BAT Department. Student Grant: Feraki Fund
Nikos Filis. 2022-2025. Ecology and conservation status of Endangered grasshopper species Prionotropis willemsorum. BAT Department. Student support: Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund (WILLEMSORUM).
Aimilia Ioakeimidou. 2021-2022. Spatiotemporal patterns of the wolf in the National Park of Axios Delta. 2021-2022. BAT Department. Collaboration: Callisto NGO. Student contract with Callisto.
Antonia Galani. 2021-2022. Great crested grebe ecology: the case of Pamvotis Lake. Interdepartmental MSc. “Environmental Sciences and Education for Sustainability”
Stratos Papantoniou. 2021-2024. Roadless areas of Greece and Natura 2000 network. BAT Department. Student contract: BCL-NATLAND project.
Despoina Sagxaridou. 2020-2021. Impact of grazing on invertebrate diversity: a review. BAT Department.
Apostolis Stefanidis. 2020-2021. Orthoptera diversity patterns on Mitsikeli mountain. BAT Department. Student Grant: Theodore J. Cohn Research Fund (The Orthopterists’ Society)
Nikos Boukas. 2019-2020. Ecology of the glossy ibis in the protected area of Kalamas. MSc. “Environmental Sciences and Education for Sustainability”
Maria-Elena Rizou. 2018-2020. Spatiotemporal distribution patterns of Great crested grebe (Podiceps cristatus) in Pamvotis Lake, Greece. BAT Department.
Haris Korompilis. 2017-2018. The ecological value of Pamvotis Lake, in terms of the trends of wintering waterfowl and the reproduction of Podiceps cristatus. BAT Department.
Xrysanthi Zaharou. 2017-2018. Diversity patterns of butterflies in Greece. BAT Department.

* Financially supported.
The Department of Biological Applications & Technology (BAT) offers one-year diploma studies accounting for a Master’s integrated program.
“Environmental Sciences and Education for Sustainability” is an interdisciplinary Master’s program of the University of Ioannina led by the Department of Early Childhood Education.

LIVEMOUNT

WIND:

Researchers (PhD)

Dr. Christina Kassara [CK]

Dr. Dina Zografou [DZ]

Dr. Olga Tzortzakaki

Dr. Yorgos Iliopoulos [YI]

Dr. Haritakis Papaioannou [HP]

Former PhD students

Dr. Kostantinos Papakostas

Dr. Elli Tzirkalli

Dr. Maria Petridou

Dr. Lavrentis Sidiropoulos

Dr. Apostolis Stefanidis

PhD students

Konstantina Nasiou

Eleana Kazila

Other Researchers

Nikos Bukas [NB]

Tonia Galani [TG]

MSc students

Who we are

Projects

Publications

Science for society

Education

#bclab

LIVEMOUNT

WIND:

The people

Researchers (PhD)

Dr. Christina Kassara [CK]

Dr. Dina Zografou [DZ]

Dr. Olga Tzortzakaki

Dr. Yorgos Iliopoulos [YI]

Dr. Haritakis Papaioannou [HP]

Former PhD students

Dr. Kostantinos Papakostas

Dr. Elli Tzirkalli

Dr. Maria Petridou

Dr. Lavrentis Sidiropoulos

Dr. Apostolis Stefanidis

PhD students

Konstantina Nasiou

Eleana Kazila

Other Researchers

Nikos Bukas [NB]

Tonia Galani [TG]

MSc students

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