Research Team

Dr Costas Dounasis currently working as a Research Director at the Insitute of Marine Biology, Biotechnology & Aquaculture of the Hellenic Centre for Marine Research. Member of the National Council of Research and Development (1999-2004), the National Committee of Technology Transfer & Innovation (2001-2004) and the International Advisory Board of Coastal Research and Planning Institute, Claipeda University, Lithuania (2004-2005). Main fields of interest: marine biodiversity, benthic ecology, coastal zone management, MPAs, marine environmental technology, artificial reefs, EIAs, oil pollution and fishing gear effects. Co-ordination of more than 60 EU/National/regioanl funded research & development projects. More than 100 publications in Scientific Journals and Conferences Proceedings as well as 6 National/International Patents (Distinction award in the 1st National Patent Contest, 2002).

Dr Yolanda Koulouriis a biologist who studied for a PhD in Marine Biology/Ecology at the University of Crete. She has been working as a Senior Researcher at the Institute of Marine Biology, Biotechnology & Aquaculture (IMBBC) of the Hellenic Centre for Marine Research (HCMR) in Crete since 2016. She has an adequate experience working on funded research projects (more than 40) concerning marine biodiversity, benthic ecology, Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM), development of recreational diving parks by using artificial reefs, Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs), marine pollution monitoring and ecosystem approach of fishing effects on the marine environment.

Dr Thanos Dailianis is an Assistant professor in the Department of Environment of the Ionian University. His research focuses on marine biodiversity, benthic ecology, taxonomy and biogeography of sessile invertebrates. His scientific field includes research on non-indigenous species, underwater sampling, visual census techniques and scientific diving. He has studied aspects of marine conservation and restoration and has been involved in biodiversity informatics and citizen science projects. He completed his BSc in Marine Sciences (2006) and MSc in Coastal Management (2007) at the Department of Marine Sciences of the University of the Aegean. He obtained his PhD at the School of Biology of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (2014). His PhD thesis focused on the biodiversity and community structure of marine caves in the Aegean Sea. During his undergraduate and graduate studies, he received six scholarships and awards from the State Scholarships Foundation, the Alexander Onassis Public Benefit Foundation and the Research Funding Program “Heracleitus II”. Since 2014 he has been employed as a postdoctoral researcher at the Hellenic Centre for Marine Research (HCMR) in Heraklion, Crete.

Mr. Skouradakis Grigoris (BSc Marine biology, MSc Environmental biology) is a PhD candidate at the Biology Department of the University of Crete and the Institute of Marine Biology, Biotechnology and Aquaculture (IMBBA) of the Hellenic Centre for Marine Research (HCMR). His research interests cover a range of topics including Biology of Bivalves, Marine Ecology and Fish Physiology & Behavior. He is a member of the Scientific Diving Team of HCMR with experience in destructive & non – destructive invertebrate sampling methods and visual census. He is also specialized in Recirculating Marine Systems and in experimental design utilizing such systems for Physiological and Behavioral studies of marine invertebrates and fish. His past involvement in the private sector (Aquaculture and Aquarium trade) has offered him the opportunity to work with many Indo-Pacific Species and by doing so has attained a valuable knowledge of their taxonomy and their potential to invade and establish in the Eastern Mediterranean sea.

Dr Vasilis Gerovasileiou is an Assistant professor in the Department of Environment of the Ionian University. His research focuses on marine biodiversity, benthic ecology, taxonomy and biogeography of sessile invertebrates. His scientific field includes research on non-indigenous species, underwater sampling, visual census techniques and scientific diving. He has studied aspects of marine conservation and restoration and has been involved in biodiversity informatics and citizen science projects. He completed his BSc in Marine Sciences (2006) and MSc in Coastal Management (2007) at the Department of Marine Sciences of the University of the Aegean. He obtained his PhD at the School of Biology of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (2014). His PhD thesis focused on the biodiversity and community structure of marine caves in the Aegean Sea. During his undergraduate and graduate studies, he received six scholarships and awards from the State Scholarships Foundation, the Alexander Onassis Public Benefit Foundation and the Research Funding Program “Heracleitus II”. Since 2014 he has been employed as a postdoctoral researcher at the Hellenic Centre for Marine Research (HCMR) in Heraklion, Crete.

Mr. Androulakis Dimitrios is a Dipl. Mechanical and Aeronautics Engineer, currently he is a PhD candidate in a collaboration between the Institute of Marine Biology, Biotechnology and Aquaculture (IMBBC) of the Hellenic Centre for Marine Research (HCMR) and the Fluid Mechanics Laboratory of the Department of Mechanical Engineering and Aeronautics of the University of Patras. His research interests consist of fluid dynamics (both experimental and computational), the interaction between the marine environment and artificial structures (concerning hydrodynamic flow regimes and technical integrity), the installation/maintenance of scientific sensors and instruments and the data analysis and coupling between various environmental datasets. In the last five years he has participated in 10 research projects, with sampling tasks and field work (research vessels/boats/diving) of more than 200 days. He is also author or co-author of 10 scientific papers and reports.

Research Team

Costas Dounas

Panayota (Yolanda) Koulouri

Thanos Dailianis

Skouradakis Grigoris

Vasilis Gerovasileiou

Dimitris Androulakis