Professor
Zafiropulos Vassilis
Vassilis Zafiropulos is a Professor of Applied Physics in the Department of Nutrition & Dietetics Sciences / Health Sciences Faculty / Hellenic Mediterranean University (former T.E.I. of Crete). In parallel, he is a researcher at the Institute of Agri-Food and Life Sciences / Hellenic Mediterranean University Research Center. Before, he was research scientist at the Foundation of Research & Technology-Hellas (FORTH) – Institute of Electronic Structure & Laser (IESL) from 1990 to 2003, after serving in the Greek Army (1989-1990). In parallel, he taught at the Department of Chemistry of the University of Crete as a visiting professor (1991-1994). He has contributed as well as coordinated several research projects on a National and European level. He received his PhD from the University of Iowa (USA) in December 1988. His thesis was on Laser Spectroscopy and Photodissociation Dynamics of small molecules. Since then, he has worked on research areas of diverse and cross-disciplinary interest, ranging from Laser Spectroscopy and Laser Induced Phenomena in gases to studies on Laser-Matter Interactions and development of Laser based analytical and diagnostic techniques. For his contribution in the field, he was elected president of the COST Action G7 “Artwork Conservation by Laser” from 2000 to 2003. By moving to his current position in 2003, he changed discipline and worked together with his colleagues in establishing the new Department of Nutrition & Dietetics Sciences. Since 2003 he served the department in the positions of deputy chairman and chairman, while in 2020 he was elected dean of Health Sciences Faculty until 2022, when he became a member of the University’s board of directors. He also worked on the establishment of the Laboratory of Dietetics & Human Body Composition. His recent research interests include the assessment of human body composition (intracellular and fat-free-mass hydration, percent body fat etc.) using 4- and 5-Compartment models, the efficiency of nutritional interventions, and the energy expenditure. He established the course “Human Body Composition” offered in the department since 2006, which is one of the 2-3 such courses offered worldwide in dietetics. He is author and co-author of three scientific books, six chapters in scientific books and an encyclopaedia, 72 papers in scientific journals (Scopus), and numerous conference proceedings papers. By Oct. 2023 he had 7027 Scopus citations (h-index: 26) and 11434 citations viewed in scholar.google (h-index: 31), i10-index: 68.
Tel: 2843029496, 2843020001, email: zafir@hmu.gr
Associate professor | Head of the Department
Markaki Anastasia
Tel: 28430 – 29491
email: anmarkaki@hmu.gr
Scopus Author ID: 56590412700
Associate professor
Deputy Head of the Department
Mouratidou Theodora
Theodora Mouratidou is an Associate Professor at the Hellenic Mediterranean University with over 15 years of experience delivering research, policy support and consultancy in the fields of nutrition, obesity, public health, policy development and NCDs prevention under the framework of data analysis, monitoring and evaluation, capacity building and knowledge management. She has worked for and advised organizations such as the European Commission, UN agencies (WHO, FAO, IOM and IAEA) and academic institutions. Over the years, she investigated the relationship between diet, obesity and NCDs, supported EU legislative policy development on trans fatty acids, supported the EU Action Plan on Childhood Obesity 2014 – 2020, worked on capacity building for the integration of nutrition indicators into budget and health surveys, and focused on knowledge management. She has 64 peer-reviewed publications, 1 book chapter, 8 scientific/technical reports and has supported the organization of 1 international tri-agency UN conference, 1 national conference and 6 international scientific/technical/training events. She has worked in 7 large population research projects and coordinated 3 of them – she has undertaken data collection, analysis (including advanced statistical models) and reporting. Additionally, she has supported the coordination of 3 projects relevant to scientific and technical support for policy, strategic and legislative development.
Tel. 28430 – 29493
Εmail: tmouratidou@hmu.gr
webpage: https://nds.hmu.gr/mouratidou
Scopus Author ID: 14050556100
Associate professor
Raikos Vassilios
Vassilios Raikos is an Associate Professor of Food Biochemistry and Physical Chemistry at the Department of Nutrition and Dietetics Sciences of the Hellenic Mediterranean University. Ηe received a BSc in Human Genetics from the University of Leeds in 1998 and an MSc in Applied Biomolecular Technology from the University of Nottingham in 2002. He was awarded a PhD in Food Science from Heriot-Watt University in 2006. In 2007 he joined the Hellenic Open University as a scientific associate and remained in this position until 2011. In 2008 he was offered a Post-doctoral Research position at the University of Patras where he conducted research on the physico-chemical properties of foods systems. In 2009 he joined the Department of Food Technology at the Technological Educational Institute of Peloponnese where he delivered courses in a range of science subjects until 2013. He was employed as Research Fellow at Rowett Institute, University of Aberdeen, from 2013 until 2021. His research interests lie in the interface of Food Science and Nutrition. He is also a Fellow of the Institute of Food Science and Technology (IFST) and an Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. He has authored more than 60 peer-reviewed articles in science journals and 3 book chapters. He is the editor of a book entitled “Reformulation as a strategy for developing healthier food products” (Springer). He is Associate Editor of the Journal Frontiers in Food Science and Technology (Food Product Design).
Tel. 28430- 20007
Εmail: vraikos@hmu.gr
Scopus Author ID: 6506669159
Assistant professor
Psaroudaki Antonella
Tel. 28430-20009
Εmail: psaroudaki@hmu.gr
Scopus Author ID: 24073233300
Assistant professor
Christopher Papandreou
Tel. 28430-20003
Lecturer
Spyridaki Aspasia
Dr. Aspasia Spyridaki is a Lecturer in the Department of Nutrition and Dietetics at the Hellenic Mediterranean University, specializing in Food Chemistry. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry from the University of Crete (1992) and a Ph.D. in Chemistry, project title: Isolation and characterization of Photosystem II-core subcomplexes from higher plants and study of the mode of action of inhibitors, from the University of Crete (1999). She worked as a post-doctoral researcher at the Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology of the Foundation for Research and Technology Hellas (IMBB), from 1999 until 2002. She is a member of the Department since 2003. She has 21 publications in peer-reviewed international journals and conference proceedings (h-index: 8, heterocitations: 267). Her research interests include: food analysis with emphasis on bioactive components, protein structure and function, enzyme biochemistry, hormone biochemistry, relationship between nutrition and biochemical/ clinical markers, relationship between nutrition and body composition. She is a collaborative academic staff member of the Agri-Food and Life Sciences Institute, Research Center of the Hellenic Mediterranean University.
Tel: 28430 – 20015
email: aspaspyridaki@hmu.gr
Scopus Author ID: 54896216700
Assistant professor
Psylinakis Emmanuel
Dr. Emmanuel Psylinakis is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Nutrition and Dietetics at Hellenic Mediterranean University, specializing in Nutritional Bioorganic Chemistry. He holds a degree in Chemistry (BSc) from the Faculty of Science at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (1995) and a Master’s degree (MSc) in Biochemistry from the Department of Chemistry at the University of Crete. He collaborated with the National Center for Scientific Research (NCSR) Demokritos from 2000 to 2001 as part of the research program titled “Natural and Artificial Photosynthesis: Photocatalytic Mechanisms of Oxidoreduction Cooperation of Metallic Centers and Free Radicals with Water as a Substrate.” Since 2001, he holds a Ph.D. in Chemistry with a specialization in Biochemistry from the Department of Chemistry at the University of Crete.
He worked as a postdoctoral researcher in the Enzyme Technology group of the Biotechnology Division at the Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (IMBB), part of the Foundation for Research and Technology – Hellas (FORTH), from 2002 to 2004. His research focused on the isolation and characterization of chitin deacetylases. He has extensive experience in teaching the courses “Organic Chemistry & Structural Biochemistry” and “Food Chemistry & Analysis” as adjunct teaching staff in the Department of Nutrition and Dietetics.
He has participated in the department’s research programs:
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“Environment – Archimedes – Strengthening Research Teams at TEI Crete,” investigating the herbicidal action of capsaicinoids, with a focus on their effects on thylakoid membranes in vitro, and studying the biosynthesis of capsaicinoids in cultivated species and varieties of the genus Capsicum. Quantitative evaluation of capsaicinoids in extracts from in vivo and in vitro material of selected pepper genotypes.
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“Archimedes II – Strengthening Research Teams at TEI Crete,” focusing on Experimental Nutrition: the effect of extracts from endemic/wild plants of Crete on mammalian and human metabolism, and the nutritional evaluation of endemic plants, including the toxicological assessment of herbs.
His research interests are centered on Enzyme Biochemistry, Lipid Biochemistry, Hormone Biochemistry, Mediterranean Diet, the correlation of diet with biochemical and clinical health markers, and the nutritional value of foods with an emphasis on bioactive components. He has 35 publications in international journals, books, and peer-reviewed conference proceedings (h-index: 7, citations: 492).
Tel: 28430 – 20015
Email: psylinak@hmu.gr
Scopus Author ID: 12806045900