Varkitzi Ioanna

Education profile
• Ph.D. in Marine Biology and Ecophysiology, Athens University, Greece, Jan 2010. Doctoral Thesis title: Ecology of harmful microalgae and impact on the marine benthic ecosystem. Financial support by the EU FP5 project FATE: Transfer and Fate of Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB) toxins in European marine waters, through HCMR. First class honors degree
• M.Sc., Oceanography and Marine Biology, Athens University, Greece, Jan 2002. MSc Thesis title: Study of the habitat types in marine areas of the network NATURA-2000 in Evoikos Gulf, Aegean Sea, Eastern Mediterranean. Financial support by the EU project NATURA-2000: Identification and quantification of marine vegetation in various marine habitat types of Greece, through HCMR. First class honours, 2 yrs duration
• Diploma in Biology, Athens University, Greece, Sep 1998. Diploma Thesis title: Taxonomic and ecological study on the coastal benthic communities of Saronic Gulf.

Professional profile
• 2010 to date: Postdoctoral scientist, Institute of Oceanography, HCMR, Athens, Greece, scientific subject: harmful microalgae under the pressure of global change
• 2002-2009: Research associate, Institute of Oceanography, HCMR, Athens, Greece, scientific subject: ecology, physiology and taxonomy of harmful microalgae and other marine phytoplankton groups; interactions with other marine organisms
• 2002: Research associate of the non-governmental organization “Archipelagos” (www.archipelago.gr), Island of Ikaria, Greece, in collaboration with the University of Essex, UK, scientific subject: mapping of benthic communities in the sublittoral zone of eastern Aegean Sea and the Dodecanese (Islands of Ikaria, Fournoi, Arki, Patmos)
• 2001-2002: Research associate, Fisheries Laboratory, Ministry of Agriculture, Piraeus, Greece, scientific subject: dynamics and management of fish stocks in the Aegean Sea

Scientific training
• Carbon biogeochemistry training, organized by the University of Perpignan, France in the frame of the EU project MedSeA, 6/2011, in Perpignan, France
• Plankton bloom dynamics- new insights from molecular and genomic tools, organized by the Alfred Wegener Institute (AWI), Networks of Excellence Marine Genomics Europe (MGE) and Marine Biodiversity and Ecosystem Functioning (MarBEF), 06/2008, in Bremerhaven, Germany
• “Implementation of the TRIX eutrophication index in greek coastal waters, eastern Mediterranean, organised by the Mediterranean Action Plan of United Nations Environment Program (UNEP/ΜΑΡ) and HCMR in the frame of the the project “Assessment of Eutrophication in the Mediterranean coastal waters”, 10/2006, in Athens, Greece
• IOC Training Course on Identification/Enumeration of Harmful Marine Microalgae 2006, organised by Bio/consult and Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC), Science and Communication Centre on Harmful Algae and Institute of Biology University of Copenhagen, 09/2006, in Copenhagen, Denmark
• Second training course for technical operators of the eutrophication monitoring program of MED POL phase III, organised by the Mediterranean Action Plan of United Nations Environment Program (UNEP/ΜΑΡ) in collaboration with ICRAM, ARPA-ER, SOD, CRM, 11/2004, in Cesenatico, Italy
• Primary production at the Mediterranean ecosystem with emphasis on Marine vegetation-Conservation and threats, in the frame of the SOCRATES/ERASMUS EU students mobility program, organized by the Oceanographic Laboratory Arago and University Paris VI, 08/2000, in Banyuls/Mer, France

Educational experience
• 09/2011, Participation in the local organising team of the MedSeA Training Workshop on Mediterranean acidification perturbation experiments on planktonic organisms, held in HCMR, Athens, 21-23/09/2011
• 2011-to date, Assistance to Mrs E. Pita with experimental cultures of microalgae for her PhD on Impact of Dissolved Organic Matter (DOM) on heavy metals’ binding in seawater, at the University of Athens, conducted in HCMR with scientific advisor Dr. C. Zeri
• 03/2009, Lectures and laboratory teaching for the course “Phytoplankton”, 2nd semester of the MSc Oceanography, the University of Athens
• 07/2007, Participation in the SESAME ΙP Training Workshop in Athens, 02-06/07/2007, for the Lectures “Cultures of phytoplankton”, “Phytoplankton diversity”, “Primary production”
• 2004 – 2007, Assistance to students from the University of Southampton UK, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Technical School of Messologgi and Technical School of Igoumenitsa Greece, for their final year’s projects on cultures of microalgae and bioassays, conducted in HCMR with scientific advisors: Dr. K. Pagou, Dr. I. Siokou-Frangou, Dr. E. Christou
• 2006-to date, Scientific Associate in the environmental education projects of the 2nd High School of Keratsini and the 2nd Junior High School of Athens
• 06/2003, “The sea of the Island of Aegina”, Lecture in the frame of the Environmental Education project of the 1st High School of Aegina
• 11 – 12/2000, “Marine Ecosystem”, Lectures in the frame of the Environmental Education project for Teachers in Hellenic Upper Education, organized by the University of Aegean
• 07/2000, “The natural environment: general principals, problems and perspectives”, Lectures for the “Development of Ecotourism” project for High School graduates, organized by Continuing Education Centre of Athens, Greece

Memberships in scientific organizations
• Greek Oceanographers Association (EFMS partner), Secretary of the Boarding Council, www.seok.gr
• 14th International Conference on Harmful Algae, 1-5/11/2010, member of the Local Organizing Committee, www.hab2010.gr
• International Society for the Study of Harmful Algae (ISSHA), member, www.issha.org
• Federation of European Phycological Societies (FEPS), member, www.feps-algae.eu
• Greek Phycological Society, member, www.elfe.gr
• Geotechnical Chamber of Greece, member as an Icthyologist, www.geotee.gr

Peer reviewed Journals

Varkitzi I, Pagou K, Granéli E Hatzianestis I, Pyrgaki C, Pavlidou A, Montesanto Β, Εconomou-Amilli A (2010) Unbalanced N:P ratios and nutrient stress controlling growth and toxin production of the harmful dinoflagellate Prorocentrum lima (Ehrenberg) Dodge. Harmful Algae, 9 (3), 304-311

Varkitzi I, Pagou K, Granéli E, Erler K, Luckas B, Krasakopoulou E. Fate and impact of the neurotoxin domoic acid after ingestion of the diatom Pseudo-nitzschia multiseries (Hasle) Hasle by the grooved carpet shell clam Ruditapes decussatus L. Submitted to Harmful Algae

Zervoudaki S., Frangoulis C., Christou E.D., Svensen C., Arashkevich E., Ratkova T., Varkitzi I., Krasakopoulou E., Pagou K. Vertical carbon flux of biogenic mater in a coastal area of the Aegean Sea. Importance of appendicularians. To be submitted to Estuaries and Coasts

Varkitzi I, Pagou K, Pantazi M., Papathanassiou E. Current state of phytoplankton populations in Aegean, Ionian and Levantine Seas (Eastern Mediterranean): composition and distribution. Manuscript in preparation

Giannoudi L., Varkitzi I., Petrou P.S., Pyrgaki C., Kakabakos S.E., Pagou K. A Biosensor for phytoplankton cultures. Marine Biotechnology in Europe, Biotech Advances. Manuscript in preparation

Varkitzi I., Drakopoulou V. & Panayotidis P. (2001). Marine vegetation along the coasts of an eastern Mediterranean gulf, Evoikos gulf, Greece. Phycologia, 40 (4) suppl: 76.

Special editions

Krasakopoulou E. & Varkitzi I. (2011) Transalation in Greek of the document “Ocean Acidification Reference User Group (2010). Ocean Acidification: Questions Answered”. Laffoley, D. d’A., and Baxter, J.M. (eds). European Project on Ocean Acidification (EPOCA). 24 pp.

Karlou-Riga C. & Varkitzi I. (2002). Spatial and seasonal juvenile concentrations in the Saronikos Gulf and the Cyclades islands (Central Aegean Sea). Working Document no 4 to the GFCM Scientific Advisory Committee Working Group on the Assessment of Demersal stocks, Rome, Italy, 20-22/03/02, pp. 23.

Peer reviewed Conference Proceedings

Varkitzi I, Pagou K, Granéli E, Hatzianestis I, Krasakopoulou E, Pavlidou A. (2010) Spatio-temporal distribution of Dinophysis spp. in relation to organic matter availability and other parameters in Thermaikos Gulf, Greece (Eastern Mediterranean). 14th International Conference on Harmful Algae, Greece, 1-5/11/2010. Book of Abstracts, p. 55. Submitted to Conference Proceedings

Strogyloudi E., Giannakourou A., Varkitzi I., Maneiro I., Petermann A., Guisande C., Granéli E., Pagou K. (2010) Domoic acid accumulation in Mytilus galloprovincialis: laboratory experiments with Pseudo-nitzschia multiseries. 14th International Conference on Harmful Algae, Greece, 1-5/11/2010. Book of Abstracts, p. 96. Submitted to Conference Proceedings. Submitted to Conference Proceedings

Giannoudi L., Varkitzi I., Petrou P.S., Pyrgaki C., Anthoula M., Pavlidou, A., Hatzianestis I., Kakambakos S., Pagou K. (2009) First approach for the detection of okadaic acid with an amperometric immunosensor: implementation in cultures samples. 9ο Proc. 8th Hell. Symp. Oceanogr. Fisheries, Patra, Greece, May 2009, 4 pp.

Varkitzi I., Pagou K., Hatzianestis G., Pyrgaki C., Pavlidou A., Assimakopoulou G., Montesanto Β., Εconomou-Amilli A. & Granéli E. (2006). Growth and toxicity of Prorocentrum lima (Ehrenberg) Dodge in cultures: Effect of nitrogen. Proc. 8th Hell. Symp. Oceanogr. Fisheries, Thessalonica, Greece, 4-8/06/2006, 4pp.

Tsiamis Κ., Orfanidis S., Diapoulis A., Panayotidis P., Siakavara A., Τsiaggα Ε. and Varkitzi I. Cystoseira crinita community under reference conditions (WFD 2000/60/EE) in the Aegean Sea, Eastern Mediterranean (2006). Proc. 8th Hell. Symp. Oceanogr. Fisheries, Thessalonica, Greece, 4-8/06/2006, 4pp.

Varkitzi I., Panayotidis P. & B. Montesanto (2006) Cystoseira spp. associations in the North-eastern Mediterranean : The case of evoikos Gulf (central Aegean Sea, Greece). In: Proceedings of the second Mediterranean symposium on marine vegetation. UNEP-MAP-RAC/SPA, Athens, Greece, 12-13/12/2003, p. 154-160.

Karlou-Riga C. & Varkitzi I. (2003). Histology of the ovaries of the red mullet and picarel. In: Proceedings of the 11th Panhellenic Congress of Ichthyologists; Preveza, Greece, 10-14/04/03, p. 113-116.

Karlou-Riga C., Varkitzi, I; Zarkadi, E; Anastasopou, I; Apostolakos, I; Kallias, H & Fiflis, K. (2001). Nursery grounds of commercial species in the Gulf of Saronikos in Greece. In: Proceedings of the 10th Panhellenic Congress of Ichthyologists, Crete, Greece, 18-20/10/01, p. 129-132.

Panayotidis P. Mantelioglou D. & Varkitzi I. (2000). Impact of the urban sewage treatment on the marine vegetation of the upper sublittoral zone of the Saronikos Gulf. In: Proceedings of the 6th Panhellenic symposium of Oceanography and Fisheries, Chios, Greece, 23-26/5/2000, p.30-35