Christos Noutsos

Christos Noutsos is an Assistant Professor in the Biology department at SUNY Old Westbury, actively engaged in undergraduate research education through the HHMI Science Education Alliance-Phage Hunters Advancing Genomics and Evolutionary Science (SEA-PHAGES) program. His work bridges computational biology and microbial genetics, focusing on bacteriophage discovery and genomic analysis.

Education:

• BSc in Molecular Plant Breeding
• MSc in Biotechnology with specialization in Bioinformatics
• PhD in Bioinformatics from Max Planck Institute for Plant Breeding

Dr. Noutsos' research integrates bioinformatics with phage genomics to explore viral evolution and host-pathogen interactions. His methodology combines computational analysis of phage genomes with wet-lab microbiology techniques, particularly using Mycobacterium smegmatis and Gordonia terrae hosts. This interdisciplinary approach extends to plant breeding applications, leveraging genomic tools to understand evolutionary mechanisms across biological systems.

As an educator, he has led multiple SEA-PHAGES courses since 2017, training over 80 undergraduate students in phage discovery and genomic annotation. His teaching spans both laboratory-based phage isolation and computational bioinformatics, emphasizing authentic research experiences for freshmen through seniors.

Dr. Noutsos contributes significantly to the national SEA-PHAGES consortium, participating in curriculum development and faculty workshops. His laboratory work operates within SUNY Old Westbury's biology facilities, supporting student-driven phage genome sequencing and analysis projects through the HHMI-funded initiative.