Kimon-Andreas Karatzas

Kimon-Andreas Karatzas is an Associate Professor at the University of Reading, serving as Co-Director of Postgraduate Research Studies. His research focuses on molecular mechanisms of bacterial stress resistance, particularly in foodborne pathogens like Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella enterica, and Staphylococcus aureus. He investigates acid resistance, oxidative stress, biofilm formation, and the impact of food processing techniques such as high hydrostatic pressure and ultrasound on microbial survival.

Education: PhD in Nutrition, Food Technology and Biotechnology from Wageningen University (2002); BSc in Food Science and Technology from Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (Greece).

Research interests span anaerobic microbiology, antimicrobial agents (e.g., grape seed extract, lipopeptides), and sustainable bioprocesses like anaerobic digestion of food waste. He has received significant funding, including a €0.5M Starting Investigator Research Grant from Science Foundation Ireland and EU support through Marie Curie programs.

Publications emphasize interdisciplinary approaches, combining microbiology, food safety, and biotechnology. Notable work includes studies on glutamate decarboxylase systems, piezotolerant mutants, and synergistic antimicrobial strategies. His research has implications for food industry applications, pathogen control, and sustainable waste-to-energy systems.

Awards: Recognized for contributions to microbial stress biology and food safety. Active in supervising postgraduate research and leading collaborative projects in food science and engineering.