Michail Moustakas

Michail Moustakas is a full Professor at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece, whose research portfolio integrates plant ecophysiology, photosystem-II photochemistry, and nanotoxicology. His work is internationally recognised for using advanced chlorophyll-fluorescence imaging to dissect how plants acclimate to drought, heavy-metal contamination, and engineered nanomaterials.

Education & Academic Roles

• Long-standing faculty member of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (exact department not specified in catalogue).
• Co-author of the laboratory manual Εργαστηριακές Ασκήσεις Βοτανικής (Laboratory Exercises in Botany), indicating active teaching responsibilities.

Research Focus

Prof. Moustakas investigates how photosynthetic efficiency is modulated under abiotic stress. He combines physiological, biochemical, and imaging approaches to quantify PSII responses to drought, heavy metals (Cd, Zn, Al, Cu, Pb, Ni), and engineered nanoparticles (ZnO, MgO, Ag). Recent projects explore hormetic effects, nanoparticle-mediated stress alleviation, and high-throughput phenotyping of tomato and medicinal plants for climate-resilient agriculture.

Publication Trends

Between 2021 and 2023 he averaged 4–5 high-impact papers per year, predominantly in MDPI journals (Plants, Materials, Toxics, International Journal of Molecular Sciences). The work is highly collaborative, involving Greek, Bulgarian, Spanish, Polish and Saudi Arabian teams, and centres on translating chlorophyll-fluorescence signatures into predictive tools for plant performance under global-change scenarios.

Scientific Recognition & Service

• Guest editor for special issues on chlorophyll-fluorescence imaging in Frontiers in Plant Science (2021).
• Repeated keynote/invited speaker at European Plant Biology and Balkan Biochemical Society congresses.

Research Environment

He leads an active research group that includes post-docs, PhD candidates and technical staff, with access to state-of-the-art chlorophyll-fluorescence imaging systems, ICP-MS elemental analysis, and controlled-environment facilities housed within AUTH.