Zacharias Skouras

Zacharias Skouras is a Professor in the Department of Biology at the School of Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. With a research career spanning over three decades, his work has significantly contributed to molecular genetics, particularly in Drosophila research, chromosome structure, and heat shock protein mechanisms.

• Department of Biology, School of Sciences
• Aristotle University of Thessaloniki

His primary research interests focus on molecular genetics, with emphasis on Drosophila polytene chromosomes, heat shock proteins (particularly HSP70 and HSP90), and more recently computational biology and biological networks. His work bridges fundamental molecular mechanisms with environmental adaptation studies, particularly in Mediterranean species like Mytilus galloprovincialis. He has made significant contributions to understanding gene organization, expression patterns, and evolutionary aspects of stress response mechanisms.

Analysis of his 15 most recent publications reveals a research trajectory evolving from classical Drosophila genetics toward broader applications in environmental adaptation, marine biology, and computational approaches. Early work focused on detailed cytogenetic studies of Drosophila species, while more recent publications demonstrate expansion into chromium bioremediation mechanisms, brown bear conservation genetics, and computational modeling of biological networks. This progression reflects an integration of molecular genetics with environmental challenges and systems biology approaches.

Dr. Skouras has supervised and collaborated with numerous researchers who have become established scientists in their own right, including Elena Drosopoulou, Chrysoula Pantzartzi, and Pinelopi Mavragani-Tsipidou. His work has received consistent research funding enabling extensive field and laboratory studies across multiple biological systems.

His laboratory has maintained a focus on both basic molecular mechanisms and applied environmental research, with particular expertise in stress response pathways across diverse biological systems from insects to marine mollusks and mammals. This dual focus has enabled translational applications of fundamental genetic research to environmental and conservation challenges.