Stelios Timotheou is an Associate Professor at the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering and faculty member at the KIOS Research and Innovation Center of Excellence, University of Cyprus. He holds a Dipl-Ing from National Technical University of Athens, and MSc/PhD from Imperial College London. His research focuses on developing real-time distributed methodologies using mathematical optimization, machine learning, and computational intelligence to enhance efficiency in critical infrastructure systems. Research interests center on data-driven decision making for urban mobility management, traffic control systems, and energy optimization. Key areas include: Intelligent UAV-based sensing for traffic monitoring Cooperative control algorithms for multi-agent systems Optimization of renewable energy integration Robust infrastructure protection strategies Recent publications demonstrate strong focus on traffic state estimation (76%), energy system optimization (16%), and UAV applications (8%). Awarded the Cyprus Research Award (2017) and ERC Consolidator Grant for URANUS project. Secured multiple research grants focusing on real-time control systems.
Marios Polycarpou is a Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering and Director of the KIOS Research and Innovation Center of Excellence at the University of Cyprus. He holds honorary positions at Imperial College London and is a member of Academia Europaea. His expertise spans intelligent systems, adaptive control, machine learning, and critical infrastructure. Education: B.A. Computer Science (Rice University, 1987) B.Sc. Electrical Engineering (Rice University, 1987) M.S. Electrical Engineering (University of Southern California, 1989) Ph.D. Electrical Engineering (University of Southern California, 1992) Research Focus: Polycarpou’s work emphasizes fault diagnosis in cyber-physical systems, water distribution networks, and adaptive control. He pioneers digital twin technologies for infrastructure resilience and develops algorithms for real-time anomaly detection and system optimization. Article Trends: His recent publications address adaptive control strategies, cybersecurity in networked systems, and AI-driven solutions for water management. Key themes include distributed control, event-triggered mechanisms, and transformer-based anomaly localization. Awards: 2023 IEEE Frank Rosenblatt Technical Field Award 2016 IEEE Neural Networks Pioneer Award Fellow of IEEE and IFAC Grants & Leadership: He secured prestigious grants including ERC Advanced and Synergy Grants. He led KIOS CoE’s Horizon 2020 projects and served as IEEE Computational Intelligence Society President (2012–2013). Labs & Teams: Directs the KIOS CoE, a hub for AI in critical infrastructure. Collaborates on projects like ERC Water-Futures, focusing on long-term water system transitions and contamination mitigation.
Professor Ioannis Katakis is a Faculty Member at the University of Nicosia, where he is affiliated with the School of Sciences and Engineering and the Department of Computer Science. He has held various academic positions across multiple institutions including Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, University of Cyprus, Cyprus University of Technology, Open University of Cyprus, Hellenic Open University, Athens University of Economics and Business, and National and Kapodistrian University of Athens. His educational background includes a PhD in Machine Learning for Automated Text Classification (2005-2009), a Master's in Information Systems (2005-2007), and a Bachelor's in Computer Science (2000-2004), all from Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. Professor Katakis specializes in several cutting-edge areas of computer science and data analysis. His primary research interests include Mining Social, Web and Urban Data , Sentiment Analysis and Opinion Mining , Data Streams , and Multi-label Learning . His work bridges theoretical machine learning approaches with practical applications in social media analysis, healthcare informatics, privacy protection, and smart city technologies. He has published extensively in top venues including CIKM, ECML/PKDD, IEEE TKDE, and ECAI. His recent publications demonstrate a clear trend toward applying machine learning techniques to real-world problems with societal impact. He has focused on areas such as GDPR compliance in smart devices, sentiment analysis in crowd-sourced content, healthcare applications including drug reaction classification and brain disease monitoring, and privacy protection in wearable technologies. His work often involves multi-modal data analysis and addresses challenges in data streams and multi-label classification. Professor Katakis has made significant contributions to his field, with his research cited over 4,200 times. He serves as an Editor for the journal Information Systems and has edited four special issues in journals such as DAMI and InfSys. He regularly contributes to the academic community by serving on program committees for major conferences including ECML/PKDD, WSDM, DEBS, and IJCAI, and by reviewing for prestigious journals like TPAMI, DMKD, TKDE, TKDD, JMLR, TWEB, and ML. He has been actively involved in European research projects, notably serving as Quality Assurance Coordinator and Senior Researcher for projects such as VAVEL (www.vavel-project.eu) and INSIGHT (www.insight-ict.eu). His grant activities demonstrate a strong focus on collaborative, interdisciplinary research with practical applications in urban data management, social media analysis, and healthcare informatics. He has organized three workshops at major conferences (ICML, ECML/PKDD, EDBT/ICDT) and has extensive experience translating research into practical applications through his involvement in European projects.
Theodoros Zachariadis is a Professor and Interim Director of the Energy, Environment and Water Research Center (EEWRC) and the Science and Technology Driven Policy and Innovation Research Centre (STeDI-RC) at The Cyprus Institute. He previously served as Dean of the Faculty of Geotechnical Sciences and Environmental Management at the Cyprus University of Technology (2015–2020), and as Assistant/Associate Professor there (2009–2020). His expertise spans energy and environmental policy, climate change mitigation, and environmental taxation. He holds a Doctorate in Mechanical Engineering from Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. **Research Interests:** Techno-economic analysis of energy, environmental, and transport policies; environmental taxation; climate policy integration with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs); decarbonization strategies; and green tax reforms. His work emphasizes cost-effective climate policies and equitable transitions. **Awards:** 2009 Research Prize of Cyprus (Republic of Cyprus) and 2019 Environmental Prize (President of Cyprus). He has been ranked in the top 2% of globally cited academics in Energy (2020s). **Affiliations:** Vice Chair of the Scientific Committee of the European Environment Agency, Manager of SDSN Europe, Leadership Council member of SDSN Cyprus, and former Visiting Professor at Aarhus University. He advises on EU climate policies and sustainable development. **Grants & Projects:** Extensive research on Cyprus’ energy policies, EU climate frameworks, and decarbonization pathways. Key outputs include analyses of the EU’s 'Fit for 55' package, green recovery strategies post-pandemic, and cross-border energy cooperation in the Eastern Mediterranean. **Labs/Teams:** Leads research teams at EEWRC and STeDI-RC focusing on policy design, climate adaptation, and techno-economic modeling. Collaborates with international networks like Green Budget Europe and the Journal *Energy Economics* (associate editor).
Dr. Vagia Polyzoidou is an Associate Professor in the Department of Law at the University of Cyprus, serving as Associate Head of Department and Programme Coordinator. She is a Member of the Senate and holds an academic rank of Associate Professor. Her expertise spans Criminal Law, Cybercrime Legislation, and Gender-Based Violence. She earned her Bachelor's, Master's, and PhD in Law from Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, with a specialization in Criminal Law and Criminology. Education: Bachelor of Law, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki Master of Law (Criminal Law and Criminology), Aristotle University of Thessaloniki PhD in Law (Criminal Law), Aristotle University of Thessaloniki Her research focuses on cybercrime, digital violence against women, EU legal frameworks for electronic evidence, and legal responses to social issues like fat shaming. She has an h-index of 8 and 101 citations, with active research since 2011. Notable contributions include work on the Budapest Convention, psychosocial interventions in legal contexts, and violence against women. Her recent publications (2023–2024) address EU e-evidence regulations, legal approaches to sexual harassment in Greece, and protections for minor victims through exceptional criminal provisions. She has collaborated internationally on criminal justice policies and cybercrime legislation. Dr. Polyzoidou’s work aligns with UN Sustainable Development Goals, particularly those addressing gender equality and quality education. She maintains an active Scopus profile and contributes to academic discourse through peer-reviewed journals and conference presentations.
Christos Nicolaides is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Business and Public Administration within the School of Economics and Management at the University of Cyprus (UCY), holding a secondary appointment as a Digital Fellow at MIT's Initiative on the Digital Economy. Previously, he spent three years as a James McDonnell Foundation-funded Postdoctoral Fellow at MIT Sloan School of Management. His educational background includes a PhD in Engineering from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (2014), SM from MIT (2011), MSc in Applied Mathematics from Imperial College London (2009), and BSc in Physics from University of Thessaloniki (2008). Nicolaides' research applies mathematical, statistical, and computational tools to large-scale empirical questions in social influence mediated by digital technologies. His work spans Data Science , Machine Learning , Social Networks , and Computational Social Science , with significant contributions to understanding human mobility patterns, disease transmission dynamics, and social contagion effects. His research has established novel methodologies for analyzing complex network structures in mobility data and social interactions. Analysis of his 15 most recent publications reveals a consistent focus on applying network science to real-world problems, particularly in pandemic response (12 publications), human mobility analytics (9 publications), and social contagion dynamics (7 publications). His work demonstrates increasing interdisciplinary integration, combining computer science, epidemiology, and organizational behavior since 2020. Marie S. Curie Fellow Two Highly Cited Papers by Web of Science (2017, 2020) Best Paper Award by Risk Analysis Society (2019) Professor of The Week by Poets & Quants (2020) As principal institutional investigator, Nicolaides has secured over €1 million in research funding from the European Commission, industry partners, Cyprus Innovation and Research Foundation, and Cyprus Ministry of Health. His current teaching includes Social Networks and Entrepreneurship, Introduction to Operations Management, and Quantitative Methods in Management. Media coverage of his work spans major outlets including The New York Times, CNN, Nature, and Science, with significant impact on public health policy discussions during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Dr. Evelina Charidemou is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Life Sciences, School of Life and Health Sciences, University of Cyprus. She holds a PhD in Biochemistry from the University of Cambridge and a Bachelor's degree (Honors) from Imperial College London, where she earned the Royal College of Science Associateship (ARCS). Her research focuses on developing metabolomics and lipidomics tools to investigate metabolic syndrome, particularly Type II diabetes and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, using high-performance liquid chromatography and multivariate bioinformatics. Specialties: Nutritional Biochemistry, Metabolism, Histone Acetylation Collaborations: University of Oxford, University of Aarhus, Imperial College London Leadership: President of Cyprus Metabolomic Network Key Awards: Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowship, Best Presentation (Metabolomics Sardinian Scientific School) Her work has been published in high-impact journals including Trends in Biochemical Sciences , EMBO Journal , and Hepatology , with a focus on the interplay between epigenetic mechanisms and metabolic diseases. She actively presents at international conferences such as the Metabolomics Society meetings and contributes to the International Journal of Biochemistry and Cell Biology.
Professor Mohammed Salamah is a distinguished faculty member in the Computer Engineering Department at Eastern Mediterranean University's Faculty of Engineering. He maintains an office in room 114 and can be contacted at +90 392 630 1149/1334 or via email at muhammed.salamah@emu.edu.tr. His academic website provides additional resources for students and colleagues. Dr. Salamah earned his BS, MS, and PhD degrees in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from Middle East Technical University in 1988, 1990, and 1996 respectively, establishing a strong foundation for his career in network communications and wireless systems. His research interests span multiple critical areas in modern networking, with particular expertise in Wireless Sensor Networks, Internet of Things (IoT) security, Mobile Communications, and Energy Efficiency in network protocols. Professor Salamah has made significant contributions to the understanding of network security mechanisms, trust management systems, and optimization of wireless communication protocols. An analysis of his recent scholarly output reveals a strong focus on security challenges in IoT communication systems, controller placement optimization in software-defined wireless sensor networks, and trust-based malicious node detection schemes. His work demonstrates consistent attention to practical network performance issues while addressing emerging challenges in next-generation communication technologies. Throughout his academic career, Professor Salamah has demonstrated exceptional commitment to student mentorship, supervising numerous graduate students through their research journey. His administrative contributions include service as an associate editor, reviewer, and session chair for academic conferences. His laboratory work focuses on practical implementations of wireless communication protocols, with emphasis on energy efficiency, security mechanisms, and performance optimization for various network architectures including cellular networks, cognitive radio systems, and wireless sensor networks.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Yıltan Bitirim is a faculty member at the Computer Engineering Department of Eastern Mediterranean University in North Cyprus. With over two decades of academic experience, he has served in various roles including Vice Chair (2014-2022), Academic Affairs Coordinator (2025-), and committee member for ABET assessment, curriculum development, and faculty recruitment. Current academic rank: Associate Professor Active administrative roles: Senate Member (2023-), Information Technology Commission Member (2023-) Professional memberships: ACM, IEEE Senior Member, Cyprus Turkish Chamber of Computer Engineers Research Interests focus on four primary areas: Information Retrieval Systems – evaluating search engine effectiveness and reverse image search performance Machine Learning – applied to emotion classification, gender recognition, and medical diagnosis Data Mining – used in Turkish word-stemming analysis and user behavior studies Biometrics – specializing in hand/wrist/palm vein recognition systems and voice-based identification Publications demonstrate consistent contributions across disciplines, with recent works (2023-2025) emphasizing: Deep learning applications in biometric authentication Advanced emotion recognition systems Medical AI for diabetes management and retinopathy diagnosis Biometric spoof detection mechanisms Turkish language processing challenges Recommendation system innovations Awards & Recognition : Research Incentive Awards (2020, 2021) Best Paper Award at ICIW 2007 IEEE Senior Member status As an educator, he has supervised numerous thesis committees and taught foundational courses in computer engineering, including CMPE 112 and CMPE 342. His certifications (MCTS, MCITP) reflect technical expertise in Microsoft technologies.
George N. Papageorgiou is a Professor of Management & Information Systems at the Gregoriou School of Business Administration, European University Cyprus. He serves in leadership roles including Deputy Dean (2012–2017) and PhD Programme Coordinator (2015–2017). He holds a PhD in Systems Modelling and Simulation from City University, London (1997), along with an MBA (1994) and First Class Honours in Engineering (1992). His research focuses on digital marketing competencies, smart urban mobility systems, entrepreneurship education, and system dynamics modeling for healthcare and sustainability. Notable projects include the SPN (Smart Pedestrian Network) system, funded by Horizon 2020, and the DIMAS project addressing digital marketing frameworks. Awarded the IEEE Best Paper Award (2017) and Innovation Distinction (SPARKS 2019), his work spans over 50 publications in journals like IEEE and Emerald. He actively reviews for IEEE, Emerald, and the System Dynamics Society. His consulting roles include EU research proposal evaluation and editorial work for Emerald. Key achievements include developing frameworks for sustainable urban mobility and green entrepreneurship education. He has led EU-funded projects totaling millions in grants, emphasizing interdisciplinary approaches to innovation and education.
Professor Maria Economidou Kogetsidis is a Professor of English and Applied Linguistics at the University of Nicosia, serving as Coordinator of the MA TESOL Programme in the Department of Languages and Literature. She has been affiliated with the University of Nicosia since 2002. Her expertise spans interlanguage pragmatics, cross-cultural communication, and e-politeness in digital contexts. Education: PhD in Cross-cultural Pragmatics (University of Nottingham) MA in TESOL and Applied Linguistics (University of Leicester) BA in Humanities (University of Bedfordshire) Her research focuses on pragmatic performance of Greek/Greek Cypriot learners of English, e-requests, and methodological comparisons of request data. She has published extensively in journals like Journal of Pragmatics , Intercultural Pragmatics , and ELT Journal , and co-edited the 2012 volume Interlanguage Request Modification . She serves as a reviewer for multiple prestigious journals and is an Editorial Board member of Intercultural Communication Education . Her work emphasizes the intersection of theory and practice, bridging pragmatic research with classroom application. Her studies explore how learners navigate pragmatic challenges in academic and digital communication, particularly in cross-cultural contexts. Recent research highlights longitudinal studies of Japanese learners in UK study abroad contexts and the role of pedagogical intervention in enhancing pragmatic awareness. Despite no formal awards listed, her impactful contributions to the field are evident through her prolific publications and editorial roles. She actively engages in curriculum development, mentoring, and academic administration, contributing to the MA TESOL Programme’s structure and pedagogical innovation.
Professor Hubert Faustmann is a historian and political scientist at the University of Nicosia , holding the Department of Politics and Governance since 1999. He also serves as the director of the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung Cyprus office since 2011, leading seminars and expert reports on Cypriot history and politics. PhD in History (University of Mannheim, 1999) Master’s degrees in Ancient/Modern History, Political Science, and German Language (University of Mannheim, 1994-1995) His research spans British colonial Cyprus , post-independence Cypriot politics , Hydrocarbon politics in the Eastern Mediterranean , and state-society dynamics focusing on Clientelism. He co-edits The Cyprus Review and contributes to the Political Data Yearbook . His recent work examines Cyprus’ role in World War I, British colonial policies, and reunification efforts since 1974. Notable publications include Cyprus and the First World War (2025), Divide and Quit? (1999), and co-edited volumes on EU integration and the Annan Plan. He also authors the FES Cyprus Newsletter , analyzing political, social, and economic developments across Cyprus.
Despo Ktoridou serves as Professor and Head of the Department of Management at the University of Nicosia's School of Business in Cyprus. She has held academic positions since 1999, advancing from Assistant Professor of Educational Technologies to Associate Professor in 2007 and full Professor in 2019. A Certified Engineer by the Cyprus Scientific and Technical Chamber (ETEK), she maintains active memberships in IEEE and ACM while bridging engineering, management, and educational disciplines through her scholarly contributions. Her educational background includes: Bachelor of Science in Engineering (Computer Systems & Networks) from Saint Petersburg Electrotechnical University (awarded 1991) Master of Science in Engineering (Computer Systems & Networks) from Saint Petersburg Electrotechnical University (awarded 1993) Doctor of Philosophy in 'Expert Systems in Education' from Saint Petersburg Electrotechnical University (awarded 1999) Professor Ktoridou's research centers on ICT integration in educational practice, technology and innovation management pedagogies, and open and online distance learning. Her work examines how technological advancements can be effectively incorporated into teaching methodologies and management education, with publications spanning theoretical frameworks to practical applications in higher education settings. Analysis of her recent publications (2024-2025) reveals a pronounced focus on emerging technologies including artificial intelligence and the metaverse within educational contexts. These studies consistently investigate student perspectives, acceptance patterns, and specialized course development (e.g., intellectual property management for technology students), demonstrating interdisciplinary approaches that merge computer science, business management, and educational theory. Scientific Awards: No scientific awards, prizes, or fellowships documented in provided information Professor Ktoridou has supervised numerous graduate students throughout her academic career and participated in multiple EU-funded and locally sponsored research programs. Her academic service includes guest lecturing at foreign universities, conference session chairing, program committee membership, and editorial review activities. As Department Head since 2012, she demonstrates sustained commitment to academic administration and program development. While specific laboratory facilities are not detailed, her research trajectory indicates leadership in interdisciplinary teams focused on educational technology innovation. Current work explores cutting-edge topics including AI ethics in education and metaverse applications, positioning her contributions at the forefront of technology-enhanced learning research.
Athanasios Vionis is an Associate Professor in Byzantine Archaeology and Art at the University of Cyprus (UCY), where he has served since 2009. He previously held roles including Director of the Archaeology Research Unit (2020–2024) and was a postdoctoral researcher at the Catholic University of Leuven (2007–2008). His academic journey includes a PhD in Medieval and Post-Medieval Aegean Archaeology from Leiden University (2005) and a BA in Ancient History and Archaeology from Durham University (1997). Current Position: Associate Professor, Department of History and Archaeology, UCY Previous Roles: Lecturer (2009–2013), Assistant Professor (2013–2018) Research focuses on landscape archaeology, spatial analysis of built and sacred landscapes, and the application of digital technologies (e.g., GIS). He studies Byzantine, Medieval, and Ottoman ceramics, as well as daily life and nutrition through material remains. His work includes the monograph A Crusader, Ottoman and Early Modern Aegean Archaeology (2012) and co-edited volumes on topics like sacred landscapes and glaze technology. He leads the ArtLandS Lab (Artefact and Landscape Studies Laboratory), established at UCY in 2010, which conducts field research in Cyprus and Greece. Key projects include the Settled and Sacred Landscapes of Cyprus (2014–present), funded by the EU and Cyprus Research Foundation. He coordinates international initiatives like the Unlocking Sacred Landscapes network (2014–present) and has collaborated with institutions such as the Cyprus Institute and Trinity College Dublin. His awards include UNESCO prizes for cultural documentaries and Marie Curie fellowships. Teaching spans undergraduate and postgraduate programs, including “Land and Underwater Field Archaeology” and “Medieval Archaeology.”
Michael Sirivianos is an Associate Professor at the Cyprus University of Technology (CUT), where he serves as Dean of the School of Engineering and Technology. He holds a PhD in Computer Science from Duke University (2010) and leads research in cybersecurity, disinformation detection, and social media analysis. He coordinates multiple EU-funded projects including ReCRED (Horizon 2020) and ENCASE (Marie Curie RISE), securing over €3M in research funding. Research Focus His work spans: Cybersafety : Detection of cyberbullying, hate speech, and inappropriate content targeting children Trust Systems : Device-centric authentication and blockchain applications Disinformation Analysis : Graph-based detection of fake news and state-sponsored manipulation Scalable Systems : Distributed databases and network infrastructure Achievements & Recognition Best Paper Award (2019) for work on state-sponsored disinformation Distinguished Paper (2018) for fringe web community analysis Spotlight Session recognition (2020) for child protection research Featured in NYT, Washington Post, and Wired for YouTube content analysis Leadership Co-directs the Network Systems Research Lab, serves on the Board of CYENS Centre of Excellence, and coordinates the Fact-check Cyprus Centre against Disinformation.
