Theodora Krasia-christoforou

Biography

EDUCATION Dr. Rer. Nat. in Physical Chemistry, Max-Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, University of Potsdam, GERMANY (June 2003) M.Sc. in Chemical Research and Diploma of the Imperial College (DIC), Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine, London, ENGLAND (September 2000) B.Sc. in Chemistry, University of Cyprus, CYPRUS (June 1999) ACADEMIC POSITIONS Associate Professor, Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, University of Cyprus (July 2015 – present) Assistant Professor, Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, University of Cyprus (January 2010 – June 2015) Lecturer, Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, University of Cyprus (September 2005 – January 2010) Post-doctoral research associate, Department of Chemistry, University of Cyprus. Project Title: “Synthesis, characterization and applications of amphiphilic hydrogels prepared using the controlled polymerization method RAFT” (January 2005 – August 2005) Visiting Lecturer, Department of Chemistry, University of Cyprus (September 2003 – January 2005) ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICE Vice-chairperson, Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering (October 2015 - present) Coordinator of the Departmental Health and Safety Committee (October 2015 - present) Coordinator of the Departmental Promotion Committee (October 2015 - present) Member of the Academic Council of the Nanotechnology Research Center of the University of Cyprus (June 2014 – present) Responsible for the MME Department website (November 2012 – present) Member of the Committee for the Ernst-Young Prize (2010 – present) Member of the “Health and Safety” Board of the School of Engineering (December 2011 –present) Coordinator of the MME postgraduate studies program (2006 – 2011) Coordinator of the MME postgraduate seminar series (spring semester 2006) TEACHING Experimental and statistical analysis, mechanical properties of polymers, polymer processing, chemistry for engineers, characterization methods of polymers and colloids, polymers in biomedical applications, materials science and engineering, polymer-based nanocomposites. REVIEWER IN SCIENTIFIC JOURNALS Chemical Science, ACS Macro Letters, Macromolecules, Chemical Communications, Biomacromolecules, Acta Biomaterialia, Polymer Chemistry, ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces, Journal of Polymer Science Part A: Polymer Chemistry, RSC Advances, The Journal of Physical Chemistry, Polymer, European Polymer Journal, Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research, Tetrahedron Letters, Colloids and Surfaces A: Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects, Journal of Materials Science, Macromolecular Materials and Engineering, Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, Drug Delivery, New Journal of Chemistry, Mini-Reviews in Medicinal Chemistry, e-Polymers , Journal of Inorganic Materials Polymers, Journal of Drug Delivery, Science and Technology, Physical Sciences Research International. SOCIETY MEMBERSHIPS American Chemical Society – U.S.A. – Member Royal Society of Chemistry, – U.K. – Member Pancyprian Union of Chemists – Cyprus – Member (member of the Newsletter publication team) DISTINCTIONS – AWARDS Max-Planck Society: “Promotion Stipendium”. Ph.D. full-Scholarship Award (2001-2003). Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine, University of London: Distinction (M.Sc. in Chemical Research – 1st Class Honours), Diploma of Imperial College in Chemical Research (DIC) (2000). Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst (DAAD) (German Academic Exchange Service): One-year Scholarship Award for further academic studies and training in Germany. (2000-2001). University of Cyprus, School of Pure and Applied Sciences: First Prize Award for the Best Academic Performance during the years 1995 – 1999 (1999).

Research Interest

Synthesis and characterization of functional organic polymers of various chemical structures and architectures (block and random copolymers, polymer networks), using Reversible Addition-Fragmentation chain Transfer (RAFT) controlled radical polymerization and conventional free radical polymerization Micellar nanomorphologies generated by well-defined amphiphilic block copolymers in solution. Preparation of polymer-based nanohybrids (organic-inorganic hybrid micelles stabilized in either organic or aqueous solvents) and nanocomposites (in the form of electrospun fibers, thin films and 3D-networks) via the combination of functional polymeric materials with inorganic nanoparticulates including metal and metal oxide nanoparticles. Applications of polymer-based materials in biomedicine, catalysis, water remediation processes, optics, sensing etc.