Dr Angeliki F. (Kelly) Martinou, MSc, PhD, DIC, FRES Principle Investigator / Group Leader I am an Ecologist with a Master's degree in Applied Entomology and a PhD in Ecology from Imperial College, University of London. I have worked extensively on insect interactions and biological control as a student, consultant, post doc, teaching assistant, part time lecturer in UK, Greece, Cyprus and overseas. I am now the head of the Laboratory in Vector Ecology and Applied Entomology, Joint Services Health Unit, British Forces Cyprus. I find insect interactions fascinating, mosquitoes and aphids are by far my favourite organisms. I am a strong advocate of biological control methods and area wide pest and vector management. I love working on aquatic systems and vector ecology in collaboration with colleagues and friends from all over Europe. I have worked extensively the last 8 years on biological invasions and lately on citizen-science. I am currently also a research affiliate and strong supporter of the work of The Cyprus Institute and Enalia Physis.
Dr Andri Varnava DPLUS201 Postdoctoral Researcher and Darwin Plus Fellowship My interest in Agriculture led me to study at the Faculty of Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Environment in the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki in the Department of Crop Production (Plant Protection) for my BSc. I received my Master’s degree in Plant Biotechnology from the Cyprus University of Technology (CUT). For my MSc thesis, I documented the biodiversity, flowering plant preferences and seasonal activity of wild bees of Cyprus based on the surveys of the well-known Cypriot entomologist George A. Mavromoustakis (https://wildbeesofcyprus.com/). I received my PhD at CUT, and my research was on the ‘Biodiversity of wild bees in Cyprus: Species richness, land use effects and contribution to ecosystem services’. My research interests include wild bee conservation and the interaction between social and native bees. I am also interested in the quantification of the value of pollination services provided by wild bees on the island.
Doing flower insect counts on a winter day in Akrotiri marsh!
Ioanna Angelidou, MSc, PhD candidate DPLUS101DPLUS172 Darwin Research Fellow I have a degree in Agronomy from the Cyprus University of Technology (CUT) and a MSc from the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA) in Ecology and Biodiversity. I undertook my MSc thesis at the Lab of Vector Ecology and Applied Entomology completed in October 2019. In 2020-2022, as Darwin fellow, I studied the ecosystem services provided by the Akrotiri wetland and in parallel I worked on the Pollinator Monitoring Scheme of Kýpros (Poms-Ký) or ΕΠΙΚΟΝΟΙΑΖΟΜΑΣΤΕ (https://ris-ky.info/poms-ky); a citizen-science program that looks at the impact of native and non-native plants on beneficial insects. Currently, I am a PhD student at the Ionian University in Zakynthos, and a Darwin fellow (period: 2022-2024), and I study the trophic and parasite-host interactions of Eleonora's falcon (Falco eleonorae) at the Akrotiri peninsula in Cyprus.
Jakovos Demetriou, MSc, PhD candidate DPLUS124DPLUS200 Darwin Research Fellow I studied Biology at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA), where I continued my postgraduate studies in Ecology and Biodiversity Conservation. My MSc Thesis, at the Laboratory of Vector Ecology and Applied Entomology, concerned the alien insect-fauna of Cyprus as well as the identification of alien insects in Akrotiri Peninsula. Currently, I study the biogeography and biological invasions of ants for my PhD studies under the NKUA. My research interests revolve around Entomology with special interest in biological invasions and the biodiversity, ecology and biogeography of Hymenoptera. I aspire to tackle the biological threat of alien invasive species and decipher the Hymenoptera fauna of my home country Cyprus.
Nicole Mavrovounioti, MSc DPLUS171 Darwin Plus Fellow I am a dedicated Environmental & Conservation Scientist, with a keen interest in environmental management and biodiversity conservation. I hold an MSc degree in Biodiversity and Conservation from Leeds University in UK and a BSc in Environmental Management from Northumbria University in UK. In May 2022 I started my Darwin Fellowship which contributes to the conservation of rare and endangered flora of the Red Flora Book of Cyprus within the SBA of Akrotiri. Also, during my research, the pollinators of each of these plants will be recorded and identified, whereas the importance of their conservation will be raised through a wider conservation measures and dissemination activities and events. I am passionate about wildlife and enjoy bird watching.
Evangelos Koutsoukos, MSc, PhD candidate DPLUS202 Darwin Fellow I studied Agricultural Economics & Rural Development at the Agricultural University of Athens (AUA), and I completed my postgraduate studies regarding Ecology and Biodiversity Conservation at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA). My MSc Thesis was focused on the ecology, systematics and relationship between species of the paraphyletic group of Chalcid wasps associated with Ficus microcarpa throughout Greece (fig wasps). Currently, I study the Chalcid wasps of Greece and Cyprus with the aspect of learning and discovering more about their systematics, ecology, and trophic relationships with their host arthropods and plants. My research interests also include the study of the alien insect fauna of Greece.
Chara Apostolidou, MSc Darwin Plus Local, Early Career Researcher I studied Agronomy at the Cyprus University of Technology (CUT) and I have postgraduate degree (MBA) in Business Administration. I love and protect the environment since I was a child, but at the university, I had the chance to study entomology and since then I became addicted to insects. I want to protect the environment and help towards biodiversity conservation. Through the Darwin Plus programme, I hope to achieve this goal. During my free time I cultivate my family’s organic olive grove.
Katerina Athanasiou, BSc, MSc student DPLUS198 Darwin Research Fellow I am a MSc student at Department of Parasitology, Entomology and Tropical Diseases, National School of Public Health in Athens, Greece and I graduated from the Department of Agricultural Sciences, Biotechnology and Food Science / Direction Food Science and Technology at the Cyprus University of Technology. In parallel, I work at the Vector Ecology and Applied Entomology Lab. I study Food Science but I would like to know more about vectors and vector borne diseases and my postgraduate studies focus in this field. My final year project compared different mosquito traps and their efficacy in different habitats of the Akrotiri Peninsula
Andreas Josephides, BSc DPLUS197 Darwin Research Fellow I hold a BSc in Computer Science from the University of Leeds in UK. After my studies, I worked in a successful Game Company in the QA Department and got more passionate about Game Development and 3D Animations. I am excited to learn more about the ecosystem and ways to create educational content in the modem world. Currently I work on my Darwin Plus Project that aims to enhance children’s knowledge and raise awareness about important topics such as mosquitoes, invasive alien species and pollinators through an interactive online tool (game) which will engage students inside the class but also from home.
Eloise Springate, BSc (Hons) Marine Biology DPL00056 I have always wanted to work in animal conservation and in 2021 I graduated from the University of Portsmouth, United Kingdom, with a degree in Marine Biology. My third year dissertation focused on the links between Sustainable Development Goals and public perception.This sparked my interest in how to encourage conservation efforts from the public and how to make science more accessible to people. Although my training is in Marine Biology, since moving to Cyprus I have become very interested in the local hedgehog population and the threats they face and I would like to share this with as many people as possible. I am currently working on a hedgehog conservation initiative.
Emma Whatley Volunteer Research Technician
I am a passionate undergraduate student at Swansea University in Wales, studying biology with a year in research. I am especially interested in the impacts of climate change and pesticides on bee and mosquito populations, which I will further study in my year in research (2024-2025). In thefuture, I hope to pursue a career in insect conservation where I can educate others on the importance of insect pollinators.
Marios Georgiou Field Technician I am responsible for the mosquito citizen science programme that we run together with the local communities around the Akrotiri Salt lake and for the surveillance scheme of non-native mosquitoes. I work mostly on mosquito surveillance, identifying and recording mosquito breeding sites and collecting mosquito specimens as well as monitor adult mosquito populations. I also monitor non-native and native fish mosquito known mosquito biocontrol agents such as the non-native Gambusia holbrooki and the native Mediterranean killifish or Zambarola Aphanius fasciatus. I work mostly on mosquito surveillance, identifying and recording mosquito breeding sites and collecting mosquito specimens as well as monitor adult mosquito populations. I also monitor non-native and native fish mosquito known mosquito biocontrol agents such as the non-native Gambusia holbrooki and the native Mediterranean killifish or Zambarola Aphanius fasciatus
Previous Lab Members
Dr Elli Tzirkalli, PhD
Tegan Ashford, Student
Alkyoni Sfendouraki Basakarou, MSc
Dr. Maria Christou MSc, PhD
Marios Philippou, BSc
Kardelen Yetismis
Visiting Scientist University of Ege, Turkey