Place of residence: Thebes, Greece

Position: Formulation R&D Scientist, Medicair Bioscience Laboratories

Please describe a day in your life

There are rarely any typical days in my life, but on most mornings, after having my breakfast and catching up on updates from news outlets and LinkedIn, I dive straight into my work. One of the most exciting aspects of being an R&D Scientist is that every day brings new challenges that we need to tackle effectively, breaking the monotony and routine of daily life.

Lately, my afternoons have been filled with coffee meet-ups with friends and family, activities like working out and playing football, and hobbies such as renovation work with my father. Amidst all this, I try to set aside some time for reading, as well as planning future projects.

How many projects are you currently working on? Please describe them:

Currently, in the R&D department of Medicair Bioscience Laboratories, I am involved in various projects developing innovative products across various pharmaceutical forms for international and global markets. These include metered-dose inhalers, mono-dose oral solutions, and suspensions, tablets, and ointments. The innovation and uniqueness of these products do not allow me to delve into specifics, but I can share that they aim to address challenges that affect patients’ daily lives in Greece and globally.

It is also worth mentioning past projects. One of them involved transforming spent coffee grounds and other by-products that would otherwise end up in landfills into a sustainable material. This material could be used both for home heating and outdoor activities like camping trips, providing warmth and the ambience of a campfire in an environmentally beneficial way. This initiative was supported by INCO Entrepreneurs-Social Tides and Google through the Aspire-Greece program, which empowers Europe’s Social Entrepreneurs.

Finally, I must highlight the significant projects I worked on during my undergraduate and master studies at the Smart Materials and Nanodielectrics Laboratory of the Department of Materials Science at the University of Patras. Among other initiatives, we focused on the development and investigation of the functional capabilities of polymer matrix nanocomposite materials. The goal was to create innovative, environmentally friendly dielectric materials capable of storing and recovering energy, which have a lot of potential as an effective replacement for conventional dielectric materials. The results were outstanding and were presented at national scientific conferences, while scientific papers are to be submitted shortly for publication in international peer-reviewed journals.

In your opinion, who is the most influential person or company in technology today, and if you could choose one app, product, or project to have been involved in, which would it be and why?

In the modern era, where artificial intelligence has rapidly integrated into various scientific fields, numerous companies are driving innovation and fostering interdisciplinarity. One of these companies is Insilico Medicine. Their groundbreaking work in artificial intelligence for drug discovery and ageing research is transforming the way we approach healthcare and innovation.

If I had the opportunity to choose a project to be part of, it would undoubtedly be the 3D printing of a human heart using human tissue. This innovative project marks a significant milestone in regenerative medicine, providing hope to countless individuals by tackling the worldwide shortage of organ transplants. The possibility of manufacturing functional, patient-specific organs through 3D bioprinting highlights the potential that emerges from combining cutting-edge technology with materials science and medicine. Contributing to such a transformative project would be both inspiring and an opportunity to help pave the way for a future where life-saving treatments are more widely available and personalized.

How do you see technology evolving in the next ten years?

Science is advancing rapidly, with continuous discoveries and their applications becoming part of daily life. Anything that happens between now and 2035 could propel its development in unexpected directions. The advent of artificial intelligence significantly aids scientists in their efforts to make breakthroughs that not only improve quality of life but are also environmentally beneficial.

We are likely to see AI become increasingly capable of tailoring experiences to individual needs and behaviours, serving as a valuable and user-friendly tool in our everyday lives.

In the healthcare sector, I believe we are moving toward personalized treatments, to the needs of each patient. Additive manufacturing technology has the potential to contribute significantly to the development of pharmaceutical forms and the production of human tissues for the treatment or regeneration of injuries or even the creation of entire organs.

Finally, the combination of additive manufacturing and artificial intelligence could revolutionize disease prediction and patient care. Doctors could diagnose illnesses before symptoms even appear and treat them remotely through telemedicine, allowing patients to receive care from the comfort of their own homes.

What is the most challenging thing you had to deal with during your career?

Although my career in the field of Research and Development is still relatively young, one of the most challenging aspects was finding a role that I felt was the right fit for me.

The field of materials science, despite its advantages, is not as widely recognized in the Greek industry compared to more traditional sectors in the natural sciences and engineering. This lack of recognition can make it more difficult to find clear career paths and opportunities in this area. However, I believe the increasing role of materials science in driving innovation, particularly in industries like healthcare, electronics, and sustainable technologies, will eventually lead to greater visibility and importance for this field.

What is your next goal?

At the moment, I would like to specialize further in the field of Research and Development of pharmaceutical products. My next goal is to expand my knowledge of the techniques of manufacturing pharmaceutical products using modern tools like 3D printing and in the development of products utilizing artificial intelligence.

If you could speak to your younger self, what advice would you give, and how does it relate to the dreams you had as a child about creating, inventing, or doing something special?

Keep striving, believe in your dreams, and don’t let circumstances or the people around you distract you from them. Stay focused on your goals, and remember that every challenge is an opportunity to grow.

As a child, I was always curious about creating and reconstructing various things, aiming to restore their functionality to what it was before. I constantly dreamed of creating and inventing new things. These ambitions still guide me today.

Which famous person would you like to have dinner with and why?

Without a second thought, Elon Musk. He has achieved tremendous milestones in the field of technology and is one of the entrepreneurs who actively supports materials science. I would like to receive advice from an entrepreneur and inventor of his calibre.

Where would you like to travel next?

Brazil is a trip I have always dreamed of taking since I was a child.

What tips do you have for people wanting to start in the tech world?

First and foremost, they should dream without limits or restrictions about what they want to do and who they want to become. Then, with faith, courage, and dedication, they should strive to achieve everything they’ve dreamed of. After all, that’s exactly what I do every day!