Theofania Xanthouli is a BSc student at the Physics Department at the University of Crete. She joined the IESL-FORTH for her thesis, concentrating on laser assisted removal of organic materials used as lining adhesive on the back of paintings, such as wax-resin. She is also interested in the monitoring of cleaning results through optical microscopy, interferometry, SEM and FTIR.
Education
- Present, B.Sc., Department of Physics, University of Crete, Greece
Interests
- Laser-assisted removal of organic materials used in paintings
- Assessment of laser cleaning through optical techniques
Ilaria Pecorelli is a Ph.D. student in Heritage Science at the University of Rome Tor Vergata. She studied paintings, contemporary art and wooden artifacts conservation at the Academy of Fine Art of Macerata, under the department of I.R.M. - Restoration and Conservation Institute of the Marches. During and after her master degree she had numerous internships where she acquired experience as conservator, such as at the Kunsthistorisches Museum Wien KHM – Wien. She is collaborating with IESL -FORTH for her Ph.D. dissertation concentrating on the laser cleaning applications for paintings. Currently, she is concentrating in two topics which are removal of wax-resin adhesive from the back of paintings and the cleaning oxalate and albumen from a paint layer surface. She is also interested in the monitoring of the cleaning results through optical microscopy, SEM, FTIR and Raman spectroscopy.
Education
- Present, PhD student in Heritage Science, Dipartimento di Storia, Patrimonio culturale, Formazione e Società, Univ. of Rome Tor Vergata, Italy (https://phd.uniroma2.it/web/_nD1067_EN.aspx)
- 2022, MA, Cultural Heritage Conservator DASLQ01 -PFP2, Academy of Fine Arts of Macerata, Italy
Interests
- Painting and Contemporary Art conservation
- General cleaning of paintings and through laser systems as well
- Control of cleaning procedures through optical and spectroscopic techniques
- Wooden artifacts
Awards/Prizes/Distinctions
- Finalist at “Premio Nazionale delle Arti- XVI edizione”, Lecce, 14 October - 14 November 2022.
- Graduated with 110/110 and honours from Academy of Fine Arts of Macerata, Italy, 2022
Kyriakos Liperos received his Bachelor’s degree in Physics in 2024 and is now a MSc student in Photonics and Nanoelectronics at the Department of Physics of the University of Crete.
Interests: Surface Acoustic Waves for gas sensors, Thermochromic Nanomaterials
Babis Astrinakis is a dedicated physics graduate with expertise in 3D modeling, prototyping, and advanced design solutions. Currently serving as a Research Assistant at the Foundation for Research and Technology – Hellas (FORTH), Babis develops complex 3D models and multi-layered prototypes for tissue-mimicking phantoms using 3D printing technologies. His work emphasizes precision and functionality in biomedical research.
Charalampos received his Bachelor’s degree in Physics from the University of Crete, where he completed a thesis on the "Optoacoustic interferometric characterization system (OPTICS) for the evaluation of fuel quality through speed of sound measurements." His academic training includes courses in advanced physics laboratories, electromagnetism, and entrepreneurship in research, showcasing his interdisciplinary approach to problem-solving.
In his role at FORTH, Babis gained proficiency in operating innovative photoacoustic spectrometers and analyzing fuel measurements to ensure experimental accuracy. Additionally, he has experience in imaging multicellular specimens using advanced bioimaging techniques such as tiling light-sheet selective plane illumination microscopy.
Charalampos also brings a creative dimension to his work as a designer. Through his design crafts, he combines materials like wood with other innovative components to produce functional, handcrafted furniture, blending artistry with utility.
With a solid foundation in programming (Python, C, Matlab) and a disciplined, adaptable work ethic, Charalampos remains passionate about advancing sustainable and innovative design solutions across multidisciplinary fields.
Education
- 2024, BSc Physics, University of Crete
Interests
- Biophotonics and Biomedical Imaging
- 3D Modeling and Prototyping
- Programming and Data Analysis
Giannis Stergou is a dedicated physicist and aspiring researcher with a strong academic foundation and growing experience in computational physics. He earned his B.Sc. in Physics from the University of Crete in 2024 with a grade of 7.70/10, building a solid background in quantum mechanics and mathematics. His thesis, titled "Dynamics of qubit chains coupled to non-Markovian reservoirs," led to a peer-reviewed publication in Physica Scripta (2023) and reflects his early engagement with quantum systems and computational modeling. Currently, Giannis is a Simulation Team Member at the Laboratory for Biophotonics and Molecular Imaging (LBMI) at FORTH, contributing to the SWOPT project. His work involves adapting WaveSim—a light-propagation solver—for acoustic wave simulations, requiring deep understanding of wave physics, algorithmic modifications, and proficiency in MATLAB and Python. Through this role, he has gained hands-on experience with wave propagation simulations and collaborative software development. Giannis is skilled in Python, MATLAB, and has strong knowledge of differential equations, linear algebra, and quantum mechanics. Motivated by solving physics problems through computation, he is steadily expanding his expertise toward computational research in optics, acoustics, and quantum systems.
Education
- 2024, BSc Physics, University of Crete
Interests
- Programming
Dimitris Papapetrou is a Bachelor's student in the Department of Physics at the University of Crete. He joined the Transparent Conductive Materials and Devices group of IESL-FORTH in 2024. He is currently working on his thesis, which focuses on photocatalytic hydrogen (H₂) production and aims to optimize materials for efficient energy production.
Dimitris Paretzoglou is a Bachelor's student at the Department of Physics at the University of Crete, Greece. He joined the Transparent Conductive Materials and Devices group of IESL, FORTH, where he is conducting his bachelor's thesis.
His current work is on conductometric gas sensors based on nanostructured metal oxide thin layers.
Research interests:
- Semiconductors,
- Applied Physics
- Devices
