People

Mr. Constantinos Hadjistassou is associate professor, at the Department of Engineering, at the University of Nicosia. Constantinos formed the Marine & Carbon Lab in 2016 which conducts research on the marine environment and energy resources, that is, both renewable and conventional.

During the past years, Constantinos has developed and taught various undergraduate and graduate classes including offshore energy engineering, natural gas production and monetization, pipeline engineering and HSE. As one of the recognized experts on energy developments in the East Med, his insights regularly feature in the international and local media including the Wall Street Journal, the Economist, Al-Jazeera and Bloomberg.         

Constantinos serves as reviewer in several respected peer reviewed journals. He holds a Master’s from MIT, USA, and a DPhil in Engineering Science from the University of Oxford, UK. His research interests comprise:

  • Plastics at sea (marine debris)
  • Artificial intelligence
  • Natural gas treatment and production
  • Additive manufacturing (3D printing)
  • Renewable energy sources
  • Decarbonization and climate change

To contact Constantinos please click here.


Ms. Jumana Sharanik is a doctoral student at the University of Nicosia’s Oil, Gas and Energy Engineering program with a focus on additive manufacturing (3D printing), imaging and flow through porous media. Primarily, her research examines the factors which shape porous media which applications ranging from water filtering to natural gas and battery electrolyte storage. As an analytical chemist, Jumana has a diverse skill set. She was awarded a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree from the Lebanese University- Faculty of Applied Sciences. During her MSc studies in analytical and environmental sciences, Jumana specialised in analytical chemistry attaining a GPA of 82/100. She worked on the esterification of fatty acids present in vegetable oils. In parallel, Jumana taught chemistry, biology, math, and physics at several educational centers in Beirut. Jumana can be reached at: sharanik.j ‘at’ live.unic.ac.cy


Ms. Nesrin Yuceulas is a doctoral student at the University of Nicosia where she is studying for the Oil, Gas and Energy Engineering. Nesrin’s research focuses on the methane emissions and climate change. More specifically, her research is concerned with the generation of methane and examines various ways for containing them as part of meeting the EU goals of Cyprus. Nesrin completed a four-year chemistry integrated master’s degree from the University of Manchester and participated in a group project about Photoswitching of photochromic molecules: towards novel materials for 3D data storage. Her master’s project dealt with improving the sustainability of the Undergraduate Teaching Laboratories of the University of Manchester. Nesrin worked as a chemist assuming duties related to the manufacturing and exporting of home and industrial grade cleaners and domestics. In her free time, Nesrin plays volleyball and is keep to help reunite Cyprus. She can be reached at yuceulas.n ‘at’live.unic.ac.cy


Ms. Michelle Duri is a doctoral student of the University of Nicosia’s Oil, Gas and Energy Engineering programme with a focus on the pollutant emissions of the transport, industry and residential sectors, and their influence on public health. In parallel, Michelle is interested in the sources of methane emissions in Cyprus and their impact on climate change. Michelle has worked in various projects including the digitization of the map of Cyprus using GIS software for the Department of Town Planning at NetU Group, and later conducting research in Horizon 2020 projects before joining the Marine and Carbon Lab. She has diverse technical skills as a Mechanical Engineer; a Bachelor’s degree awarded by Frederick University with a GPA of 9.41/10. In her graduate studies, MSc Sustainable Energy, she specialised in renewable energy and sustainability in the built environment attaining a GPA of 9.35. Michelle enjoys socializing and had the pleasure of serving in Frederick University’s Peer tutoring program, tutoring maths, physics and statics to undergraduate students. Michelle can be reached at: duri.m ‘at’ live.unic.ac.cy  


Mr. Christos Christoforou is currently reading for the PhD in Oil, Gas and Energy Engineering, at the University of Nicosia. His doctoral research investigates the generation and migration of biogenic gas in the Eastern Mediterranean basins. As part of his research, Christos will analyse and interpret 2D and 3D seismic lines and create models using various parameters which depict the migration pathways of the generated biogenic gas and potential trapping.
Christos holds a bachelor’s degree in Geology and the Geo-Environment from the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA) and a master’s degree in applied geophysics from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki with a GPA of 9.42/10. His thesis dealt for mapping underlying chromites in mountain Vourinos in Greece using the methods of magnetometry, electric tomography and electromagnetometry.
Christos also worked for Searcher Seismic, a multiclient offshore company that deals with exploration of hydrocarbons worldwide. Christos generally likes sports but mostly is fond of travelling, discovering new places and seeking new adventures. Mr Christoforou can be reached at chr3christoforou ‘at’ gmail.com.


Mr. Marios Giorgoudis is currently studying for the PhD in Oil, Gas and Energy Engineering, at the University of Nicosia. His doctoral research focuses on the marine carbon cycle. In particular, Marios examines how the ocean regulates the carbon levels in the Eastern Med and seeks ways for mitigating carbon dioxide emissions. Marios holds a Civil Engineering diploma from the National Technical University of Athens (NTUA) with a grade of 7/10 and an MBA from the Cyprus International Institute of Management (CIIM). During his professional career, Marios was employed at Civil Engineering companies in Cyprus with experience in structural, road, offshore and marine works. Currently, he works as a Projects Officer at the Deputy Ministry of Research, Innovation & Digital Policy of the Republic of Cyprus. In his free time, Marios enjoys various sports activities such as basketball, football, kanoe/kayak, water-skiing and travelling.


Dr. Natalia Kovalchuk is a Research Associate at the  Marine & Carbon Lab. Natalia holds a PhD in Oil, Gas & Energy Engineering from the University of Nicosia. Her doctoral research examined the characteristics of natural gas production at the micro- and nano-scales. In parallel with her studies, as a lecturer, she taught a senior undergraduate class on field development with particular emphasis on petroleum reservoir modelling through the use of specialized software. Natalia holds a Master’s Degree in Reservoir Evaluation and Management (Herriot Watt University, UK) and Master’s Degree in Geological and Geophysical oil and gas fields development problems (Tomsk Polytechnic University, Russia) through a double degree program.
Before moving to Cyprus she was employed as a Geoscientist at Baker Hughes Company in Russia and Kazakhstan. During her professional assignments in different regions of Russia and Kazakhstan her responsibilities comprised petrophysical interpretation and micro-imaging of rock formations, processing of wireline and logging while drilling (LWD) data.


Ms. Kyriaki Kylili is currently reading for the PhD in Electrical Engineering, at the University of Nicosia. Her doctoral research is concerned with using image processing and sensors to detect, recognise and map plastic debris at sea. The research project “Measuring, mapping and mitigating the effects of plastic debris in the Mediterranean (PLASTICMED)” is funded by the Universitas Foundation. Kyriaki holds a Master’s Degree in Physics, from the University of Cyprus, during which she completed a graduate thesis related to the optical properties of organic-hybrid materials which can be used in new hybrid devices, such as white LEDs. Kyriaki also holds a Bachelor Degree in Physics (University of Cyprus – GPA: 7.24/10). In her free time she enjoys diving and swimming.


Mr. Offer Medlinsky is currently reading for the PhD in Oil, Gas & Energy Engineering at the University of Nicosia. He holds a BSc and an MSc in Materials Engineering from the Ben-Gurion University, Israel and an MBA from Herriot-Watt University-Israel campus Ramat Gan. During 2010-2012 he was an Adjunct Lecturer in Civil Engineering, SCE – Sami Shamoon College of Engineering, Israel. Ever since 2017, Mr. Medlinsky is employed as an Adjunct Lecturer at the Mechanical Engineering Department at SCE – Sami Shamoon College of Engineering. Ofer research interests focus on materials science and metallic corrosion. More speciafically, Ofer’s doctoral research investigates the failure mechanisms of marine bolts used in offshore engineering installations. In his spare time, Ofer enjoys camping with his family and friends and plays table tennis. Ofer can be reached at Ofer


Alumni


Dr. Evangelos Demetriou earned a PhD in Oil, Gas and Energy Engineering, at the University of Nicosia. His doctoral research focused on climate change and the role of fossil fuels with particular attention on natural gas and renewable energy sources. As part of this investigation, Evangelos has analysed different scenarios associated with the partial decarbonisation of the future energy mix, the impact of heat trapping emissions on global earth temperature, the role of renewables, electric power storage and carbon removal technologies and air-quality in the transportation sector.
Evangelos holds a Civil Engineering degree from the National and Technical University of Athens (NTUA) with a degree of 7.8/10. His thesis dealt with the development and application of an analytical model, capable of calculating the emissions of nitrous oxide at an industrial wastewater treatment facility. Evangelos enjoys travelling and going out with friends. To contact Evangelos please click here: demetriou.e11 ‘at’ live.unic.ac.cy


Ms. Cathy Teng joined the Marine & Carbon Lab as an intern during summer 2021 and researched marine debris recognition and classification using artificial intelligence. She is currently studying computer science at Princeton University and is from sunny California. At Princeton, Cathy is a member of the varsity swim team and is the webmaster for many clubs. Cathy is interested in software engineering and the intersection of technology and environmental issues, and she loves vintage movies and animation.


Ms. Orli Epstein as an internee at the Marine & Carbon Lab, during summer 2021, looked into how carbon emissions and climate change affect the particularly vulnerable Eastern Med sea. Currently, Orli is an undergraduate student at Princeton University studying Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering. She lives in New York with her three younger sisters. Academically, Orli is interested in the aerospace industry, environmental studies, and cognitive science. Within university, Orli participates in Princeton Racing Electric, Chabad, and Tigers for Israel. In her free time, she reads fantasy novels, does puzzles, scuba dives, and spends time with friends.


Ms. Jumbo Tonye Dagogo holds a bachelor’s degree in Oil and Gas Engineering from All Nations University, Ghana, with a GPA of 3.63/4. Tonye as a graduate student at the University of Nicosia completed the Master’s in Oil, Gas and Energy Engineering. Her graduate thesis focuses on the generation and migration of biogenic gas in the Eastern Med.

More specifically, the investigation clarified the deposition of organic matter at the source rock, diagenesis and finally gas transport into the carbonate reservoir bed. The complex interplay between biogenic gas formation, gas movement and entrapment below an evaporite layer promises to lower the risk of discovering more gas accumulations offshore Cyprus. Ms Tonye can be reached at: e-mail.


 

Ms. Despo Kyriakoudi completed the MSc in Marine geosciences, at the University of Bremen. Her master thesis focused on paleo sea-level and coastal processes of southern-eastern Sicily (Italy).
Ms. Kyriakoudi holds a Bachelor Degree in Marine sciences (University of Aegean – GPA: 7.9/10). Her thesis dealt with the analysis of morphological features of the seafloor through high frequency side scan sonars data assessment.
Ms. Kyriakoudi as an intern, at the Carbon & Energy Lab, focused on developing methods for detecting microplastics in the water using a long range and high accuracy sensor. Her field of interest deals with shallow & deep sea geophysical mapping techniques, coastal and shelf sea processes and marine environment protection from the accumulation of plastic and other debris at sea. In her spare time, she enjoys travelling and scuba diving.


EmilienMr. Emilien Bourdon is 22 years old. He comes from France, from the Burgundy region. In 2012, he received his baccalaureate of Natural Sciences and in 2014 he took the entrance exams into national (French) Engineering Schools. Currently, he studies in the south of France at the National Polytechnic Institute of Industrial and Chemical Engineering of Toulouse.  As an intern, at the Carbon & Energy Lab, Emilien focuses on natural gas sweetening which deals with the various aspects for improving and optimising acid gas removal. He plays lots of sports (American football, judo, running and bodybuilding). Emilien enjoys meeting people, going out, visiting different countries, sharing his culture with people and engaging in various hobbies.