Education / Training

 

Institution And Location

Degree

Year(s)

Field Of Study

University of Crete, Heraklion, Greece

BS

1991 - 1996

Biology

University of Crete, Heraklion, Greece

MS

1996 - 1998

Biology

University of Crete, Heraklion, Greece

PhD

1998 – 2004*

Neuroscience

Boston University, Boston, MA, USA

Post-Doctoral

2004 - 2008

Neuroscience

                                                      * Leave for mandatory national service in armed forces (2001 – 2003)

 

 

 

 

Academic Appointments

 

 

2008 –                Research Assistant Professor, Department of Health Sciences, College of Health & Rehabilitation Sciences: Sargent College, Boston University, MA, USA.

2004 – 2008       Post-doctoral Research Associate, College of Health & Rehabilitation Sciences: Sargent College, Boston University, MA, USA.

2003 – 2004       Instructor, Department of Biology, University of Crete, Greece.

1996 – 2004       Research Fellow, Department of Biology, University of Crete, Greece.

1996 – 1998       Research Fellow, Institute of Marine Biology of Crete, Greece.

 

 

 

Research Support (Grants and Fellowships)

 

 

Ongoing Research Support

 

  • R01 (MH101209).                         Period: 2014 –  2019             

“Organization of Excitatory and Inhibitory Circuits in ASD”

Principal Investigator: Basilis (Vasileios) Zikopoulos

Agency: National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)

The goal is to investigate the structural and molecular organization and features of neurons in the grey matter and their axons in the white matter that underlie excitatory and inhibitory control within functionally relevant prefrontal networks in children with autism.

 

  • R01 (NS247609  18-23). Period: 2004 –  2015

“Prefrontal anatomic pathways in executive control”

Principal Investigator: Helen Barbas

Agency: National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)

The goal is to identify pathways through which prefrontal cortices exercise excitatory and inhibitory control within functionally related prefrontal cortices, and in their projection to temporal cortices at the level of systems and at the ultrastructural level.

 

  • R01 (MH/NS57414  5-10). Period: 2004 – 2015

“Organization of prefrontal feedback circuits”

Principal Investigator: Helen Barbas

Agency: National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)

The goal is to study the structural organization of a massive feedback system originating from prefrontal cortices and distributed to excitatory and inhibitory systems in the amygdala and the thalamus at the level of systems and at the ultrastructural level.

 

  • NSF, CELEST (Center of Excellence for Learning in Education, Science, and Technology). Period: 2009 – 2015

Principal Investigator: Barbara Shinn-Cunningham, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University

Agency: National Science Foundation (NSF)

CELEST is an NSF Science of Learning Center (SLC) comprised of neuroscientists, educators, and engineers at several Boston-area universities, including Boston University, Harvard University, and MIT. The project’s central goals are to understand brain mechanisms of learning, with particular emphasis on the role of dynamical interactions within and between brain regions. The project includes specific multidisciplinary collaborations that bridge efforts across all CELEST pillars: education, science, and technology. 

 

Completed Research Support

 

  • Mentor-based Fellowship (#2156).        Period: 2008 – 2011              

“Architecture of prefrontal white matter”.

Principal Investigator / Award Grantee: Basilis (Vasileios) Zikopoulos         Mentor: Helen Barbas

Agency: Autism Speaks

The goal was to investigate the largely unexplored issue of prefrontal white matter structure and pathways that exercise central executive control and are especially affected in autism.

 

 

 

Academic Honors and Awards

 

 

  • Mentor-based Fellowship / Award, (2008 – 2011), Autism Speaks.

 

  • HNS Research Achievement/Presentation Award, (2003), Hellenic Neuroscience Society.

 

  • IBRO Travel Grant Award, (2003), Federation of European Neuroscience Societies (FENS).

 

  • Research Fellowship, (2000), GGSRT, The British Council, and Department of Biology, Open University, Milton Keynes, UK.

 

  • Research Fellowship, (1998), University of Crete – Aristotle’s University of Thessaloniki, Greece, and European Union.

 

  • Summa Cum Laude, (1998), MS in Biology.

 

  • Research Scholarship, (1996), Institute of Marine Biology of Crete, and Department of Biology, University of Crete, Greece.

 

  • ERASMUS Scholarship, (1994), Greek State Scholarship Foundation and European Union. For a Research Fellowship in the Laboratory of Neuropharmacology, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Manchester, UK.

 

 

 

Professional Service, Memberships, & Other Experience

 

 

2014                Session Chair, NeuroHAM (Neural processing in humans, animals, and machines). CELEST and BU Center for Computational Neuroscience and Neural Technology. June 10 – 12, 2015. Boston, MA, USA.

 

2008 –             Faculty member, Center of Excellence for Learning in Education, Science and Technology (CELEST), Boston University, MA, USA.

 

Visiting Scientist, Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital, MA, USA.

 

2005 –             Reviewer for journals: Brain Structure and Function, Cerebral Cortex, European Journal of Neuroscience, Frontiers in Neuroanatomy, Frontiers in Neuroinformatics, Journal of Neuroscience, Journal of Neuroscience Methods, Neuroimage, Schizophrenia Bulletin, Translational Neuroscience, Human Brain Mapping.

 

2004 –             Member, Society for Neuroscience.

 

2004 –             Administrator and Designer: Laboratory server network, software and website design, setup and administration. Windows, MacOS and Linux platforms. Programming: Turbo Pascal, Visual Basic, Python, C, HTML. Matlab.

 

2001 – 2003    Senior Airman, Special Security Forces – Military Police, Greek Air Force (Obligatory National Service).

 

1999 – 2000    Consultant, University Press, Foundation for Research and Technology, Heraklion, Crete, GREECE. Assisted in reviewing and editing the following Greek translations of scientific books:

1. Robert M. Berne and Matthew N. Levy. Principles of Physiology, edited by Mosby-Year Book Inc., 1996.

2. Eric R. Kandel, James H. Schwartz and Thomas M. Jessel. Essentials of Neural Science and Behavior, edited by Appleton & Lange, 1995.

 

1996 – 2004    Member, Hellenic Society for Neuroscience.

 

                        Member, Federation of European Neuroscience Societies.

 

1992 – 2004    President and board member, Photographic Society of the University of Crete (FOPK, http://fopk.culture.uoc.gr/), organizing and conducting worldwide seminars on the art and techniques of photography, cultural events and photographic exhibitions.

 

 

 

Research Interests & Experience

 

 

Interests: Organization and dynamics of cortical brain circuits, and their disruption in disease. Experimental and theoretical (computational) study of molecular, synaptic, cellular interactions and interareal network connectivity, as the basis of cognitive and emotional processing for flexible or goal-oriented behavior.

 

 

Excitatory and inhibitory circuits in the primate brain (2004 – )

Department of Health Sciences, College of Health & Rehabilitation Sciences: Sargent College, Boston University, MA, USA

 

 

  • Structural and molecular features of grey and white matter in frontal cortical areas in health and disease, with a focus on autism spectrum disorders.
  • Cortico-cortical, cortico-amygdalar, and cortico-thalamic circuits involved in cognitive-emotional processes, attention, and flexible behavior.
  • Development of optimized analyses approaches of magnetic resonance and diffusion tensor imaging data after co-registration and integration with high resolution 2D & 3D anatomic structural organization and connectivity data.

  

 

Effects of epigenetic factors and neuromodulation on brain plasticity and development (1996 – 2004)

Department of Biology, University of Crete, GREECE

 

 

  • Role of noradrenergic transmission in hypertension. Expression of α2 and β adrenoceptors in frontal and hippocampal areas in spontaneously hypertensive rats. In collaboration with Dr. H. Barbas, Department of Health Sciences, Boston University, MA, USA.
  • Cellular mechanisms involved in plasticity and neurodegenerative disorders. In collaboration with Dr. M.G. Stewart, Department of Biology, Open University, Milton Keynes, UK. Joint Research Program in Progressive Degenerative Diseases (GGSRT & The British Council).
  • Central nervous system plasticity mechanisms regulating sexual inversion and development in Sparidae hermaphrodite teleosts. Role and interactions of aminergic, nitric oxide systems and cell proliferation. Ph.D. Thesis, Mentor: Dr. C.R. Dermon.
  • Environmental, nutritional and neuroendocrine regulation of skin coloration in the red porgy, Pagrus pagrus, towards the development of a natural hue in cultured populations. In collaboration with Dr. M. Pavlidis & the Institute of Marine Biology of Crete, GREECE (E.U. Project COLORED).

 

 

Research Training Fellowships (1994 – 1996)

 

 

  • Avian brain development: Embryonic cell proliferation & apoptosis. Adrenergic receptor localization in chick and quail brains. Development of embryonic brain atlases. Department of Biology, University of Crete, GREECE. Mentor: Dr. C.R. Dermon.
  • Electrophysiological studies on the effect of propofol and thiopentone on epileptiform activity induced by zero magnesium in the cortical slice in vitro. Laboratory of Neuropharmacology, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Manchester, UK. Mentor: Dr. B.J. Pleuvry.

 

 

 

Teaching Interests & Experience

 

 

Interests: Organization and dynamics of the cortex and its circuits from the molecular to the systems level; Neurobiology of mental disorders; Neuroanatomy.

 

 

  • Instructor

College of Health & Rehabilitation Sciences: Sargent College, Boston University

HS 550: Neural Systems (graduate/undergraduate)                                                         2005 –

HS 755: Readings in Neuroscience (graduate)                                                                 2005 –

 

 

Department of Biology, University of Crete, GREECE

Computational Applications and Image Analysis in Biology (graduate)                          2003 – 2004

 

 

  • Invited Lecturer

Marine Biological Institute in Woods Hole, MA, USA

Neuroinformatics (graduate)                                                                                             2008 – 2011

 

 

Department of Cognitive and Neural Systems, Boston University

CN 550: Neural/Computational models of recognition, memory, and attention

(graduate)                                                                                                                          2012 – 2013

CN 730: Models of Visual Perception (graduate/undergraduate)                                    2005 – 2011

CN 810: Topics in Cognitive and Neural Systems (graduate)                                           2005 – 2011

 

 

Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Boston University School of Medicine

GMS AN 718: Methods in Neuroscience (graduate)                                                        2011 – 2013

 

 

  • Teaching Assistant

Department of Biology, University of Crete, GREECE

Human Physiology; Neurobiology; Biochemistry                                                              1998 – 2004

 

 

  • Advising/Mentoring (Thesis committee/graduate and undergraduate students) 

Human Physiology Program, College of Health & Rehabilitation Sciences: Sargent College, Boston University

Jingyi Wang                                   PhD Thesis committee                                               2014 –

Joy Ismail                                      MS/advising                                                                2014 –

 

 

Graduate Program in Neuroscience, Boston University

Mary Kate Joyce                           PhD Thesis committee                                                2014 –

 

 

Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Boston University School of Medicine

Clare Timbie                                 MD/PhD Thesis committee                                        2009 – 2013

 

 

Department of Cognitive and Neural Systems, Boston University

Alex Storer                                                PhD Dissertation committee                          2006 – 2011

 

 

Center of Excellence for Learning in Education, Science, and Technology (CELEST), Boston University

Laura Bustamante                        co-Mentor/CELEST Summer Program for Undergraduates    2013

Talia Raney                                  co-Mentor/CELEST Summer Program for Undergraduates     2013

Christina Catavero                        co-Mentor/CELEST Summer Program for Undergraduates    2012

Belle English                                 co-Mentor/CELEST Summer Program for Undergraduates    2011

Isra Ahmed                                    co-Mentor/CELEST Summer Program for Undergraduates    2010

 

 

Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP), Boston University

Justin Tepe                                                Mentor/UROP Summer Program                               2014

Amar Patel                                                Mentor/UROP Summer Program                                2009

 

 

 

Invited Talks

 

 

    • From brain networks to neurons and their synaptic and molecular interactions in health and disease. Dean’s Advisory Board meeting, College of Health & Rehabilitation Sciences: Sargent College. September 19, 2014, Boston MA.

 

 

    • Circuits for attention to emotions through the thalamic reticular nucleus. Computational and Systems Neuroscience Meeting (COSYNE). Workshop - Thalamic reticular microcircuits: from structure to function. February 28 –March 5, 2013, Snowbird, Utah.

 

 

    • A biological circuit model for attention to emotional stimuli in primates. 16th International Conference on Cognitive and Neural Systems. May 30-June 1, 2012, Boston MA.

 

 

    • The neuropathology of autism. Graduate Seminar Series. April 18, 2011. Sargent College of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Boston University, MA, USA.

 

 

    • Neuroanatomical Methods in Neuroscience. Graduate Seminar Series. April 14, 2011. Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Boston University School of Medicine, MA, USA.

 

 

    • Corticothalamic Communications. Graduate Seminar Series. March 23, 2011. Sargent College of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Boston University, MA, USA.

 

 

    • Imaging the brain. Methods in Neuroscience. Graduate Seminar Series (Models of visual perception). March 3, 2011. Department of Cognitive and Neural Systems, Boston University, MA.

 

 

    • Changes in prefrontal axons may disrupt the network in autism. Research Seminar Series, Sargent College, Boston University. December 6, 2010, Boston MA.

 

 

    • Prefrontal white matter structure in autism. Research Seminar Series, Department of Cognitive and Neural Systems, Boston University. November 2, 2010, Boston MA.

 

 

    • Pathways for attentional processes through the prefrontal cortex and the thalamus. CELEST Workshop: Hardware and software of functional connections. Department of Cognitive and Neural Systems, Boston University. October 22, 2010, Boston MA.

 

 

    • Prefrontal contributions to visual perception: Circuits for multisensory integration and attentional modulation through the prefrontal cortex and the thalamic reticular nucleus. Computational and Systems Neuroscience Meeting (COSYNE). February 26 –March 3, 2009, Snowbird, Utah.

 

 

    • 3D-Reconstruction: From brain areas and pathways to neurons and synapses. Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole. August 15 – 30, 2009, Woods Hole, MA.