My research interests have been mainly focused on plant and cyanobacterial photosynthesis. Through the application of various biophysical, biochemical techniques (both to cyanobacteria and higher plants), I have gained insight to the putative function of the specific proteins involved in photosynthetic electron-transport reactions. Starting from 2008 I began to focus more on cyanobacterial/algal research and the alternative electron-transport routes, which are heavily involved in regulation of photosynthesis via maintaining redox homeostasis in cells. On the one hand, these routes can be thought of as necessary for the survival of cells under extreme changes in physiological conditions, whereas on the other hand, they can be thought of as a waste of photosynthetic electrons or reducing power and energy in a targeted biofuel or bio-industrial production system. Currently our team is investigating (i) the crosstalk between the main bioenergetics pathways, photosynthesis and respiration and the alternative electron transport pathways in cyanobacteria and green algae; (ii) the distribution mechanisms of photosynthetic electrons to hydrogenases (or to nitrogenase in heterocytous cyanobacteria); (iii) development of artificial microfilms of algae and cyanobacteria entrapped in tailored polymeric matrices for increasing the light conversion efficiency toward product; (iv) biodiversity of Nordic cyanobacteria and algae for efficient waste-water remediation, for production of biofuels and high-value products. 

*** We currently have open position for a PhD student and a post-doctoral fellow. ***