Doctoral Studies

The Department of Animal Science

offers the possibility of pursuing Doctoral Studies, which are equivalent to a category 8 degree (Doctorate or PhD – level 8 of the European Qualification Framework) based on the National and European Framework of Professional Qualifications.

The purpose of Doctoral Studies is to conduct high-quality scientific research with international impact. The high research footprint of the Department’s faculty, the modern infrastructure (laboratories, experimental facilities, etc.) and the rich scientific equipment of the Department are key parameters for the successful completion of Doctoral Studies.

Candidates must submit a relevant application to the Department Secretariat in order to join the Doctoral Studies Program. The evaluation process of applications is carried out by Committees appointed by the Assembly, at regular intervals throughout the academic year. Applications to commence the preparation of a Doctoral Thesis at the Department are made based on the provisions of Law 4957/2022 (Gazette A’ 141) (articles 90-97). Find more details in the doctoral studies regulation.

Scholarships for Conducting Doctoral Research

For doctoral scholarship opportunities at the Agricultural University of Athens, candidates should consult announcements concerning research projects or specific departments of the University, as there is no single unified procedure applicable to all. Funding may originate from various sources, such as Greece (IKY, ELIDEK, etc.), the EU, or Research Foundations.

Where to Seek Information

  • Announcements at the Agricultural University of Athens: Visit the University’s Website for programme announcements, notifications regarding research project funding, and calls for doctoral dissertations.
  • Announcements at the Department of Animal Science: Follow the News of the Department of Animal Science for programme announcements, research project funding opportunities, and calls for doctoral dissertations.
  • Scholarship Announcements at the University’s Career Services Office.

Doctoral Research at DAS

In Progress

Click on the name of the doctoral candidate to view their published work (Scopus).

  • Kounna Christianna
    Thesis: “Study on the nutrition of meagre, Argyrosomus regius (Asso 1801): The effect of temperature and dietary lipids on digestive physiology, zootechnical parameters, morphometric characteristics, and lipid metabolism.”
    Laboratory: Applied Hydrobiology
    Supervisor: E. Miliou
  • Roinioti Erifylli
    Thesis: “Molecular identification of Echinococcus granulosus strains in ruminants in Greece.”
    Laboratory: Anatomy & Physiology of Farm Animals
    Supervisor: I. Oikonomopoulos
  • Moschovas Marios
    Thesis: “Development of integrative protocols for improved reproductive performance, animal health and welfare, and milk quality assurance in Greek dairy farms.”
    Laboratory: Anatomy & Physiology of Farm Animals
    Supervisor: I. Bossis
  • Mikenze England Hanlon
    Thesis: “CowficieNcy: Improving nitrogen use efficiency of dairy cattle.”
    Laboratory: Nutritional Physiology & Feeding
    Supervisor: E. Tsiplakou
  • Siozos Ilias
    Thesis: “Effect of nutrition on productive and qualitative indices of laying hens.”
    Laboratory: Nutritional Physiology & Feeding
    Supervisor: K. Mountzouris
  • Brouklogiannis Ioannis
    Thesis: “Nutrigenomic evaluation of the effect of bioactive compounds of plant and fungal origin on cytoprotection in laying hens and on egg quality.”
    Laboratory: Nutritional Physiology & Feeding
    Supervisor: K. Mountzouris
  • Anagnostopoulos Evangelos
    Thesis: “Investigation of the dietary use of bioactive compounds of plant and fungal origin on homeostatic biomarkers in the intestine of laying hens.”
    Laboratory: Nutritional Physiology & Feeding
    Supervisor: K. Mountzouris
  • Politi Aikaterini
    Thesis: “Dynamic transcriptomic analysis of sheep milk.”
    Laboratory: Animal Breeding & Husbandry
    Supervisor: A. Hager
  • Emilio-Katsoulakou Myrina
    Thesis: “Genetic identification of Greek horse breeds/populations using molecular markers.”
    Laboratory: Animal Breeding & Husbandry
    Supervisor: P. Koutsouli
  • Barmpouni Theodora
    Thesis: “Development and validation of new analytical methods for the determination of organic pollutants and their metabolites in biological fluids and tissues of living organisms.”
    Laboratory: Nutritional Physiology & Feeding
    Supervisor: S. Charoutounian
  • Pavlopoulos Dionysios
    Thesis: “Development of methods for the extraction of high value-added bioactive products from agro-industrial by-products, with the aim of their use in animal nutrition.”
    Laboratory: Nutritional Physiology & Feeding
    Supervisor: S. Charoutounian
  • Zantioti Christina
    Thesis: “Improving performance and robustness of farmed gilthead seabream using microbial extracts.”
    Laboratory: Applied Hydrobiology
    Supervisor: E. Malandrakis
  • Kritsa Maria-Zoi
    Thesis: “Development of a methodological decision-making framework for promoting sustainability in Greek broiler production.”
    Laboratory: Animal Breeding & Husbandry
    Supervisor: M. Goliomytis
  • Kotouzas Dimitrios
    Thesis: “Insect rearing through the use of organic agro-livestock waste and their utilization in the diets of farmed fish.”
    Laboratory: Applied Hydrobiology
    Supervisor: E. Miliou
  • Nikolaou Manouil
    Thesis: “Comparative description and evaluation of production systems of sheep farms.”
    Laboratory: Nutritional Physiology & Feeding
    Supervisor: I. Chatzigeorgiou
  • Chronopoulos Petros
    Thesis: “Development of soft-textured aquafeed technology and investigation of its use in the nutrition of intensively farmed fish species.”
    Laboratory: Applied Hydrobiology
    Supervisor: N. Karakatsouli
  • Karageorgou Agori
    Thesis: “Effect of administering mushroom cultivation by-products on productive performance and qualitative characteristics of products in sheep and poultry.”
    Laboratory: Animal Breeding & Husbandry
    Supervisor: M. Goliomytis
  • Tzanidakis Christos
    Thesis: “Study of parameters associated with the manifestation of aggressive behaviour in pigs.”
    Laboratory: Animal Breeding & Husbandry
    Supervisor: P. Simitzis
  • Petropoulos Konstantinos
    Thesis: “The development of cells and tissues in the chick embryo intestine.”
    Laboratory: Anatomy & Physiology of Farm Animals
    Supervisor: Ch. Balaskas
  • Korelidou Vera
    Thesis: “Infrared mammary thermography and haematological analysis for identifying health and welfare indicators in sheep and for assessing ewe milk quality.”
    Laboratory: Anatomy & Physiology of Farm Animals
    Supervisor: A. Gelasakis
  • Iliopoulou Evgenia
    Thesis: “The role of nutrition in managing stress factors in poultry.”
    Laboratory: Nutritional Physiology & Feeding
    Supervisor: K. Mountzouris
  • Baltogiannis Georgios
    Thesis: “Redefining hatchery practices through early feeding for sustainable broiler production and welfare.”
    Laboratory: Nutritional Physiology & Feeding
    Supervisor: A. Pappas
  • Georgatou Spyridoula
    Thesis: “Genetic identification of indigenous Greek sheep breeds.”
    Laboratory: Animal Breeding & Husbandry
    Supervisor: P. Koutsouli
  • Dimitriadis Theodosios
    Thesis: “Development of innovative oral vaccines for Mediterranean fish species.”
    Laboratory: Applied Hydrobiology
    Supervisor: K. Bitchava
  • Savvidou Angeliki
    Thesis: “In vitro cellular models for assessing the impact of dairy products and by-products on the intestinal epithelium.”
    Laboratory: Animal Breeding & Husbandry
    Supervisor: G. Theodorou
  • Karathanou Eirini
    Thesis: “Non-Indigenous Species in Mediterranean Fisheries.”
    Laboratory: Applied Hydrobiology
    Supervisor: S. Kalogirou
  • Andreaki Rafaela
    Thesis: “Replacement of synthetic vitamin E by plant extracts derived from fruit juice and wine by-products in broiler nutrition.”
    Laboratory: Nutritional Physiology & Feeding
    Supervisor: A. Mavrommatis
  • Agiomavriti Aikaterini-Artemis
    Thesis: “Spectroscopy technologies and development of in-situ application protocols and algorithms for determining the chemical composition of water and milk in small ruminant farms.”
    Laboratory: Anatomy & Physiology of Farm Animals
    pervisor: A. Gelasakis
  • Bougali Sofia-Brinkmann
    Thesis: “Phospholipids in the nutrition of intensively farmed Mediterranean fish species.”
    Laboratory: Applied Hydrobiology
    Supervisor: N. Karakatsouli
  • Papageorgiou Maria
    Thesis: “Positive welfare indicators in ruminants and poultry.”
    Laboratory: Animal Breeding & Husbandry
    Supervisor: P. Simitzis
  • Mavrikos Ioannis
    Thesis: “Investigation of the vocal responses of sheep as a means of emotional expression during different stimuli and stages of the production cycle.”
    Laboratory: Animal Breeding & Husbandry
    Supervisor: G. Laliotis
  • Sfakianaki Eleni
    Thesis: “Study of gene expression in the mammary gland of small ruminants under different zootechnical practices.”
    Laboratory: Animal Breeding & Husbandry
    Supervisor: A. Hager
  • Karakousis Ioannis
    Thesis: “Mapping critical biomarkers of homeostasis in broiler chickens and correlating them with zootechnical performance at industrial production level.”
    Laboratory: Nutritional Physiology & Feeding
    Supervisor: K. Mountzouris

Accomplished (2020 - 2025)

Click on the name of the PhD holder to view their published work (Scopus)

  • Kapakos Ioannis (2025) – “Reproduction, growth, and behavior of the endangered endemic fish Valencia letourneuxi and Valencia robertae”
  • Papadaki Kallirroi (2025) – “Vocal communication, hierarchy, and social structure in sheep”
  • Kyriakaki Panagiota (2025) – “Effect of polyunsaturated fatty acids and antioxidant components supplementation in small ruminants’ diets, on the expression of genes involved in adipogenesis as well as in the antioxidant and immune system”
  • Iliopoulos Christos (2023) – “Circular Economy: Utilization of agro-industrial by-products using the ‘solid-state fermentation’ technique”
  • Manesis Georgios (2023) – “Advanced laboratory and point-of-service technologies for the optimization of livestock biosecurity”
  • Griela Eirini (2023) – “Investigation of critical biomarkers related to intestinal integrity and function using birds as a model”
  • Fortatos Efstathios (2023) – “Investigation of the application of near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy in predicting the dietary value of compound feeds in rabbits”
  • Myrtsi Eleni (2023) – “Study of phytochemical content and bioactivity of Greek legumes”
  • Ntalaka Eleni (2023) – “Evaluation of immunomodulatory, antihypertensive, and antioxidant properties of dairy by-products”
  • Kalogianni Afroditi (2023) – “Epizootiology, risk assessment and effects on productivity of ovine progressive pneumonia in intensively reared dairy sheep”
  • Papachristou Dimitrios (2023) – “Genetic identification of Greek bovine breeds/populations using molecular markers”
  • Christodoulou Christos (2022) – “The effect of Camelina sativa and Spirulina on the immune system, rumen microbiome, and quality traits of ewes”
  • Giamouri Elisavet (2022) – “Dietary characteristics of catering residues and their use in the feeding of monogastric animals”
  • Mitsiopoulou Christina (2021) – “The effect of sesame inclusion in goat diets on milk quality, oxidative status, rumen microorganisms, and innate immunity”
  • Tsopelakos Aristeidis (2021) – “Effect of dietary fatty acids on the central nervous system, growth, and body composition of the European sea bass Dicentrarchus labrax”
  • Saratsi Aikaterini (2021) – “The contribution of Mediterranean flora to the protection of small ruminants against gastrointestinal parasites”
  • Nikolaou Kostoula (2021) – “Study of the quality characteristics of produced carcasses and beef meat in Greece”
  • Kapsaski-Kanelli Vasiliki-Nafsika (2020) – “Study and utilization of Greek natural and agricultural biodiversity for the development of new biocides”