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).

The new doctoral studies regulation (2024) of the Department is under preparation.

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 the Department

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
Ph.D. Title: “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”

Education Resources