Our Crew
Archipelagos Institute of Marine Conservation brings together the expertise of an international multidisciplinary team. Scientists, professionals and students of various specialties perform field work year-round at sea and on land near Archipelagos’ research bases. Together they combine their know-how and hard work, collaborating to decisively make a difference in protecting the region’s unique biodiversity hotspots from increasing human threats.
Core Team
Thodoris Tsimpidis (Greece) - Director
Honorary Researcher of Marine Conservation
Anastasia Miliou (Greece) - Scientific Director
Hydrobiologist, Greek Ambassador in the EU for Sustainable Maritime Policy
Beatriz Tintoré (Spain) - Head of Marine Mammal Research
Doctoral Researcher in Marine Biology & Biological Oceanography, Brunel University London
Tim Grandjean (Netherlands) - Head of Deep Sea Conservation & GIS Research
Doctoral Researcher in Coastal Ecosystems, NIOZ & UU, Netherlands
Laura Macrina (Italy) - Head of Marine Ecology Research
Doctoral Researcher, KAUST, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Saudi Arabia
Marie Cigarroa (France) - Research Assistant, Aegean Marine Life Sanctuary
MSc in Environment & Sustainable Development, Université de Montréal
Charlie Hamblin (UK) - Marine Mammal Research Assistant
Msc of Science in Animal Behaviour, University of Exeter
Stine Petersen (Norway) - Marine Mammal Research Assistant
Bsc Biology and Geography, George Washington University
Karel Olaerts (Belgium) - Terrestrial Research Assistant
Msc Biology: Biodiversity, Conservation and Restoration, University of Antwerp
Sam Tofts (UK) - GIS Research Assistant
MSc Sustainable Development: Environmental Change and Ecosystems, Utrecht University
Vasilis Sarantou (Greece) - Captain & Head of Technical Operations
Periklis Koxilas (Greece) - Captain & Technical Operations
Scientific Advisors
Dr. Leanne Hepburn (UK) - Senior Lecturer of Marine Ecology University of Essex, UK
Marine and Coastal Ecology Expert
Dr. Rupert Perkins (UK)- Senior Lecturer of Marine Bioscience, Cardiff University, UK
Senior Lecturer of Marine Bioscience, Cardiff University, UK
Dr. Tom Cameron (UK) - Lecturer of Animal Evolution, Ecology and Behaviour, University of Essex, UK
Fisheries Ecology Expert
Dr. Petros Babasikas (Greece) -Director, HBAAS, John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landcape, and Design, University of Toronto
Dr. Danny Morick (Israel) - Marine veterinary medicine
Morris Kahn Marine Research Station, University of Haifa, Israel
Dr. Marta Azzolin (Italy) - Lecturer at Turin University, Italy
Marine Mammal Accoustics Expert, President of Gaia Research Institute
Dr. Valentina Costa (Italy) - Researcher of Marine Biologist and Ecologist, University of Aveiro , Portugal
Marine and Coastal Ecology Expert
Dr. Pavlos Eleftheriadis (Greece) - Professor of Public Law and a Fellow, University of Oxford, UK
Planning and Environmental Law Expert
Dr. Ronny Steen (Norway) - Researcher at Norwegian University of Life Sciences
Ornithological Research Expert
Mr. T David Schofield Jr. (USA) - Cetacean Behavior, Acclimation and Transport Consultant
Cetacean Behavior, Acclimation and Transport Consultant
Cpt. Nikos Plakas (Greece) - Shipping Risk Management Expert
Associates
Dr Guido Pietroluongo (Italy) - Marine Mammal Veterinarian
DVM (Doctor in Veterinary Medicine), Teramo University, Italy
Maurizio Ingrosso (Italy) - Marine Mammal/ Fisheries Researcher
Doctoral Researcher, University of Bari, Italy
Hayley Mcilwraith - Microplastics Researcher
Doctoral Researcher in microplastic pollution, Plymouth Marine Laboratory & University of East Anglia
Alice Malcolm-McKay (UK) - Researcher in Deep Sea Conservation
Researcher in Deep Sea Conservation
Konstantis Alexopoulos (Greece), GIS Research Assistant
Doctoral Researcher, Cambridge University
Anton Leach (New Zealand) - Producer/Director Clawed Hat Films
Jasmine Duthie (New Zealand) - Producer/Director Clawed Hat Films
Andrea Tome Perez (Spain) - Marine Mammal Research Assistant
MSc. Biodiversity, Conservation and Evolution, University of Valencia, Spain
Marine Mammal Research Team
Olivier Eikelenboom (The Netherlands) - Bioacoustics Research Intern
BSc Coastal and Marine Management, Van Hall Larenstein
Elizabeth Evans (UK) - Behaviour Research Intern
BSc Animal Behaviour, Aberystwyth University
Carlota Casas (Spain) - Bioacoustics & Behaviour Research Intern
BSc Biology, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid
Camille Stork (France) - Behaviour Research Intern
MSc Biotic interactions & Anthronic Disturbances in Marine Enviroments, Université de Toulon
Riwelen Le Fol (France) - Behaviour Research Intern
MSc Marine Tropical Ecoysystems, Université des Antilles
Kato Duponcheel (Belgium) - Behaviour Research Intern
BSc Agro- and Biotechnology with Specialisation in Animal Care, Odise Hogeschool
Morgane den Uyl (The Netherlands)
BSc Life Sciences, University of Applied Sciences Leiden
Sanne Christiaans (The Netherlands) - Behaviour Research Intern
BSc Animal Management, Van Hall Larenstein University of Applied Sciences
Raquel Bornemann Planells (Spain)
BSc Biology, University of Vienna
Eva Maus (The Netherlands) - Behaviour and Bioacoustics Research Intern
BSc Coastal and Marine Management, Van Hall Larenstein University of Applied Sciences
Molly Simmons - Behaviour and Bioacoustics Research Intern
BSc Wildlife Ecology and Conservation Science, The University of the West of England
Chelsey Hughes (UK) - Photo ID Research Intern
Bsc Marine Geography, Cardiff University
Leo Ditchfield (UK)
Bsc Marine Biology with Oceanography, Bangor University
Lucrezia Carroccia (Italy)
Bsc Marine Vertebrate Zoology / Conservation, Bangor University
Ciara Powders (Ireland)
Bsc Advanced Freshwater and Marine Biology, Atlantic Technological University
Cian Englishby (Ireland)
Bsc Advanced Freshwater and Marine Biology, Atlantic Technological University
Julia Kobylinska (Poland) - Behaviour Research Intern
Bsc Water Management, HZ University of Applied Sciences
Elisa Lasserre (France) - Impact of fisheries on the distribution of the Tursiops truncatus
BSc Biodiversity, Ecology and Evolution, Universite Claude Bernard Lyon 1
Nadia Lomelino (Belgium) - Behaviour Research Intern
BSc Agro- and Biotechnology with Specialisation in Animal Care, Odisee de co-Hogeschool
Bastien Gauche (France) - Behaviour Research Intern
Agronomy engineering, Institut Agro Dijon
Madison Martinuzzi (Canada) - Shark Research intern
BSc Environmenal Biology, Lakehead University
Jeroen Mieras (The Netherlands) - Dolphin Distribution Research Intern
BSc Biology, Utrecht University
Flavie Collin (France) - Behaviour Research Intern
Agronomy engineering, Institut Agro Dijon
Lennox Goslin (USA)- Multidisciplinary Research Intern
BSc Environmental Engineering, Davidson College
Emma Ryan (USA) - Behaviour Research Intern
BSc Wildlife Biology, Grand Valley State University
Sam Child (UK) - Photo Identification Research intern
BSc Bsc Zoology with Conservation, Bangor University
GIS & Remote Sensing Team
Ionas Fabris (Luxembourg) - Data Science & AI Research Intern
BSc in Data Science and Artificial Intelligence, Maastricht University
Anne-Lie Van Praet (Belgium) - Beach regression based on satelite imagery
MSC in Geography, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven & Vrije Universiteit Brussel
Kaz Winter (The Netherlands) - Citizen science (EFK) & P. oceanica Research Intern
BSc Liberal Arts & Sciences, Utrecht University
Diego Haro (France) - Erosion Research Intern
Water Engineering, Polytech Nice
Antoine Ruffenach (France) - Erosion Research Intern
Water Engineering, Polytech Nice
Theo Bernard (France) - Erosion Research Intern
Water Engineering, Polytech Nice
Anna Harrison (UK) - Aegean Sea Bathymetry Research Intern
BSc in Geography, Durham University
Robert Leegerstee (The Netherlands)- Seagrass Research Intern
BSc Geo Media & Design, Aeres Hogeschool
Anja Bruder (Germany)- Trawling Research Intern
BSc Physical Geography, Friedrich-Alexander University
Marine Ecology Research Team
Nia Stephens (UK) - Invasive Species Research Intern
BSc Conservation Biology and Ecology, University of Exeter
Jude Hamilton (Ireland) - Coastal Ecology Research Intern
MSc Marine Biology with Professional Studies, Queens University Belfast
Katie Nelson (Ireland) - Coastal Ecology Intern
BSc in Marine Biology, Queens University
Noah Rose (UK) - Coastal Ecology Intern
BSc Marine Geography, Cardiff University
Holly Pitt (UK)- Coastal Ecology Research Intern
Natural Sciences BSc Hons, University of Bath
Katelijn Dekkers (The Netherlands)-Coastal Ecology Research Intern
BSc Soil, Water, Atmosphere (major in Marine Biology), Wageningen University & Research
Abbie Wash (UK)- Coastal Ecology Research Intern
BSc in Marine Biology, University of Exeter
Katerina Vejsadova (Czech Republic)-Coastal Ecology and Zooplankton Research Intern
BSc in Biology and Ecology, University of Hradec Kralove
Jodie Browne (Ireland) - Invasive fish in the Aegean Research Intern
BSc Environmental Management, Queens University
Rui Mendes (Portugal) - BRUV- Baited Remote Underwater Video Research Intern
BSc Marine Biology and Biotechnology, Polytechnic of Leiria
Terrestrial Research Team
Alex Betts (UK) - Jackal Hybridization Research Intern
Wildlife Ecology & Conservation Science, University of the West of England
Max Lie (France) - Distribution of Reptiles and Amphibians Intern
MSc Biodiversity Ecology and Evolution, University of Poitiers
Yaël Labrunie (France) - Jackal Behaviour Research Intern
MSc Biodiversity Ecology and Evolution, University of Poitiers
Lauri van Lutterveld (The Netherlands) - Least Weasel Research Intern
BSc Forest and Nature Conservation, Van Hall Larenstein University of Applied Sciences
Carla Esteban Silvestre (Spain) - Bird Migration Research Intern
BSc Biology, Universitat de València
Tristan van Laar (The Netherlands) - Common Chameleon Research Intern
MSc Evolutionary Biology, Universiteit Leiden
Brieuc de Cacqueray (France) - Distribution of birds among various habitats intern
MSc Biodiversity Ecology and Evolution, University of Poitiers
Tommie Rouwenhorst (The Netherlands) - The dominant flora species of habitats intern
Applied Biology, Aeres MBO Ede
Silas van Brakel (The Netherlands) - Bird Research Project
Applied Biology, Aeres MBO Ede
Nina Out (The Netherlands) - Flora Research Intern
Applied Biology, Aeres University of Applied Sciences - Almere
Dinand Stok (The Netherlands) - Habitat preference, utilisation and distribution of the Golden Jackal on Samos
Applied Biology (Environmental Researcher), Aeres MBO Ede
Hoi Van Thanh Daemen (Belgium) - Golden Jackal behaviour intern
Agro- and biotechnology - Greenmanagement, University of Applied Sciences and Arts - HOGENT
Media and Education Team
Leena Van den Bergh (Belgium) - Media & Communications
Journalism, Artevelde University of Applied Sciences
Beatrice Noakes (UK) - Media & Communications
BSc Wildlife Ecology and Conservation Science, The University of the West of England
Andrea Sebok (Sweden) - Media & Communications
Romy Eichler (Germany) - Eco Nav Citizen Science Project
MSc Ecosystem Services, TU Dresden/IHI Zittau
