The UoC Department of Chemistry warmly congratulates Associate Professor of Enzyme Technology and Biocatalysis, Ioannis Pavlidis, for receiving two important European research grants.

Ioannis Pavlidis is leading the NEXTMARINE project, which has received funding from the Horizon Europe program. NEXTMARINE project brings together 12 partners from 9 countries to study genetic diversity in extreme marine environments, such as the volcanic arc of the Aegean Sea and the oxygen-depleted areas of the Baltic. The goal is to discover new, highly specialized enzymes with applications in pharmaceuticals, food technology, bioplastics, and other green technologies.

In addition, a second proposal coordinated by Ioannis Pavlidis has been approved under the highly competitive MSCA Doctoral Networks – Joint Doctorates program. The project, called HALOVERSE, received the highest score (100%). Through HALOVERSE, two PhD students will be trained at the University of Crete in collaboration with the University of Groningen (Netherlands) and the University of Pavia (Italy). The students will receive a joint doctoral degree. Their research will focus on developing environmentally friendly chemical processes using halogenating enzymes, with applications in synthetic chemistry.

These distinctions mark an exciting step forward in cutting-edge research at the University of Crete.