Our Team

Meet the researchers driving innovation in computational biology and cancer genomics

Dr. Ilias Georgakopoulos-Soares portrait

Dr. Ilias Georgakopoulos-Soares

Principal Investigator

Dr. Georgakopoulos-Soares is an Assistant Professor in the College of Pharmacy at The University of Texas at Austin. He studies mechanisms that drive cancer development and genome evolution, focusing on k-mer analytics and non-B DNA structures as determinants of genomic instability and sources of biomarkers.

The lab develops computational methods, and tools to study human disease, with a particular focus on cancer, and to investigate evolutionary processes shaping genomes. Our work aims to improve our understanding of cancer biology and contribute to the development of new diagnostic and therapeutic approaches.

Education & Training

  • Assistant Professor, Penn State College of Medicine
  • Postdoctoral Fellow, University of California, San Francisco
  • GR BEng & MEng., National Technical University of Athens, Mechanical Engineering
  • Ph.D., University of Cambridge
  • M.Sc., Imperial College London

Meet our Team

Ioannis Mouratidis portrait

Ioannis Mouratidis

Research Scientist

Computational biology

Ioannis Mouratidis is a Research Software Engineer specializing in machine learning and algorithmic optimization, with over five years of experience applying these methods to bioinformatics and computational biology. He holds a bachelor's degree in Mathematics and a master's in Artificial Intelligence from KU Leuven University. Ioannis is particularly interested in developing scalable and efficient artificial intelligence models that bridge the gap between raw data and actionable insights in life sciences. Outside of work, he enjoys running, reading, and discovering new places through travel.
The University of Texas at Austin
Nikol Chantzi portrait

Nikol Chantzi

Research Scientist

I am a mathematician and software engineer. My main research interests lie within probability theory, artificial intelligence, algorithms and computation. When I don’t code I enjoy reading fantasy novels, philosophy books, & working out. I also, love playing RPG board games via which I experience new worlds that spark my imagination to see beyond what’s visible.
The University of Texas at Austin
Candace Chan portrait

Candace Chan

Research Fellow

Computational biology

Candace is a computational biologist dedicated to developing advanced tools for disease detection and untangling the complexities of gene regulation. She earned her PhD from the University of California, San Francisco, and bachelor's degree in Molecular and Cell Biology from the University of California, Berkeley.
The University of Texas at Austin
Kimonas Provatas portrait

Kimonas Provatas

Electrical and Computer Engineer

Software Engineering, System Design, Cybersecurity

Kimon is an Electrical and Computer Engineer with a strong inclination towards software engineering, system design and cybersecurity. He has worked at IBM security expert labs and his research interests cover software architecture, algorithms and cybersecurity. In his free time he enjoys running, doing outdoor activities and reading classic literature.
The University of Texas at Austin
Akshatha Nayak portrait

Akshatha Nayak

PhD Student

Bioinformatics, Cancer Genomics

I am a PhD student specializing in bioinformatics, with a focus on cancer genomics. I hold a bachelor's degree in Computer Science and Engineering from India and began my career as a software developer before transitioning into bioinformatics. Prior to starting my PhD, I worked as a Bioinformatician at EMBL-EBI, where I explored my interest in genomic data analysis. Outside of research, I enjoy reading thrillers, hiking and traveling.
The University of Texas at Austin
Aris Karatzikos portrait

Aris Karatzikos

Software and Machine Learning EngineerSoftware Engineering, Artificial Intelligence, Bioinformatics

Software Engineering, Artificial Intelligence, Bioinformatics

Aris Karatzikos is a Software and Machine Learning Engineer with experience in Software Engineering and Artificial Intelligence, specializing in large-scale data systems, bioinformatics, and domain-specific applications in both scientific and industrial contexts. He holds a Master’s degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering and will begin a Ph.D. in Computer Science at the University of Texas at Austin in the fall.
The University of Texas at Austin
Eleftherios Bochalis portrait

Eleftherios Bochalis

PhD Student

Bioinformatics, Cancer Genomics, Evolutionary Biology, AI

I am a Bioinformatician, with a Master’s in Pharmacy and a robust background in Biology and Computer Science. Currently, I am a PhD student studying Bioinformatics. My main research interests focus on cancer genomics with an emphasis on mutational analysis, evolutionary biology centered around protein evolution, and artificial intelligence. Outside the lab, I play basketball, exercise and listen to music.
The University of Texas at Austin
Georgios Megalovasilis portrait

Georgios Megalovasilis

Research Scientist

Bioinformatics, Biomedical Analysis

I have a background in biology, with hands-on experience in both laboratory and clinical settings. Over time, I became increasingly interested in working with data, which led me to focus on bioinformatics and biomedical analysis during my master’s studies. Now, I enjoy learning new ways to combine biology and programming, and I find the challenges of data-driven research very rewarding. Outside of work, I like reading, hiking, and staying active. Education: Biology BSc, University of Patras. Molecular Medicine MSc, Charité Medical University of Berlin.
The University of Texas at Austin
Alexandros Tzanakakis portrait

Alexandros Tzanakakis

Researcher

Computational Biology, Bioinformatics, AI

Alexandros Tzanakakis is a Software and Machine Learning Engineer with a background in Electrical and Computer Engineering. He has experience in artificial intelligence, medical imaging, and generative models, with a particular interest in applying advanced computational methods to scientific problems. He holds an M.Eng. from the National Technical University of Athens and explores research directions at the intersection of AI and the life sciences. In his free time, he enjoys traveling, going to the movie theater, and exploring new cultures.
The University of Texas at Austin
Antonis Papageorgiou portrait

Antonis Papageorgiou

Bioinformatician

Data Science, Artificial Intelligence, Bioinformatics

Antonis Papageorgiou is a Bioinformatician with a background in Electrical Engineering and Computer Technology. He is passionate about Data Science, AI and Bioinformatics and has strong programming skills. At the moment he is doing his Masters Degree in the field of Bioinformatics and Computational Biology. In his free time, he enjoys traveling and staying active through basketball, tennis and skiing.
The University of Texas at Austin
Haris Kilakos portrait

Haris Kilakos

PhD Student

Artificial Intelligence, Software Engineering, Bioinformatics

I’m a PhD student in Computer Science at the University of Texas at Austin, specializing in artificial intelligence, software engineering and bioinformatics. My research focuses on developing machine learning methods to tackle complex problems in computational biology, with the goal of deepening our biological understanding. I’m passionate about interdisciplinary collaboration and aim to explore how AI can contribute to meaningful advances in the life sciences.
The University of Texas at Austin
Michail Patsakis portrait

Michail Patsakis

Electrical and Computer Engineer

Algorithm Design, Complexity Theory, Software Architecture

Michail Patsakis is an Electrical and Computer Engineer with a robust background in theoretical computer science and software engineering, having previously contributed his expertise at IBM’s Data & AI department. His research interests span a wide spectrum, encompassing algorithm design, complexity theory and software architecture. In his free time, he enjoys playing blitz chess, classical piano and tennis.
The University of Texas at Austin
Tae-Rim Lee portrait

Tae-Rim Lee

Rotation Student

I am a first-year PhD rotation student majoring in Bioinformatics. I have previously worked on liquid biopsy projects focused on cancer detection. My current research interest is applying ML/AI approaches to understand the biological mechanisms underlying disease development and advance personalized treatment.
The University of Texas at Austin
Angeliki Vasilopoulou portrait

Angeliki Vasilopoulou

Research Scientist

I am a 2021 graduate from the National Technical University of Athens with an Integrated Master of Electrical and Computer Engineering (MEng ECE) with specialization in Electronics, Robotics, Computer Systems and Biomedical Engineering. I have published my diploma thesis on "Development of Τroponin-I Biosensor.
The University of Texas at Austin
Jebin Babu portrait

Jebin Babu

Rotation Student

I am a PhD student in the Cell and Molecular Biology program at UT. I completed my integrated Master’s degree at IISER Thiruvananthapuram, majoring in Biology with a minor in Chemistry. After that, I worked as a project fellow for two years, exploring bacterial genome organization and evolution. My research interests broadly include computational biology, bioinformatics, and the application of AI/ML in biology. Outside the lab, I enjoy playing badminton, working out, and singing.

Past Members

Manvita Mareboina portrait

Manvita Mareboina

MD student

Camille Moeckel portrait

Camille Moeckel

MD student

Elen Deng portrait

Elen Deng

MD student

Salaar Khan portrait

Salaar Khan

rotation student

Venitha Bernard portrait

Venitha Bernard

rotation student

Katrina Bakhl portrait

Katrina Bakhl

MD student

Fan Zhang portrait

Fan Zhang

rotation student

Maxwell Konnaris portrait

Maxwell Konnaris

rotation student

Saiful Arefeen Sazed portrait

Saiful Arefeen Sazed

rotation student

Austin Montgomery portrait

Austin Montgomery

rotation student

Emilyane Amaral portrait

Emilyane Amaral

Visting Scholar

Ishika Verma portrait

Ishika Verma

rotation student

Tram Ha portrait

Tram Ha

rotation student

Habiba Abdelhalim portrait

Habiba Abdelhalim

rotation student

Jinpyo Hong portrait

Jinpyo Hong

MD student

Himi Begum portrait

Himi Begum

MD student

Georgios Tsiatsianis

Research Scientist