Consortium
Apostolos Vantarakis
Professor, University of Patras
Apostolos Vantarakis is Professor of Hygiene at the Department of Medicine of the University of Patras. He was an Associate Professor at the Laboratory of Hygiene and Environmental Protection at the Department of Medicine of the Democritus University of Thrace for 4 years (June 2004 - May 2008). He received his BA in Biology from the University of Patras in Greece, his Master’s degree in 1991 in Genetic Toxicology from Swansea University College (Wales, UK) and finally his Ph.D. in Hygiene-Environmental Microbiology in 1998 by the University of Patras.
​
He is a representative of ELOT in the Technical Committee CEN / TAG4 / WG6 on issues of standardization of molecular techniques for detecting viruses in food. He is an expert of the Ministry of Rural Development and Food at meetings organized by the European Union and CEFAS on virological control and shellfish hygiene in general. He was a Technical Inspector at the Unified Food Control Agency, Ministry of Rural Development and Head of the Laboratory Control & Measurement Department. He was a Technical Inspector at Occupational Risk Prevention Centre / Labor Inspectorate of Western Greece on Occupational Health and Safety issues. He has supervised over 10 European programs (European Union, FP7) and in more than 50 research programs he had scientific responsibility (Ministries, ROPs, Prefectures, Municipalities). He has supervised 5 Ph.D. theses (2 in English) and over 30 diploma theses (at postgraduate level) and 40 diploma theses (at undergraduate level).
​
He has published over 90 research papers in foreign language journals (post-crisis), 1 Global Water Pathogen Project, 5 Greek Books (1 translation, 3 papers in chapters), 8 Educational notes for undergraduate and postgraduate students, 10 research papers in Greek magazines (after crisis) and more than 70 articles in Greek magazines or newspapers (without crisis). He has organized 5 foreign and 20 Greek conferences and has published more than 90 papers in international conference proceedings and 70 papers in Greek conferences. He was also invited speaker in more than 9 international conferences, and he has spoken in more than 50 lectures or presentations in Greek conferences and workshops. Ηe has taught more than 5 postgraduate teaching programs and over 10 undergraduate lessons. Since May 2008, drinking water, bottled water, food and wastewater analyses have been carried out for the control of their microbiological and chemical quality as well as Public Health Risk Assessment in the context of the activities of the Hygiene Laboratory at the University of Patras. He is the Quality Manager of the accredited laboratory (AP 550-2).
​
In addition, he is a technician, responsible for the accredited Microbiological and Molecular Virological Testing of the Hygiene Laboratory. To date, over 10000 environmental analyses of water and food, air, soil and surfaces have been conducted under his scientific responsibility. He is the representative of the Department of Medicine of the University of Patras at the National Committee of Public Health of the Ministry of Health. He was also Chairman of the Sports Committee of the University of Patras during the academic years 2014-2017 and Member of the Board for Water Quality of the University of Patras from 2014 until today. He is a member of the Library and e-Class Committee of the Department of Medicine since 2012 and a member of the Coordinating Committee on Health and Safety of the University of Patras during 2009 and 2017. Besides that, he is a member of 10 scientific societies and assistant editor in Water Science Technology & Water Safety, Advances in Public Health and a member of the Editorial Board of Food & Environmental Virology, Journal of Diseases and Global Health, Advances in Public Health and Reviewer in Virology Journal, Journal of Virological Methods, Environmental Research and Hygiene, International Public Health Journal.
​
​
Contact