About

I am a Forensic Science Lecturer and I teach Forensic Science and Forensic Science with Criminology programs. I gained my undergraduate degree in Biochemistry (Hons) and MSc in Biological Sciences at Brock University and my PhD in Forensic Genetics at the Laboratory of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens Medical School.

My research combines elements of biochemistry, genetics, nanotechnology and toxicology to address issues in forensic, environmental and biomedical settings related to biological identification and toxicity.

Teaching responsibilities

I teach on the Forensic Science, Forensic Science with Criminology undergraduate programs and I contribute at the MSc Forensic Science Graduate Program in the following modules:

• 4BY535 Clinical Genetics
• 5BY545 Diagnostic Molecular Biology
• 6FO505 Serious and Organised Crime
• 6FO999 Independent Studies (undergraduate project supervisor)
• 7FO505 Advanced Bioanalytical Techniques (module leader)
• 7FO508 Research Methods & Data Interpretation (module leader)
• 7FO505 Research Project (module leader, graduate project supervisor)

Membership of professional bodies

• Royal Society of Biology - Member
• Higher Education Academy - Fellow

Qualifications

• PGCE - University of Portsmouth
• PhD - NKUA Medical School
• MSc - Brock University
• BSc (Hons) - Brock University

Experience in industry

Industrial Analytical Chemist - Georgiades S.A, Cigarette Manufacturers

In the media

• “Mary Rose Dog Was a He not, Not a She” 
• “Scientists Prove ships Dog on the Mary Rose Was a Male”
• “Skeletons of the Mary Rose: The New Evidence” – Channel 4

Recent publications

• Pegoraro, M., Fishman, B., Zonato, V., Zouganelis, G., Francis, A., Kyriacou, C. P. and Tauber, E. 2022. Photoperiod-Dependent Expression of MicroRNA in Drosophila. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 23 (9), pp. 1-14. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms23094935
• Salihu, M., Batiha, G.E.S., Kasozi, K.I., Zouganelis, G., Sharkawi, S.M., Ahmed, E.I., Usman, I.M., Nalugo, H., Ochieng, J.J., Ssengendo, I., Okeniran, O.S., Pius, T., Kimanje, K. R., Kegoye, E.S., Kenganzi, R. and Ssempijjai, F. 2022. Crinum jagus (J. Thomps. Dandy): Antioxidant and protective properties as a medicinal plant on toluene-induced oxidative stress damages in liver and kidney of rats. Toxicology Reports. 9, pp. 699-712. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.toxrep.2022.03.026
• Ezeonuegbu, B.A., Abdullahi, M.D., Whong, C.M., Sohunago, J.W., Kassem, H.S., Yaro, C.A., Hetta, H.F., Mostafa-Hedeab, G., Zouganelis, G. and Batiha, G.E.S 2022. Characterization and phylogeny of fungi isolated from industrial wastewater using multiple genes. Scientific Reports. 12, pp. 1-11. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-05820-9
• Rock, M., Zouganelis, G., Belchior de Andrade, A., Drake, S., Alexiou, A., Albrakati, A., Bathia, G. E. S. and Illingworth, T. 2022. Development and validation of anti-human Alpha synuclein DNA aptamer using computer modelling techniques—an in silico study. Journal of Integrative Neuroscience. 21 (1), p. 5. https://doi.org/10.31083/j.jin2101005
• Islam Y, Ehtezazi P, Cashmore A, Marinsalda E, Leach AG, Coxon CR, Fatokun A, Sexton DW, Khan I, Zouganelis G, Downing J, Pluchino S, Sivakumaran M, Teixido M, Ehtezazi T. (2021). The Inclusion of a Matrix Metalloproteinase-9 Responsive Sequence in Self-assembled Peptide-based Brain-Targeting Nanoparticles Improves the Efficiency of Nanoparticles Crossing the Blood Brain Barrier at Elevated MMP-9 Levels. J. Pharm. Sci. Accepted
• Knot I, Zouganelis G, Weedall G, Wich S, Rae R. 2020. DNA barcoding of nematodes using the MinION. Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution https://doi.org/10.3389/fevo.2020.00100
• Ekonomou G, Lolas A, Castritsi-Catharios J, Neofitou C, Zouganelis GD, Tsiropoulos N, Exadactylos A. 2019. Mortality and Effect on Growth of Artemia franciscana Exposed to Two Common Organic Pollutants. Water, 11:1614-1614
• Tairis N, Theodosopoulou E, Fitsialos G, Farmakis P, Zouganelis G. 2018. The Application of PCR and STR DNA Profiling for the Identification of Haematoxylin Eosin Histological Slides in a Case of Sample Mix-Up Involving Synonymous Patients. SciFed Journal of Forensics, :1-1
• J. Castritsi-Catharios, S. P. Zaoutsos, P. Berillis, G. D. Zouganelis, G. Ekonomou, E. Kefalas, J. Pantelis. Kalymnos, the island that made history in sponge fishery. Data on physical parameters, elemental composition and DNA barcode preliminary studies of the most common bath sponge species in the Aegean Sea. (2017) Regional Studies in Marine Science. 13: 71-79
• Catharios-Castritsi J, Zouganelis GD, Berillis P, Pandelis J, Economou G & Kefalas E Kalymnos, the island which made history in the sponge fishery. Data on the identification of Spongia officinalis officinalis and Hippospongia communis, the most common species in Aegean Sea. ISISA Islands of the World XIV Conference 2016 Niss(i)ology and Utopia: back to the roots of Island Studies, At Mytilini, Lesvos Island, Greece
• E. Kefalas, Catharios-Castritsi J, Zouganelis GD. A study of the benthic community structure of Demospongiae (Porifera) in Kalloni gulf at Lesvos Island (NE Aegean Sea, Greece). (2016) Regional Studies in Marine Science. 5:12-18
• Ioannis Haranas, Ioannis Gkigkitzis, George D. Zouganelis, Maria Haranas and Samantha Kirk. Respiratory Particle Deposition Probability due to Sedimentation with Variable Gravity and Electrostatic Forces (2015). Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology. Accepted
• Haranas I, Gkikitzis I, Zouganelis GD. 2015. A study in the Mechanical and Thermodynamical Responses of Cells to Altered Gravity. Gravitational and Space Research. 1:1
• Zouganelis GD, Gkikitzis I, Haranas I. 2014. Enhanced Capillary Rise of Wetting Liquids in Reduced Gravitational Shielding Under Microgravity Conditions. Physics International. 5:140-151.  
• Zouganelis GD, Ogden R, Nahar N, Runfola V, Bonab M, Ardalan A,Radford D, Barnett R, Larson G, Hildred A, Jones M, Scarlett G. An old dog and new tricks: Genetic analysis of a Tudor dog recovered from the Mary Rose wreck. Forensic Sci Int. 2014 Oct 14;245C:51-5
• Jane Castritsi Catharios, George Alabritis, Helen Miliou, Efthimia Cotou and George D. Zouganelis. Comparative Toxicity of "Tin Free" Self-Polishing Copolymer Antifouling Paints and their Inhibitory Effects on Larval Development of a Non-Target Organism. Material Sciences and Applications (2014). Accepted