Konstantinos (Kostas) is currently working at EFSA’s chief scientist office (CSO) as a scientific project coordinator. The CSO supports EFSA's scientific preparedness activities for future risk assessment requirements by advancing selected scientific themes while fostering connectivity and partnerships with Member States and other EU Agencies as well as international organisations and third countries. Kostas coordinates the activities related to the incorporation of microbiome data and methods in EFSA’s regulatory science work. Prior to joining the CSO, Kostas worked in the genetically modified organisms Unit of EFSA for six years.  Before joining EFSA in 2014, Kostas held an academic career working as researcher in molecular and cell biology and biochemistry in several research institutes (e.g. the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) in Germany and the Medical Research Council (MRC) in the UK). Kostas obtained his bachelor’s degree in biophysics followed by a Master’s in cheminformatics and a Ph.D. in molecular and structural biology.