Dr. Danae Patsiou is a research fellow at the Hellenic Centre for Marine Research (HCMR) with extensive expertise in marine ecotoxicology. After earning her Biology degree from the University of Patras, she pursued a Master's in Applied Aquatic Biology at the University of Portsmouth and a PhD at Heriot-Watt University, focusing on the ecotoxicity of engineered nanomaterials in aquatic organisms. Her research at HCMR has centered on the toxicity of microplastics and their effects on marine species, including fish, mussels, and sea urchins. She is also proficient in standardized toxicity testing for chemicals and environmental samples, adhering to OECD and ISO guidelines. Currently, she is contributing to an EU-funded project, iMermaid, which aims among others to enhance our understanding of chemical contaminants of emerging concern in the Mediterranean Sea and their toxicity in marine and aquatic organisms.
 
In addition to her research, Dr. Patsiou contributes to education by lecturing the Ecotoxicology module of the MSc program “Oceanography & Management of the Marine Environment” at the University of Athens. She is deeply involved in public outreach, having spoken at many events on topics like marine pollution, microplastics, and women in science. Notably, she serves as Guest Editor for a JoVE Methods Collection and has been recognized with two fellowships, including the 'MicroDigest' Research Project awarded by HCMR and the 'Schools Against Plastics' initiative funded by Beyond Plastic Med.