EBCL Welcomes New Researcher
Dr. Panagiota Tsafrakidou

By Alexandra Chaskopoulou and Panagiota Tsafrakidou

In November 2023 Dr. Tsafrakidou Panagiota (see photo below), an agriculturalist by training from Thessaloniki, Greece joined the European Biological Control Laboratory (EBCL) as a postdoctoral researcher focusing on developing novel chemical technologies for the surveillance and control of biting arthropods. Panagiota holds a BSc (2009) and MSc (2013) in Agriculture, Food Science & Technology from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece, and a PhD in Chemistry (2016) from University of Patras, Greece. While her research has been focusing primarily on the production of bio-based compounds from agro-industrial wastes, in 2022 she partnered for the first time with EBCL-ARS scientists in an ARSX project (Harvest for a Healthier Future) where she was introduced in the fascinating world of insects. Working in the vibrant environment cultured by the ARSX program in combination with the innovative aspects of the research conducted at EBCL was what inspired her to change her research focus from agro-industrial wastes to insect pests and to eventually join the EBCL team in Greece. We are thrilled to have Panagiota on board as she brings an entirely fresh perspective and outside the box thinking, while her unique set of knowledge and skills have already resulted in the production of a novel study (submitted to the journal of Economic Entomology) on the utilization of insect pests as animal feed components. Please, join us in welcoming our newest team member, Panagiota!

Dr. Panagiota Tsafrakidou working with Arsen Gkektsian (biological technician) at the EBCL chemistry laboratory in Thessaloniki, Greece. 

For inquiries regarding this article contact: Alexandra Chaskopoulou (achaskopoulou@ars-ebcl.org), Maia Tsikolia (mtsikolia@ars-ebcl.org), or Panagiota Tsafrakidou  (panag.tsafrak@gmail.com).

The European Biological Control Laboratory (EBCL) was established in 1991 near Montpellier, France. EBCL was created by the merger of the former European Parasite Laboratory, established in Paris in 1919, and the Biological Control of Weeds Laboratory in Rome. EBCL has a satellite laboratory in Thessaloniki, Greece. As the only USDA ARS-operated laboratory outside the United States, EBCL develops biological control technologies which can be used to suppress invading weeds and insect pests of Eurasian origin. EBCL researchers do this by searching for natural enemies (insects, mites, and pathogens) in their native habitat, determining their identity, testing their host specificity and potential impact in laboratory and field experiments, and shipping promising organisms to the U.S. for further testing as biological control agents. EBCL collaborates with scientists in many countries in Europe, Asia, and Africa to explore in regions of origin of the target weeds and insects.