Team Leader
Efthimios Tambouris
Professor at University of Macedonia
Efthimios Tambouris is a Professor of Applied Informatics at the University of Macedonia, Thessaloniki, Greece. He coordinates the HE AI4Deliberation project, is a partner in HE AIOLIA, and coordinates the H2020 inGov Project.
He co-coordinates the ΕΛΛΑΚ Working Group on Open Governance and Open Data. Tambouris is an Associate Editor for Government Information Quarterly and Digital Government: Research and Practice, and co-chairs the EGOV-CeDEM-ePart International Conference.
His expertise includes eGovernment, eParticipation, and related fields, with research focused on using IT to improve governance and public participation. He has led numerous EU-funded projects in open data and digital transformation.
Team Coordinator
Rafail Promikyridis
PhD Candidate in Applied Informatics
Rafail Promikyridis is a PhD candidate at the Department of Applied Informatics, University of Macedonia, Greece. He holds a degree in Mathematics from the University of the Aegean and a Master’s degree in Information Systems from the University of Macedonia. His master’s thesis explored the use of knowledge graphs for enhancing the provision of public service information, with a case study focused on “getting a passport in Greece.”
Rafail’s research interests lie in the application of emerging technologies, particularly knowledge graphs and chatbots, to improve public service delivery. His work aims to advance the integration of these technologies into governmental processes, enabling more efficient, user-friendly, and accessible public services.
Postdocs
Dr. Christina Tikva
Visiting Lecturer, University of Macedonia
Christina Tikva is an accomplished Computer Scientist and Educator, holding a Bachelor’s degree in Applied Informatics and a PhD in Computer Science and Education from the University of Macedonia, as well as an MSc in Information Technology and Management from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. She currently serves as a Visiting Lecturer at the University of Macedonia and has been a Computer Science Teacher at the Hellenic-French School Kalamari since 2007. Across her academic and teaching career, she has developed extensive expertise in higher and secondary education, with a strong focus on classroom instruction, curriculum design, and the integration of technology into learning environments. Her research and professional interests span computer science education, digital learning methodologies, and the enhancement of teaching practices through innovative technological approaches.
PhD Candidate
Alexandros Gerontas
PhD Candidate in Applied Informatics
Alexandros Gerontas is an experienced Electrical and Computer Engineer holding an MEng from the University of Patras, an MSc in Communications, Computing & Human-Centred Systems from the University of Birmingham, and an MBA from the Hellenic Open University.
He currently serves as the Head of the IT Department in the Regional Unit of Preveza within the Region of Epirus, a position he has held since 2011. Prior to that, he held managerial roles in the IT and Planning departments of the Prefectural Administration of Preveza, and gained early professional experience at INTRACOM and SONY Europe in telecommunications and network management.
Alexandros has been recognized for his contributions to public administration, receiving the European Public Sector Award in 2015 and national distinction for Best Practice. His research and publications focus on e-government and administrative reengineering, including proposals for digital transformation in Greek public administration.
His professional and research interests include digital governance, process optimization, and the strategic use of information systems in the public sector to enhance efficiency and citizen services.
Research Assistants
Christos-Fanourios Patsouras
Christos-Fanourios Patsouras was an IT Technician at SPACE HELLAS S.A., with hands-on experience in customer and technical support. He has held full-time roles at SPACE HELLAS, including a four-month position from June to September 2022 and a two-month position from July to August 2021, based in Thessaloniki, Central Macedonia, Greece.
He is currently pursuing a degree in Applied Informatics with a focus on Management Information Systems at the University of Macedonia. As an active member of the university’s OpenSource UoM group, Christos has developed skills in PHP, software development, and various other technical domains.
Among his academic projects, he worked on myUoM from July to September 2022, a project associated with the University of Macedonia, showcasing his practical expertise in software development and problem-solving in academic and professional settings.
Internship 2025
Arif Ansari
Arif Ansari is a rising junior at Princeton studying Computer Science. His previous research has employed reinforcement learning in areas of finance and microbiology.
He is now focusing on expanding his background by working more with LLMS and understanding how they can be employed in human-computer interactive environments
Previous Members
Dr. Maria Zotou
IT Analyst & Developer, Senior Researcher
Maria Zotou is a graduate of the Department of Applied Informatics, University of Macedonia (2007). She has also completed her PhD on Data Analytics & Semantics in Education in 2018 (University of Macedonia and her postgraduate studies at the Department of Computer Science, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, specializing in “Information and Communication Technologies in Education” (2011).
She has participated in over 20 research projects regarding electronic participation, electronic learning, Information and Communication Technologies, data analytics, open and linked data, AI etc., at a cross-border, regional and European level.
She is also an IT developer with experience in ERP and other Information Management systems.
Moreover, she has teaching experience in thematic areas such as project management, information system’s, open and linked data and has published articles in scientific journals on electronic learning, electronic participation and domain (e.g. enterprise architecture) mapping.
ANTONIS GIANNAKOVITIS
Antonis Giannakovitis is an Applied Informatics student at the University of Macedonia, contributing to its eGovernment Research Group since February 2025 by developing Ruby on Rails systems and researching LLMs. He also volunteered with AIESEC Thessaloniki (September 2024 – February 2025), managing partner relations.
Pursuing his degree (expected October 2025), he specializes in Mobile Development and UI/UX Design (Figma). His skills include backend development (Ruby on Rails, SQL), version control, and key soft skills such as leadership and problem-solving.
His project work includes the ThessBus App (thesis) and Algorithmic Solvers. He has contributed to award-winning projects like Carops (Java) and i-bin (Arduino), and also engages in activities such as managing university Datathons and writing for Medium.
MICHAIL POLYCHRONIS
Michail Polychronis is an undergraduate in the School of Information Sciences – Department of Applied Informatics at the University of Macedonia. He served as Project Manager of Datathon@UOM 2023, leading a one-day open-data competition that brings together student teams from across Greece to develop innovative data-driven solutions.
Within the eGov Research Group, he has been an active member since 2023 and worked as a Junior Consultant (July 2024) on the Digital Management of Notarial Acts project, where he elicited user requirements and modelled AS-IS / TO-BE processes for a new information system. He also contributes to ongoing group research initiatives in digital governance and public-sector innovation.
Beyond the university, he gained professional experience at Space Hellas (August 2021 – November 2022) as a Junior IT Technician & IT Support Engineer, strengthening his technical foundation.
His academic and professional journey has equipped him with competencies in business analysis, project management, agile methodologies, teamwork, and critical thinking.
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