Long resumé

Professional Experience

PhD in Quantitative Genetics (2019-2023) - HaploTeam, University of Strasbourg, France

  • Statistical and machine learning analysis of genomics and transcriptomics data from >300 yeast hybrids and high-throughput phenotyping datasets (R, Bash, Python).

  • Dashboard for the management and monitoring of experiments carried out by multiple members of our team in the frame of a large sequencing project, worth ~70k euros (R Shiny).

  • Database and dashboard for the management, monitoring and exploration of collection of >4000 yeast samples (probably the largest collection of natural yeast strains in academia worldwide) as well as the sequencing and phenotyping data produced by our team in the last 6 years (SQL, R Shiny).

  • Training and mentoring of 2 Master students for a total of 12 months, both of which now pursue their own PhDs.

  • Talks and poster presentations at 3 international conferences, participation in 8 publications.

  • Collaboration with other research teams in USA, France and Portugal.

  • Wet lab: classical genetics, short-reads DNA and RNA sequencing (Illumina), long-reads DNA sequencing (Oxford Nanopore), high-throughput phenotyping using robotic platforms (Singer Instruments).

  • Bioinformatics skills: Sequencing data preprocessing, QC and analysis, GWAS and linkage mapping.

Teaching Assistant (2019-2023) - University of Strasbourg, France

  • Applied Quantitative Genetics (2019-2023)

    A one-week practicals course for Master students focusing on classical genetics experiments as well as state of the art sequencing techniques.

  • Fundamental Genetics (2020-2022)

    Tutorials of basic genetics concepts (recombination, meiotic segregation, mendelian genetics) for second-year bachelor students.

  • OpenLab initiative (2019-2020)

    One-day practicals in high schools of the Alsace are with the objective of bringing high school students closer to scientific research and helping them understand the career path towards a Ph.D. as well as the opportunities that come after.

Featured data science project

SquashFlow Analytics

I developed an end-to-end video analysis pipeline for squash matches. The service consists of a semi-automated data collection, processing, and visualization pipeline, requiring only about a minute of manual effort to analyze a whole match, that is usually 45-90 minutes long. Currently, I’m consulting for a few professional athletes (in the world top 60) and work with them to identify the most insightful metrics.

To read more press here.

Formal Education

  • PhD in Quantitative Genetics (2019-2023), University of Strasbourg, France

  • Masters in Molecular Biology and Genetics (2017-2019), University of Strasbourg, France. Ranked 4 of 13

  • Bachelor in Molecular and Cell biology (2014-2017), University of Montpellier, France. Ranked 8 of 66

Publication Record

  • Tsouris A., Brach G., Schacherer J., Hou J. (2023). Non-additive genetic components contribute significantly to population-wide gene expression variation. bioRxiv, 10.1101/2023.07.21.550013 (Preprint)

  • Tsouris A., Brach G., Hou J., Schacherer J. (2023). Diallel panel reveals a significant impact of low-frequency genetic variants on gene expression variation in yeast. bioRxiv, 10.1101/2023.07.21.550015 (Preprint)

  • Friedrich A., Gounot J.-S., Tsouris A., Bleykasten C., Freel K., Caradec C., and Schacherer J. (2023). Contrasting Genomic Evolution Between Domesticated and Wild Kluyveromyces lactis Yeast Populations. Genome Biology and Evolution 15, evad004. 10.1093/gbe/evad004.

  • Tsouris A., Schacherer J., and Ishchuk O.P. (2022). RNA Interference (RNAi) as a tool for high-resolution phenotypic screening of the pathogenic yeast Candida glabrata. Methods in Molecular Biology, Yeast Functional Genomics: Methods and Protocols. p.313–330. 10.1007/978-1-0716-2257-5_18.

  • Abou Saada O., Tsouris A., Large C., Friedrich A., Dunham M., and Schacherer J. (2021). Phased Polyploid genomes provide deeper insight into the multiple origins of domesticated Saccharomyces cerevisiae bear yeasts. Current Biology 32, 6, 10.1016/j.cub.202201068

  • Abou Saada O., Tsouris A., Eberlein C., Friedrich A., and Schacherer J. (2021). nPhase: an accurate and contiguous phasing method for polyploids. Genome Biology 22, 126. 10.1186/s13059-021-02342-x.

  • Yeh C.-L.C., Tsouris A., Schacherer J., and Dunham M. (2021). High-throughput functional analysis of natural variants in yeast. bioRxiv, 10.1101/2021.02.26.433108. (Preprint)

  • Large C.R.L., Hanson N., Tsouris A., Saada O.A., Koonthongkaew J., Toyokawa Y., Schmidlin T., Moreno-Habel D.A., McConnellogue H., Preiss R., et al. (2020). Genomic stability and adaptation of beer brewing yeasts during serial repitching in the brewery. bioRxiv, 10.1101/2020.06.26.166157. (Preprint)

Scientific Conferences

  • 2022, Yeast Genetics Meeting (talk) - Los Angeles, USA

  • 2021, Levures Modèles et Outils (talk) - Strasbourg, France

  • 2021, 15th International Congress on Yeasts (poster presentation) - Vienna, Austria (online)

Languages

  • English, fluent (professional proficiency)

  • French, fluent (professional proficiency)

  • Greek, native language (professional proficiency)

  • German, limited conversational ability

Other activities and experience

  • Squash: Active squash player, Volunteer squash coach for my local club (2022-2023, Strasbourg)

  • Guitar: Classical, acoustic, anything with strings and frets basically... (ABRSM Grade 8, classical guitar)

  • Journal Club organiser: During the 3rd year of my bachelor’s, I organised a weekly journal club for biology students focused on reading recent scientific publications.

  • Military service: Mandatory 2-year military in the Engineering Corps of the Cypriot National Guard.