Research Director, Foundation for Research and Technology, Greece
Dr. Nikos Papadopoulos is an accomplished geophysicist renowned for his expertise in geophysical surveying, remote sensing, and archaeological prospection. With over two decades of academic and field-based research experience, he plays a pivotal role in advancing non-invasive methodologies for cultural heritage and environmental applications. Currently, he serves as the Research Director and Head of the Lab of Geophysical – Satellite Remote Sensing & Archaeoenvironment (GeoSat ReSeArch) at the Institute for Mediterranean Studies (IMS), Foundation for Research and Technology (FORTH), Rethymno, Crete, Greece.
Publication Profile
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🎓 Educational Background
Dr. Papadopoulos completed his PhD in Applied Geophysics (2003–2007) at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki with a thesis titled “Development of algorithms for the three-dimensional inversion of geoelectrical data collected from archaeological sites”, graduating with EXCELLENT distinction. He earned his MSc in Applied Geophysics (2001–2003) from the same university with a remarkable 9.3/10 GPA. His academic journey began with a BSc in Geology (1997–2001), where he focused on aquifer detection using geological and geophysical methods and achieved a GPA of 8.0/10.
💼 Professional Experience
Dr. Papadopoulos has held key positions at GeoSat ReSeArch – IMS, FORTH. Since February 2022, he has been the Research Director and, since September 2021, the Head of the lab. Previously, he served as Deputy Head (2019–2021) and Principal Researcher (2017–2022). He was a Visiting Researcher at the University of Arkansas, USA, in 2013. Earlier in his career, he worked as a freelance geologist (2002–2008), and held summer research positions at the Institute of Marine Biology of Crete and the Institute of Geological and Mineral Research.
🏆 Awards and Honors
Dr. Papadopoulos has received multiple accolades, including the Best Paper Award at the 2nd Mediterranean Geoscience Union Conference (2022) for his work on reconstructing submerged heritage with geoinformatics. He won the Best Presentation Award at the 11th Congress of the Balkan Geophysical Society (2021) and the Best Poster Award at the International Conference on Remote Sensing and Geoinformation (2014).
🔍 Research Focus
His research emphasizes the development of geophysical algorithms, non-invasive surveying for archaeological prospection, environmental sustainability, and remote sensing. He integrates cutting-edge geoinformatics tools to monitor coastal vulnerabilities, land pollution, and ancient structures in various terrains, including submerged environments.
🧩 Conclusion
Dr. Nikos Papadopoulos is a forward-thinking researcher and influential geoscientist whose contributions bridge geophysics with cultural heritage conservation and environmental monitoring. His interdisciplinary approach continues to set benchmarks in both academic research and practical applications worldwide.
📚 Top Noted Publications
Introduction to the Special Issue: Geophysics and remote sensing for resources and ecosystem sustainability in an environmentally constrained world. Acta Geophysica.
Published in 2024 | Cited by: pending
A non-invasive experiment for root zone monitoring using electrical resistivity imaging. Environmental Earth Sciences, 84, 17.
Published in 2025 | Cited by: pending
Mapping Crustal Thickness Variations in Ethiopian Plateaus and Rifts Using Airborne Gravity and Elevation Data: Implications for Rifting Evolution in Ethiopia. SSRN.
Status: Under Review (2025)
Assess the Effectiveness of Multichannel Analysis of Surface Waves Method in Mapping Ancient Structures in Ultrashallow Aquatic Environments: The Case of Agioi Theodoroi, Greece. Archaeological Prospection, 32: 35-46.
Published in 2025 | Cited by: pending
Coastal Vulnerability of Archaeological Sites of Southeastern Crete, Greece. Land, 14(4), 892.
Published in 2025 | Cited by: pending