Dimitrios Konstantinidis

What are you investigating?

 I am a Biologist, focusing on Microbial Biotechnology. Currently I am working on better understanding the genetic elements that regulate protein secretion in baker’s yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae). This yeast is broadly used for the production of heterologous proteins, such as insulin and vaccines. Interestingly S. cerevisiae is a very diverse species with strains originating from all sorts of niches (beer, cocoa, wine, bioethanol, sourdough and many more), but most studies focus on few lab strains which harbor limited genetic diversity. By studying the natural diversity in a high-throughput manner, I hope to identify alleles that contribute to a superior protein secretion phenotype and develop novel chassis strains. Utilizing these chassis strains will hopefully lead to a more sustainable food sector and increased availability of biotherapeutics and green energy.

What did you want to be as a kid?

 When I was a kid I was fascinated by all the nature documentaries describing for example the wildlife of remote rainforests or the African savannah. Therefore, I was certain that I would become the zoologist equivalent of Indiana Jones and study all the animals I saw on TV, as well as discover a few new ones. However, during my studies a different kind of jungle, a micro-jungle, with its wild biodiversity of bacteria, yeast and fungi won my heart and I am very glad about that.

The scientific process entails a lot of failures and things not going as planned along the way. How do you deal with that aspect of the work?

Sometimes it really feels like failure and experiments are two sides of the same coin. It never becomes easier to accept these failures, it’s a matter of looking at it under the right light. Personally, I think that the most important thing to keep in mind is that you can openly talk about it to others around you. Most likely they are going through the same and can help you see the big picture and come up with plan B to Z. Never forget how  much you love science and one bad experiment can’t change that. Moreover, it’s crucial to have a hobby, whatever that might be, as long as it takes your mind off the dreadful experiments and helps you relax. Finally (and it might be the Greek in me speaking) it always helps to be a bit philosophical and stoic about failed experiments. The next one is bound to succeed, right?