Vassilis is a Ph.D. student in the Marine Affairs Program at the University of Rhode Island and a member of the Coastal Resilience Laboratory. His research focuses on the application of artificial intelligence, environmental modeling, and decision-support systems to improve coastal resilience, emergency preparedness, and risk management for marine hazards. 

Before joining URI, Vassilis built an international career spanning more than a decade across research institutions, intergovernmental organizations, and environmental consulting. He most recently worked as a Project Scientist with RPS | A Tetra Tech Company, where he led environmental modeling projects for governments, coast guards, energy operators, and international organizations worldwide. His work combined advanced numerical modeling, geospatial analysis, and decision-support tools to support contingency planning, emergency response, and coastal risk assessments. 

Previously, Vassilis worked as an environmental engineer at Cedre (France), where he developed oil spill contingency plans, trained emergency responders internationally, and served on the Emergency Response Team during oil and chemical spill incidents. He has also worked with the International Maritime Organization (IMO), ACCOBAMS, and the Hellenic Navy Hydrographic Service on projects related to marine environmental governance, ballast water management, marine conservation, and geospatial decision-support systems. 

Vassilis holds an M.S. in Integrated Coastal and Ecosystem Management from the University of Corsica and an LL.M. in Maritime and Environmental Law from the University of Nice Sophia Antipolis. His interdisciplinary background in marine science, environmental policy, and applied modeling shapes his research at the intersection of coastal resilience, artificial intelligence, and environmental decision-making. 

Originally from Greece and France, Vassilis has lived and worked in several countries and enjoys scuba diving and exploring coastal environments around the world.