Kostas Parkatzidis brings his expertise to the Department of Chemistry to design circular plastics
Kostas Parkatzidis will join the Department of Chemistry as an Assistant Professor. His research focuses on polymer chemistry and materials science, with the aim of developing new strategies for synthesising and recycling advanced polymer materials.
Kostas Parkatzidis joins the Department of Chemistry, focusing on polymer chemistry and sustainable materials. Photo: private.
Kostas studied Materials Science and Engineering and Chemistry at the University of Crete in Greece before completing his PhD at ETH Zurich in Switzerland under the supervision of Professor Athina Anastasaki. He is currently a postdoctoral fellow in the group of Professor Zhenan Bao at Stanford University in the United States.
At Stanford, his research focuses on the design of polymer-based materials for wearable and implantable devices. By developing polymers with mechanical properties similar to those of soft biological tissues, the work aims to improve the integration of electronic devices with the human body and enable new types of wearable sensing technologies.
From wearable devices to sustainable plastics
In his new role at the Department of Chemistry, he will focus on sustainable polymer chemistry and the challenge of balancing the global demand for plastics with the growing problem of plastic waste and low recycling rates. His research aims to develop materials that are recyclable by design, as well as catalytic strategies for converting plastics back into valuable chemical building blocks.
Kostas research interests align closely with the department’s expertise in catalysis, polymer science, and materials chemistry. In addition, ongoing initiatives involving artificial intelligence and automation in experimental research provide opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration.
“I look forward to building a research group at the Department of Chemistry and collaborating with students and colleagues on research that can contribute to more sustainable materials,” says Kostas Parkatzidis.
Kostas will begin his position in early August 2026, and recruitment of students and researchers will start in the coming weeks.
FACTS
- Name: Konstantinos “Kostas” Parkatzidis
- Position: Assistant Professor, Department of Chemistry
- Research field: Polymer chemistry, materials science, and bioengineering
- Current position: Postdoctoral fellow, Stanford University, USA
- PhD: ETH Zurich, Switzerland
- Start date: August 2026
Last updated: 2026-09-02
Source: Department of Chemistry