dr. F (Fotini) Kokou

I am a biologist fascinated by the intricate relationship between fish and their microbiomes. Throughout my career, I have sought to bridge fundamental biological research with practical applications for the aquaculture industry. Following my studies at the University of Crete, I contributed to a diverse range of European, national, and industry-funded projects at the Hellenic Centre for Marine Research (HCMR) in Greece. I then moved to Israel for my postdoctoral research, collaborating with the Agriculture Research Organization and the National Institute for Biotechnology (Ben Gurion University of the Negev). There, I focused on the dynamics of the fish gut microbiome, investigating how environmental factors, such as temperature and diet, host genetics and stress shape fish gut microbial communities.

In January 2020, I joined the Aquaculture Biology and Fisheries Ecology group as an Assistant Professor, and in 2026, I was appointed Associate Professor. Today, my research focuses on the intersection of fish nutrition, gut health, and digestive functioning. I largely focus on the microbiome's role in these crucial physiological processes, with a special interest in early life priming.

Supervisor of PhD candidates Haniswita Fino, Sarah Garay, Giaele Benetti and Hao Pham. 

• Animal Microbiome Journal (1-5-2020/31-12-2099)
  
• Genomics (1-1-2021/31-12-2099)
  Associate Editor
• Frontiers in Marine Science (1-5-2015/31-12-2099)
  Review Editor