PhD Students

Marialena Barouti is currently a PHD student at the Department of Educational and Social Policy of the University of Macedonia. Her PhD thesis concerns “Social Relationships, Well Being, Adaptive Behavior, Functionality, and Rehabilitation of Elders with Visual Impairments”. In 2011 she obtained her Bachelor degree from the Department of Primary Education of the University of the Aegean. In 2013 she graduated from the postgraduate program in Special Education of the Department of Educational and Social Policy (University of Macedonia, Greece). Her post graduate thesis concerns the “Intelligibility and comprehension of people with visual impairments regarding the natural speech, synthetic speech and braille”. In 2015 she started working as a teacher in public elementary schools. The same year started her professional collaboration with the University of Macedonia when she became Adjunct Faculty Member of the Department of Educational and Social Policy (teaching of the course “Braille reading and writing” to undergraduate students). Mrs Barouti has participated in 2 funded research projects and has published 12 articles in journals and conference proceedings. Her research interests focus on a range of vital subjects of education and rehabilitation of individuals with visual impairments, such as adaptive behavior, social inclusion, well-being, social support, functionality, orientation and mobility, and synthetic speech intelligibility and comprehension.

Konstantinos Charitakis is a Computer Systems Engineer holding a BSc. degree from Cardiff University, UK and a post-graduate degree MSc. in Engineering and Management of Information Systems from the Royal Institute of Technology (KTH), Sweden. Currently he is a PhD candidate at the Department of Educational and Social Policy at the University of Macedonia. His PhD thesis is focusing on the application of multimodal learning environments in the teaching process of individuals with visual impairments. His professional experience is focused in Management of Information Systems and Learning Management Systems of synchronous and asynchronous e-learning. Especially on Learning Management Systems, he has extended experience as administrator of the electronic platform of synchronous and asynchronous learning, used for the needs of distance learning programs within the content of special education. His current research interests focus on the impact of multimodal learning environments on teaching of individuals with visual impairments, assistive technologies, e-learning and content accessibility. Konstantinos Charitakis has participated as a project team member in numerous national and European funded projects in the context of special education.

Evangelia Georgoula works as Accessibility Specialist for Students with Impairments at the Accessibility Unit of the University of Macedonia. She can read Braille and knows Greek Sign Language. She received her bachelor’s degree in School of Primary Education from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and studied as an exchange student at the department of Education at Uppsala University. She received her MSc degree in Special Education and Rehabilitation from the University of Macedonia and her master’s thesis is titled “Texture recognition through haptic feedback device – A comparison of sighted and visually impaired young adults”. The thesis was about to determine whether the explored textures are suitable to display 3D objects and their attributes. She received a Master's scholarship from the University of Macedonia. Evangelia participates in funded research projects and she is a PhD candidate at the Department of Educational and Social Policy of the University of Macedonia. Her PhD thesis focuses on the use of technology on the cognitive development of individuals with impairments and her research interests focus on assistive technology, education, accessibility, individuals with impairments

Lisander Isaraj is an Electrical and Computer Engineer holding an integrated master's degree from Democritus University of Thrace. He is a PhD candidate at the Department of Educational and Social Policy at the University of Macedonia. His PhD thesis focuses on the development of digital multisensory environments for the education and rehabilitation of people with disabilities. Lisander is currently working at the Accessibility Unit of the University of Macedonia. His research interests focus on digital accessibility, assistive technology, education, access in information, Internet content and Information and Technology applications. He is a member of Technical Chamber of Greece and has experience as an engineering consultant

Niki Markou is currently a Phd Student in the Department of Educational and Social Policy of the University of Macedonia. Her Phd thesis focuses on work and nonvisible disabilities. In June 2014 she obtained her Bachelor’s degree in the Department of Educational and Social Policy of the University of Macedonia. Three years later she received her Master of Science degree in Educational sciences: Bilingual Special Education in the Department of Early Childhood Education of the University of Western Macedonia. Since 2014 she has worked as a Special Education teacher for Greek Ministry of Education and Religious Affairs. She can read Braille and know Greek Sing Language. Her research interests focus on nonvisible disabilities, education and work.

Katerina Gkatzola is a PhD candidate at the Department of Educational and Social Policy of the University of Macedonia. Her dissertation concerns the composition of effective verbal descriptions for individuals with visual impairment or those who face reading difficulties. Her research interests include accessibility, universal design and quality of life with a main focus on individuals with visual impairment. Katerina obtained her master’s degree at the University of Macedonia as well and examined the relation between social media usage, specifically Facebook usage, and the quality of life of individuals with visual impairment in her master’s thesis. Regarding her bachelor’s degree, Katerina obtained her degree in Philosophy, Education and Psychology with a main focus on the latter at the University of Ioannina. Since obtaining her degree, she has worked with individuals with learning difficulties and various disabilities and acquired a certificate of competency in Greek Sign Language.