Dr. Tsaftaris Athanasios holds an M.Sc. and two Ph.D. degrees from Greece and the United States. He has more than forty years of teaching experience in undergraduate and graduate programs, and oversees more than 100 M.Sc. and Ph.D. theses. As an expert in his field, he holds many positions in research, education and technology, worldwide. After retirement, he holds the titles of Emeritus Professor at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, and Emeritus Researcher at CERTH.

Among his other achievements, Dr. Tsaftaris established the Center for Research and Technology Hellas (CERTH) and served as elected Director in one of its Institutes (Institute of Applied Biosciences) for 8 years. He served as Secretary General of Research and Technology for Greece. As President of the Board, Dr. Tsaftaris had a most significant contribution in the establishment of NOESIS, the Science and Technology Museum of Thessaloniki. In 2004, he received national recognition with his appointment as a Commander of the Order of the Phoenix for his outstanding services to Science by the President of the Hellenic Democracy. In 2014, Dr. Tsaftaris served as Minister of Rural Development and Food in the European Council of Agricultural Ministers. In 2016, he was included in the F1000Research list which includes the top 1000 scientists of the world in different fields of science. Since last year, he has assumed the Deanship of Undergraduate and Graduate Studies at Perrotis College.