Student Profiles

Charalambos ("Bambos") Kaittanis
Biomedical Sciences Ph.D. Candidate

Charalambos, better known as "Bambos" is an active member of the NanoScience Center. Bambos is from Cyprus, a small island from the Eastern part of the Mediterranean Sea. He served in the Cyprus Army and then came to the U.S. after he was accepted into the Molecular Biology & Microbiology program at Pennsylvania State University in State College, PA. While at Penn State he had an internship in Orlando and became interested in UCF's program after reviewing this with a UCF faculty member. Bambos works with Dr. Manny Perez and his thesis project utilizes magnetic nanoparticles for molecular diagnostics, with an aim of detecting the presence of microorganisms and toxins. Bambos is also interested in creating model systems. "A major problem with biological systems is that you can't predict an outcome. A major breakthrough would be to predict outcomes from a created model system which could be utilized to create drugs or targeted contrast agents. Also, in developing countries such as India and China, they have huge problems with contaminations from heavy metals or microorganisms, therefore rapidly identifying these agents could safeguard public health". After he completes his Ph.D., his options are open, but he may pursue a career in industry. "I would like to work for a pharmaceutical company developing applications for clinical imaging and molecular diagnostics using various contrast agents. Living here is good. I didn't like the cold weather at Penn State; this is so much nicer, and it is similar to the weather in Cyprus".