Odysseas Archontikis

I am fascinated by the bidirectional interplay between plankton (palaeo)biology and the Earth’s climate.

Previously, I completed a BSc (Hons) in Geology and Geoenvironment at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens in Greece (2013-2017), where I worked on projects related to microplankton biology and palaeontology. During this time and as part of my BSc research project, I also studied Geological Monuments of Greece.

In 2018 I pursued an MSc (Hons) in Earth, Planetary and Environmental Sciences at the University of Lille – Sciences and Technologies. My MSc project focussed on phytoplankton biogeography and calcification in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea by probing extant and surface sediment (fossil) assemblages.

Prior to joining Oxford, I worked as part of the Micropalaeontology lab of the Department of Earth Sciences of University College London (UCL) in the UK. Most of my research work included studies of phytoplankton taxonomy, biostratigraphy and role in palaeoclimate.

Research Experience

International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP) Expedition 392 ‘Agulhas Plateau Cretaceous Climate’ – Research Scientist & Biostratigrapher (2022-23)

Aix Marseille University, CNRS, CEREGE – Research Intern, Dept. Climate (2021)

University College London (UCL) – Research Affiliate, Dept. Earth Sciences, 12 months, 2018-2019

Awards

§  International Phycological Society Paul C. Silva student grant for DPhil research (2024)

§  Tyge Christensen Prize for best paper published in Phycologia in 2021 (2022)

§  University College Oxford G A Paul Graduate Fellowship (2022)

§  European Consortium for Ocean Research Drilling Research Grant for DPhil innovative research (2021)

§  INA Foundation Katharina von Salis Graduate Research Fellowship for DPhil research (2020)

§  Winning image of TMS Microfossil Image Competition 2020 www.tmsoc.org/microfossil-image-competition-calendar-2021/ (2021)

§  NERC-DTP & Oxford-Radcliffe Scholarship Award (2019-ongoing)

1. Archontikis, O.A., Millán, J.G., Andruleit, H, Cros, L., Kleijne, A., Heldal, M., Doan-Nhu, H., Winter, A., Blanco-Bercial, L. & Young, J.R. 2023: Taxonomy and morphology of Calciopappus curvus sp. nov. (Syracosphaeraceae, Prymnesiophyceae), a novel appendage-bearing coccolithophore. Protist doi.org/10.1016/j.protis.2023.125983.
2. Archontikis, O.A., Millán, J.G., Winter, A. & Young, J.R. 2023: Taxonomic re-evaluation of Ericiolus and Mercedesia (Prymnesiophyceae) and description of three new species. Phycologia doi.org/10.1080/00318884.2023.2172841.
3. Bendif, E.M., Probert, I., Archontikis, O.A., Young, J.R., Beaufort, L., Rickaby, R.E.M., Filatov, D.A., 2023: Rapid diversification underlying the global dominance of a cosmopolitan phytoplankton. ISME J. doi.org/10.1038/s41396-023-01365-5.
4. Archontikis, O.A. & Young, J.R. 2021: A reappraisal of the taxonomy and biodiversity of the extant coccolithophore genus Palusphaera (Rhabdosphaeraceae, Prymnesiophyceae). Phycologia. doi.org/10.1080/00318884.2021.1965758
5. Gibbs, S.J., Bown, P.R., Ward, B.A., Alvarez, S.A., Kim, H., Archontikis O.A., Sauterey, B., Poulton, A. J. Wilson, J., Ridgwell, A. 2020: Algal plankton turn to hunting to survive and recover from end-Cretaceous impact darkness, Science Advances. doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.abc9123.