Elli Magkouta completed her BSc in Biochemistry and Biotechnology from the University of Thessaly, Greece, in 2023. Her bachelor’s thesis was centered on gastric cancer diagnostics, where she focus on identifying novel RNA biomarkers, specifically long non-coding RNAs, with potential applications in early detection of the disease.
During her Bachelor studies in the university of Thessaly, Elli became the leader of a student research team, which developed a sustainable bio-remediation platform to tackle eutrophication in freshwater ecosystems. The project won multiple awards at the international iGEM competition, and this experience sparked her interest in interdisciplinary research combining biology and engineering.
As part of an Erasmus+ internship at Wageningen University, the Netherlands, she worked on the development of animal-free cheese by engineering yeast to produce casein micelles. She then pursued her MSc in Interdisciplinary Sciences at Université Paris Cité, France, completing research projects on antibiotic discovery in fungi, electrical control of gene expression in E. coli, and R&D in product development in a Greek biotech startup focused on microalgae-based, carbon-negative food ingredients.
In parallel to her studies, Elli volunteered with the iGEM Foundation for two years, supporting bio founders in launching biotech startups and serving as an ambassador for Europe, promoting synthetic biology and fostering collaboration across the continent.
In 2025, Elli joined the Electronic Plants group at Linköping University as a PhD student. Her research focuses on the 4D-PhytoHybrid project, which explores plant-based biohybrid systems that integrate photosynthesis and organic electronics to create materials with living properties such as growth, adaptability, and responsiveness.
During her Bachelor studies in the university of Thessaly, Elli became the leader of a student research team, which developed a sustainable bio-remediation platform to tackle eutrophication in freshwater ecosystems. The project won multiple awards at the international iGEM competition, and this experience sparked her interest in interdisciplinary research combining biology and engineering.
As part of an Erasmus+ internship at Wageningen University, the Netherlands, she worked on the development of animal-free cheese by engineering yeast to produce casein micelles. She then pursued her MSc in Interdisciplinary Sciences at Université Paris Cité, France, completing research projects on antibiotic discovery in fungi, electrical control of gene expression in E. coli, and R&D in product development in a Greek biotech startup focused on microalgae-based, carbon-negative food ingredients.
In parallel to her studies, Elli volunteered with the iGEM Foundation for two years, supporting bio founders in launching biotech startups and serving as an ambassador for Europe, promoting synthetic biology and fostering collaboration across the continent.
In 2025, Elli joined the Electronic Plants group at Linköping University as a PhD student. Her research focuses on the 4D-PhytoHybrid project, which explores plant-based biohybrid systems that integrate photosynthesis and organic electronics to create materials with living properties such as growth, adaptability, and responsiveness.