Athinoulla Konstantinou

I am honoured to be part of the SUSTAIN CDT, as it provides me with the great opportunity to make a substantial impact in relation to the immense difficulties facing the agri-food industry worldwide, by leveraging the substantial advancements of Artificial Intelligence (AI). My motivation for joining the CDT primarily stems from the potential to contribute to improving society’s welfare through scientific discoveries and technological advancements. Equally important, the CDT provides integrated research training collaboration among four academic institutions, and opportunities to participate in summer schools and conferences, with all that these entail for both my personal and professional growth.

I am pursuing my PhD at the University of Aberdeen, where I also completed my BSc in Computer Science. My research focuses on utilising machine learning in crop breeding within precision-controlled vertical farming aiming to address the imperative issue of climate change and its impact on food security. As climate change disrupts seasonal weather patterns, along with other challenges like overpopulation, it is indispensable to supply nutritious and sufficient food for the global population sustainably, efficiently, and cost-effectively. The overarching goal of this research is the development of Artificial Intelligence techniques for plant production and breeding, evaluating the influence of AI-based methods on controlled vertical farming conditions.

Following the completion of my PhD studies, I aim to continue my professional growth in academia, combining my passion for teaching with innovative AI research that facilitates scientific advancements. This career path is driven by my experience in three research internships involving AI and serving as a teaching assistant in seven undergraduate and postgraduate courses at the University of Aberdeen.