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Show Notes
"If you are capable of acquiring knowledge, of applying the knowledge, and you like it, you can succeed. It doesn't matter what it is."
In this episode of The Biotech Startups Podcast, we delve into Stavros Papadopoulos' transformative journey from Greece to Hong Kong, exploring his experiences as a PhD student at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. Stavros shares how a chance encounter on a bus and his professor's last-minute recommendation led him to pursue his doctorate in Hong Kong, a decision that would shape his career and personal life.
Stavros describes Hong Kong as the "best city in the world," highlighting the perfect balance between intense academic rigor and vibrant city life. He explains how the university's unique environment, with students working late into the night and a campus integrated into the natural landscape, fostered both hard work and adventure. Stavros also touches on his research focus, which evolved from spatiotemporal databases to data security and cryptography, and how he learned valuable skills that continue to shape his career to this day.
Key topics covered:
- The Power of Mentorship: How guidance from family, professors, and peers influenced Stavros' academic journey
- Choosing Hong Kong: Balancing academic excellence with quality of life in selecting a PhD program
- HKUST Experience: Rigorous academics, supportive professors, and a vibrant student community
- Research Evolution: Transitioning from spatiotemporal databases to data security and cryptography
- Work-Life Balance: Maintaining high academic performance while enjoying Hong Kong's unique offerings
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Resources & Articles
Spatiotemporal Databases: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spatiotemporal_database
Data Security and Cryptography in Database Management: https://datastackshow.com/podcast/what-is-a-universal-database-featuring-stavros-papadopoulos-of-tiledb-inc/
MIT CSAIL: https://www.csail.mit.edu/
TileDB Universal Database: https://docs.tiledb.com/cloud/concepts/universal-data-management
Genomics Data Management: https://tiledb.com/blog/population-genomics-is-a-data-management-problem
LiDAR Data Processing: https://tiledb.com/blog/analyzing-lidar-and-sar-data-with-capella-space-and-tiledb
Big Data in Telecommunications: https://startups.epam.com/blog/big-data-analytics-for-telecommunications
Venture Capital Funding for Tech Startups: https://www.investopedia.com/terms/v/venturecapital.asp
Organizations & People
Hong Kong University of Science and Technology: https://hkust.edu.hk/
TileDB: https://tiledb.com/
HKUST: https://iau-hesd.net/university/hong-kong-university-science-and-technology
MIT: https://www.mit.edu/
Intel: https://www.intel.com/
Dimitris Papadias: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dimitris-papadias-8429b423a
Yanis Manolopoulos: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yannis-manolopoulos-47989514/?originalSubdomain=gr
