Work Experience

08/2005 - to date: Research & Development Consultant / Specialist
Independent contractor - www.epicardio.com
Vassilios has been applying his research and development expertise and know-how in the Medical Education and Healthcare Solutions.

07/2001 - 07/2005: Research & Development Manager / Head of R&D
Primal Pictures Ltd, UK - www.primalpictures.com
Job function:

• Steered R&D towards innovative visualisation of human anatomy and physiology.
• Established track record of R&D funding delivery.
• Played influential role in digital media product development.
• Improved production efficiency.

09/2005 - 04/2006: Scientific/Technical Mentor
The DigitalCity, Teesside University, UK - www.thedigitalcity.org
Job function: Mentored R&D fellows and start-up companies in digital media.

09/1999 - 06/2001: Course Leader of the MSc Computer Animation
National Centre for Computer Animation
Media School, Bournemouth University, UK - ncca.bournemouth.ac.uk
Job function:

• Designed, developed and ran the MSc in Computer Animation for two academic years.
• Member of the University's Quality Assurance and Enhancement Group.
• Member of the Media School Committee.

09/1990 - 08/1999: Animator / Demonstrator / Lecturer / Senior Lecturer
National Centre for Computer Animation
Media School, Bournemouth University, UK - ncca.bournemouth.ac.uk
Job function:

• Lectured on computer graphics algorithms and techniques.
• Supervised student and commercial computer animation projects.
• Participated in course design for undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in Digital Media.
• Created award winning computer animations.

09/1988 - 08/1989: Research Assistant
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Energy Division
Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece - www.auth.gr
Job function: Participated as graphics programmer in the government funded research project: "Simulation of Thermal Behaviour of Solar Houses".

R&D Grants

Coordinated, contributed to the proposal writing, participated in the management and was principal investigator in the following projects:

2008 "Virtual Anatomy Trainer for Minimal Access Surgery"
Collaborative R&D Grant, Technology Programme, TSB
Project size: £783K
Partners: Primal Pictures, the Royal College of Surgeons of England and King's College London.
Status: successful, start 2008.

2007 "VirtualHeart"
R&D Grant, London Development Agency
Project size: £590K
Host: Primal Pictures
Status: successful, project currently under way.

2005 "Interactive Medical Simulation of the Human Heart"
R&D Grant, London Development Agency
Project size: £135K
Host: Primal Pictures
Status: successful, completed.

2003 "Algorithmic Human Anatomy"
SMART R&D Exceptional Award, London Development Agency
Project size: £1m
Host: Primal Pictures
Status: successful, completed.

Education

1998 PhD in Physically-based Deformable Models
NCCA, Media School, Bournemouth University, UK - ncca.bournemouth.ac.uk
Title of thesis: "Vector Offset Operators for Deformable Organic Objects"
Developed algorithms and interactive animation system for viscoelastic deformable models. Created computer animation screened at SIGGRAPH '92, etc.

1990 PgDip/MA in Computer Animation & Visualisation
NCCA, MediaSchool,BournemouthUniversity>, UK- ncca.bournemouth.ac.uk
Created computer animation screened at the London Film Festival '91.

1988 BEng in Mechanical Engineering (5 year degree including Masters year)
Department of Mechanical Engineering
Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece - www.auth.gr
Masters thesis: "Calculation and Visualisation of Solar Shadows in Architecture".

Training
2003 Houdini Development Kit, Techimage, London.
2001 Advanced Houdini Training, Techimage, London.
2000 MEL Fundamentals Training Certificate, Alias/Wavefront, London.

Software

Programming Languages:   C/C++, Java, OpenGL
Operating Systems:            Unix, IRIX, XP/Vista, OSX.
Computer Graphics Applications:

• SideEffects-Houdini (development of custom tools in OTL, VEX and Hscript)
• Maya (Dynamics and MEL)
• Adobe After Effects & Photoshop

Other Details
Nationality:                            Greek/British (dual nationality)
Languages:                            English, Greek, some Italian
Professional Affiliations:       Member of ACM/SIGGRAPH
Hobby:                                  Photography, cycling,, open sea sailing (North Aegean Regata Cup 1987).

Contact
mobile: +44(0)7808 403063
email:  vassili (at) epicardio (dot) com
web:    www.epicardio.com