Our Research Center

I performed my Ph.D training at the University of Surrey (U.K.), where I studied the neurobiological changes associated with drug addiction and relapse. I joined the University of Maryland School of Medicine as a postdoctoral research fellow and junior faculty. My research focused on the investigation of (1) sex differences and the involvement of stress hormones on maladaptive decision making and (2) the hormonal mechanisms underlying mood disorders. Following my postdoctoral training I joined the University of Cyprus as an MSCA fellow investigating the epigenetic mechanisms of hormone-related stress susceptibility. Now as an Assistant Professor at UWM, the Georgiou lab will focus on the understanding of the neuroendocrinological underpinnings of disorders associated with dysregulation of the brain reward system. In my free time I enjoy cooking, hiking and spending time with friends and family.

Dr. Onisiforou holds a B.Sc. (Hons) in Natural Sciences (Biology and Chemistry), an M.Sc. in Medicinal Chemistry, and a Ph.D. in Neuroscience from The Cyprus Institute of Neurology & Genetics (2018–2022), where she trained in the Bioinformatics Department. She also holds a B.A. (Hons) in Accounting and Finance and an M.Sc. in Finance and Financial Law.

Her research focuses on neurodegenerative, neuropsychiatric, and autoimmune diseases, with a particular interest in the role of microbial organisms in disease development and the emergence of comorbid conditions. She also investigates sex differences in disease susceptibility, aging, and longevity.

Dr. Onisiforou specializes in bioinformatics, with expertise in multi-omics analysis, data integration (single-cell and bulk), drug repurposing, and machine learning. She develops computational frameworks and network-based approaches to uncover molecular drivers of disease and inform treatment strategies. Her work bridges systems biology, precision medicine, and translational neuropharmacology to advance data-driven insights into complex disease mechanisms and therapeutic targets.

I am a Kansas State University graduate and a graduate student interested in behavioral neuroscience. I was previously a post-baccalaureate at the National Institutes of Health studying fear memory in mice. Outside of academia, I love to travel, dog-sit, and spend time outdoors with family and friends.