Education
- 2020 – 2024: PhD in Computing/Computer Science, Department of Computer Science and Engineering jointly with the Aristarchus Research Center, European University Cyprus
- 2013 – 2015: MSc in Applied Mathematics (ranked 1st, GPA: 9.43/10), Department of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Cyprus
- 2008 – 2012: BSc in Mathematics, Department of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Cyprus
Thesis: “A Bayesian method for fitting spectral energy distributions of galaxies with radiative transfer models”
Thesis: “Robust exponential convergence in a balanced norm for an hp finite element method applied to fourth order singularly perturbed problems” (Thesis grade: Excellent)
Academic Positions
- 2025 – present: Associate Research Scientist in Artificial Intelligence, Data Analytics and High-Performance Computing with cross-disciplinary applications, Computation-based Science and Technology Research Centre (CaSToRC), The Cyprus Institute
- 2020 – 2024: Researcher, Aristarchus Research Center, European University Cyprus
- Academic years 2022 – 2024: Special Scientist, Department of Computer Science and Engineering, European University Cyprus
- January 2019 – March 2020: Post-Graduate Researcher, In-Silico Modelling Group, Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, University of Cyprus
Honors & Awards
- The article “SMART: spectral energy distributions Markov chain analysis with radiative transfer models” was listed amongst the most-read recent articles in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, according to Oxford University Press (2025)
- The article “Exploring the properties of the obscured quasar COS-87259 at z=6.853” received international recognition through global media coverage, by PHYS.ORG, skyCR, pcnews and παιδείαnews (2024)
- Full academic scholarship for the PhD Program in Computing/Computer Science, awarded by the Department of Computer Science and Engineering jointly with the Aristarchus Research Center, European University Cyprus (2020)
- Award for highest academic performance during the Master’s degree program in Applied Mathematics, granted by the Faculty of Pure and Applied Sciences, University of Cyprus (2015)
- Sievert Larsson/Ancoria Excellence Award for highest average grade during the Master’s degree program in Applied Mathematics, granted by the Department of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Cyprus (2015)
Participation in Research Projects
- 2025 – present: Data Analytics for Improved and Resilient Milk Yields (DAIRY), funded by the Research and Innovation Foundation
- 2022 – 2024: Further development of CYprus models for Galaxies and their NUclear Spectra (CYGNUS+), funded by the European Space Agency
- 2020 – 2021: CYprus models for Galaxies and their NUclear Spectra (CYGNUS), funded by the European Space Agency
- 2019 – 2020: In-silico modelling, University of Cyprus internal research program
Software Development
SMART: Spectral energy distributions Markov chain Analysis with Radiative Transfer models
An open-source PYTHON-based tool that implements a Bayesian Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) method to fit the ultraviolet to millimetre spectral energy distributions (SEDs) of galaxies exclusively with radiative transfer models
doi: 10.1093/mnras/stae1141 ascl.net/2406.003
Fields of Scientific Interest
Computational mathematics
Data science
Scientific computing
MCMC methods
Bayesian inference
SED fitting with radiative transfer models
Publications
- Varnava, C., Efstathiou, A., Farrah, D. and Rigopoulou, D., 2025. Constraints on the active galactic nucleus and starburst activity of local ultraluminous infrared galaxies from a broad range of torus models. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 538(1), pp. 426–453
- Varnava, C., Efstathiou, A. and Farrah, D., 2024. Exploring the properties of the obscured quasar COS-87259 at \(z\)=6.853. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 534(3), pp. 2585–2591
- Varnava, C. and Efstathiou, A., 2024. SMART: spectral energy distributions Markov chain Analysis with Radiative Transfer models. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 531(2), pp. 2304–2329
- Xenophontos, C., Constantinou, P. and Varnava, C., 2017. An hp Finite Element Method for Fourth Order Singularly Perturbed Problems. Lecture Notes in Computational Science and Engineering, 119, pp. 681–692
- Constantinou, P., Varnava, C. and Xenophontos, C., 2016. An hp finite element method for 4th order singularly perturbed problems. Numerical Algorithms, 73(2), pp. 567–590
Media coverage by PHYS.ORG, skyCR, pcnews and παιδείαnews
Amongst the most-read recent articles in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, according to Oxford University Press
Media Coverage
- PHYS.ORG (international science news platform), 2024: Astronomers explore the properties of an obscured hyperluminous quasar
- skyCR, Costa Rica, 2024: Exploran las propiedades de un cuásar hiperluminoso oscurecido (Exploring the properties of an obscured hyperluminous quasar)
- pcnews, Russia, 2024: Астрономы обнаружили сверхмассивную чёрную дыру в центре галактики COS-87259 (Astronomers have discovered a supermassive black hole at the center of the galaxy COS-87259)
- παιδείαnews, Cyprus, 2024: Ερευνήτρια του Ευρωπαϊκού Πανεπιστημίου μελετά ένα πρωτόγονο υπερφωτεινό κβάζαρ (A researcher at European University studies a primitive hyperluminous quasar)
Invited Talks
- My research on galaxies. Event for the total lunar eclipse, Limassol, Cyprus, 2025
- A new method for studying galaxy evolution. Astronomy Night, Nicosia, Cyprus, 2025
- SMART: Spectral energy distributions Markov chain Analysis with Radiative Transfer models. Cyprus Astrophysics Workshop 2024: Luminous Infrared Galaxies in the JWST era, Nicosia/Paphos, Cyprus, 2024
- Portrait presentation. 1st WMSC Workshop: Portraits of Women in Mathematical Sciences in Cyprus, Nicosia, Cyprus, 2023
- Uncovering obscured supermassive black holes at high redshift with a new MCMC SED fitting code. Cyprus Astrophysics Workshop 2022: A close look at Luminous and Ultraluminous Infrared Galaxies, Nicosia/Paphos, Cyprus, 2022
Conference Presentations & Proceedings
- Varnava, C., 2025. Constraints on the properties of local ultraluminous infrared galaxies (poster). European Astronomical Society Annual Meeting 2025, Cork, Ireland
- Panayidou, K., Efstathiou, A. and Varnava, C., 2024. Accelerating SED fitting with radiative transfer models. Cyprus Astrophysics Workshop 2024: Luminous Infrared Galaxies in the JWST era, Nicosia/Paphos, Cyprus
- Panayidou, K., Efstathiou, A., Varnava, C. and Skrekas, P., 2024. Machine learning pipeline for speeding up SED fitting with radiative transfer models. COSMO 21: Statistical Challenges in 21st Century Cosmology, Chania, Greece
- Varnava, C. and Efstathiou, A., 2023. SMART: A new MCMC code for SED fitting with radiative transfer models in the JWST era. European Astronomical Society Annual Meeting 2023, Krakow, Poland
- Varnava, C., 2023. SMART: A new MCMC code for studying galaxy evolution. 4th Pancyprian Conference in Statistics, Nicosia, Cyprus
- Varnava, C., 2023. SMART: Spectral energy distributions Markov chain Analysis with Radiative Transfer models. 2nd Doctoral Colloquium of the Rectors' Conference of Cyprus Universities, Nicosia, Cyprus
- Varnava, C., Efstathiou, A. and Lesta, V. P., 2022. Uncovering obscured supermassive black holes at high redshift with a new MCMC SED fitting code. COSPAR 44th Scientific Assembly, Athens, Greece
- Varnava, C., Efstathiou, A. and Lesta, V. P., 2022. Bayesian SED fitting with radiative transfer models for studying galaxy evolution (poster). European Astronomical Society Annual Meeting 2022, Valencia, Spain
- Varnava, C., Efstathiou, A. and Lesta, V. P., 2022. Bayesian model fitting for studying galaxy evolution (poster). BNP 2022 Networking Workshop, Nicosia, Cyprus
- Varnava, C., Efstathiou, A. and Lesta, V. P., 2021. MCMC model fitting methods for studying galaxy evolution (poster). Conference on Multiscale Physical and Biological Systems, Paphos, Cyprus
- Efstathiou, A., Lesta, V. P., Michos, I., Pavlou, O., Papaefthymiou, E., Varnava, C. and Papadopoulos, M., 2020. How to discover supermassive black holes in galaxies. European Researchers’ Night 2020, Nicosia, Cyprus
- Tzirakis, K., Varnava, C., Hadjicharalambous, M., Wijeratne, P. and Vavourakis, V., 2019. A Quantitative In Silico Framework to Simulate Cytotoxic and Nanoparticle Cancer Drug Delivery (poster). 25th Congress of the European Society of Biomechanics, Vienna, Austria
- Xenophontos, C., Constantinou, P. and Varnava, C., 2016. An hp Finite Element Method for Fourth Order Singularly Perturbed Problems. ICOSAHOM 2016, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Xenophontos, C., Constantinou, P. and Varnava, C., 2016. Robust exponential convergence of hp finite element method for 4th order singularly perturbed problems. 13th Annual Workshop on Numerical Methods for Problems with Layer Phenomena, Moscow State University, Russia
- Xenophontos, C., Constantinou, P. and Varnava, C., 2015. An hp finite element method for 4th order singularly perturbed problems. 12th Annual Workshop on Numerical Methods for Problems with Layer Phenomena, TU Dresden, Germany
Conference Organizer
- Member of the Local Organizing Committee of the Cyprus Astrophysics Workshop 2022, Nicosia/Paphos, Cyprus, 2024
- Member of the Local Organizing Committee of the Cyprus Astrophysics Workshop 2022, Nicosia/Paphos, Cyprus, 2022
Teaching and Training Experience
Instructor for:
- AED105 Business Statistics (E-Learning), Winter term 2023–2024, European University Cyprus
- AEF105 Business Statistics, Winter terms 2022–2023, 2023–2024, European University Cyprus
- MAT115 Statistics I, Winter terms 2022–2023, 2023–2024, European University Cyprus
Trainer for:
- SMART software training session, Cyprus Astrophysics Workshop 2024
Other Academic Activities
- Founding member of Women in Mathematical Sciences in Cyprus (WMSC), 2022–present
- Co-chair of the 2nd Doctoral Colloquium of the Rectors' Conference of Cyprus Universities, 2023