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"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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Subscribe to the podcast:Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-biotech-startups-podcast/id1679591994Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2PSL162R2s0zOwU5913Zv4Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@excedr Website: https://www.thebiotechstartupspodcast.com/ 
Find our guest, Stavros Papadopoulos, at these links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stavrospap/Website: https://www.linkedin.com/company/tiledb-inc/
Find our host, Jon Chee, at these links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonchee
Learn more about ExcedrLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/excedr/ Website: https://www.excedr.com
Resources & Mentions:

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-managementGenomics Data Management: https://tiledb.com/blog/population-genomics-is-a-data-management-problemLiDAR Data Processing: https://tiledb.com/blog/analyzing-lidar-and-sar-data-with-capella-space-and-tiledbBig Data in Telecommunications: https://startups.epam.com/blog/big-data-analytics-for-telecommunicationsVenture Capital Funding for Tech Startups:  https://www.investopedia.com/terms/v/venturecapital.asp

Companies & people mentioned: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-technologyMIT: https://www.mit.edu/Intel: https://www.intel.com/
Dimitris Papadias: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dimitris-papadias-8429b423aYanis Manolopoulos: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yannis-manolopoulos-47989514/?originalSubdomain=gr
Timestamps:00:00 Intro01:47 Early Inclination Towards Learning and Competitiveness03:52 Grandmother's Gift of First Computer07:23 Cousin's Advice: A Plan for Computer Science and Silicon Valley12:23 Mentorship and Guidance17:18 University Experience and Disappointment21:34 Tips for Getting into Top US Schools27:36 Serendipitous Encounter on a Bus: Hong Kong Beckons36:10 Balancing Hard Work and Enjoyment42:24 Hong Kong's Unique Appeal and University Life48:20 Research Focus: Spatiotemporal Databases and Data Security53:06 Data Security and Cryptographic Techniques53:36 OutroThe Biotech Startups Podcast gives you a front-row seat to the business and science of building a biotech. Hosted by Jon Chee, CEO of Excedr, the show features honest conversations with founders, execs, and investors about their work, their companies, and how they got there. From scientific breakthroughs to startup lessons, each episode explores what it really takes to grow a life science company—from pre-seed to IPO.