Assoc. Prof. Dr. Lefteris Topaloglou | Public and Community Engagement | Research Excellence Award

Associate Professor at University of Western Macedonia, Greece

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Lefteris Topaloglou is an Associate Professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering at the Polytechnic School of the University of Western Macedonia, where he also serves as Head of the ENTRA Lab and Director of the Institute of Energy Development and Transition to the Post-Lignite Era at the University Center for Research and Innovation (UCRI) TEMENUS. He is an active contributor to European policy and advisory bodies, serving as a member of the European Commission’s DG REGIO Academic Sounding Board for Cohesion for Transition (C4T) and the JTPeers Experts Database, specializing in just transition issues. His academic experience includes long-term teaching appointments at the University of Western Macedonia, the University of Thessaly, and the Department of Regional and Cross-Border Development, alongside extensive research collaboration with regional development and policy laboratories. Dr. Topaloglou has held significant administrative and leadership roles, including Director and Scientific Associate of the Regional Union of Municipalities of Western Macedonia, as well as long-standing service as a local development advisor. He has been appointed to several strategic regional and national bodies related to energy transition, research and innovation, and fair transition to a low-carbon economy. His professional profile reflects a strong integration of academic leadership, regional governance, and European-level policy engagement in energy transition and regional development.