Even before beginning his undergraduate studies, Odyssefs Liagkas was determined to creatively merge the fields of biomedicine, informatics, and technology, with the overarching goal of improving human health. He began his academic journey with a Bachelor’s degree in Biology from the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, while simultaneously building a strong foundation in computer science, statistics, and mathematics through both formal and independent learning. Just before graduating, he secured a position as a Research Intern at the National Hellenic Research Foundation, working on structural bioinformatics. After completing his degree, he fulfilled his mandatory military service as a Medical Laboratory Scientist and continued to pursue independent study. His dedication led to being awarded a Scholar Researcher position at the Archimedes Unit of the Athena Research Center, focusing on the implementation of informatics in the biological sciences.

He credits the support and inspiration of many people—undergraduate professors, his thesis and internship supervisors, colleagues, mentors, friends, and family—for helping him reach his dream of attending Cornell University. There, he will pursue an M.Eng. in Biomedical Engineering, with the critical support of the Fulbright Program. Among these influences, the Fulbright Program stands out as the most impactful—both directly, through its generous support, and indirectly, as it was a Fulbright alumnus who inspired him to believe in himself and take the leap. For him, Fulbright is far more than a scholarship program; it is a way of life. He is deeply honored to be part of this community and will be forever grateful.