Since 2009 is Professor of Advanced Materials at the Engineering Research Institute of Ulster University and specialises in R&D of strategic, novel materials for renewable energy. She has carried out research in a wide ranging area, however three main themes can be identified: (i) synthesis of novel materials and hierarchical architectures employing plasma enhanced CVD and solution based strategies; (ii) investigation of microstructure-electrochemical- mechanical properties relationships and (iii) surface functionalization and characterization the electronic structure of interfaces using both lab and synchrotron based x ray spectroscopies. Papakonstantinou has authored over 118 publications and her work has received over 5300 citations, with an H index of 35 (google scholar). Her work has attracted international recognition, as exemplified by 37 invited and two plenary talks at international conferences and the following honours: (i) invited Research Fellowship from the Royal Society of Chemistry, RSC (2014) through ‘Leaders in the Field’ scheme for her significant contributions to nanoscience and nanomaterials; (ii) a Distinguished Research Fellowship from Ulster University (2003) and (iii) a Royal Academy of Engineering (RAE)/Leverhulme Trust Senior Research Fellowship (2012).