Dr Maria Basta was born in Heraklion, Crete in Greece. She graduated from the Medical School of Crete in 1997. She completed her residency in Psychiatry in the Department of Psychiatry / University Hospital of Crete in 2006. During her residency she was trained in Sleep Medicine for 6 months in the Sleep Research and Treatment Center, Pennsylvania State University, Hershey, PA. She acquired her PhD from the Medical School of Crete in 2003 in Sleep Medicine. Between 2006-2007 she did a postdoctoral fellowship in Sleep Medicine in the Sleep Research and Treatment Center, Pennsylvania State University, Hershey, PA, USA.

From 2007 until 2012 she worked as an Attending Psychiatrist in Venizeleio General Hospital, Mental Health Center and the Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital at Heraklion, Crete in Greece.

Since January 2013 she holds the position Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, at the School of Medicine, University of Crete.

She has published over 40 original articles/review articles, most of them in the field of Sleep Medicine.

Dr Basta is currently involved in the following research:

• “Multidisciplinary Network for the study of Alzheimer’s Disease”, Program THALIS

• “Evaluation Center of the course and treatment of chronic psychiatric disorders in Crete”

• “Research and comprehensive intervention for the social inclusion of a major socially vulnerable group: Psychological profile/psychopathology, skills' profile, needs assessment and programmes' development for training-reskilling and psychological support towards the re-inclusion of young people not in education, employment of training"

She is member of the European Sleep Research Society (ESRS) and the American Association of Sleep Medicine (AASM) and since 2015 is qualified as an “European Somnologist, expert in Sleep Medicine”.