Peter Ralph

Distinguished Professor Peter Ralph is a faculty member at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS), holding the position of Professor of Marine Biology within the Faculty of Science and serving as the Executive Director of the Climate Change Cluster (C3). He is also the founder of the NSW Deep Green Biotech Hub and an influential member of global initiatives such as UNESCO’s Blue Carbon Scientific Working Group and the Czech Academy of Sciences’ Global Change Research Centre.

• Leadership Roles: Director of the Climate Change Cluster, Deputy-Chair of Sydney Institute of Marine Sciences.
• Research Collaborations: Partnerships with CSIRO, industry, NGOs, and international institutions.
• Key Contributions: Over 280 publications and $15M+ in research funding.

His research focuses on algae-based solutions to climate change and sustainability, including carbon capture, bioplastic production, waste-water remediation, and circular bio-economy models. He explores advanced manufacturing through Industry 4.0 integration and zero-waste bio-refinery approaches, while also advancing algal phenomics using automated high-throughput screening systems.

Recent articles highlight innovations in AI-driven biorefinery optimization, microalgal bioprospecting, and mutagenesis techniques for rare earth element extraction. His work bridges environmental science with engineering, addressing challenges in algae cultivation scalability and commercialization.

• Scientific Awards: 2012 and 2018 UTS Vice-Chancellor’s Research Excellence Awards.

Peter has secured major grants, including the Fermentalg PhD Project on Microalgae Screening, PNG Natural Seafood’s Macroalgae Product Development, and the Winifred Trust Foundation’s Aquaculture initiative. His research teams collaborate across disciplines to transform algae into sustainable resources for food, energy, and biomanufacturing.

He leads UTS’s Climate Change Cluster (C3), a hub for interdisciplinary climate research, and actively promotes algae-building technologies and carbon storage innovations through biomasonry products.