Katherina Petrou

Dr. Katherina Petrou is an Associate Professor in the School of Life Sciences at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS), leading the Petrou Lab. Her research focuses on microalgal ecophysiology, sulfur biogeochemistry, and coral symbiosis in the context of climate change. Key research questions include diatom responses to ocean acidification, microalgal nutritional shifts under environmental changes, and sulfur compound roles in marine physiology.

• Education: PhD (details not specified).
• Affiliations: Petrou Lab, UTS, and collaborations with institutions like CSIRO and the Australian Antarctic Division.

Her work integrates cell physiology, photobiology, and biochemistry to study microalgal adaptations across diverse habitats, including coral reefs, polar regions, and temperate coastal waters. The lab employs advanced techniques like FTIR spectroscopy and synchrotron-based analysis.

Current projects explore diatom silicification under future ocean conditions, Antarctic microbial communities, and DMSP-driven microbial interactions. Funded by ARC and Australian Synchrotron grants, her research addresses ecosystem resilience and biogeochemical cycles.

Lab members include PhD candidates Alyson Theseira, Giselle Firme, and Holly Ceapa, alongside postdocs like Dr. Daniel Nielsen. Past students have contributed to studies on coral stress physiology and Antarctic phytoplankton.

Service roles include the UTS Research Committee and Marine National Facility advisory roles. Her work is published in journals like Limnology and Oceanography and ISME Communications.