Ronald Clarke

Professor Ronald Clarke is an Associate Professor in the Faculty of Science at The University of Sydney, specializing in biophysical chemistry and membrane protein biophysics. His career spans academic positions at institutions including the Free University of Berlin and Ben-Gurion University.

• BSc (Hons I) 1981, PhD 1986 - University of Adelaide
• Dr. Habil. Physical Chemistry - Free University of Berlin (1995), Johann Wolfgang von Goethe University (1999)

Research focuses on ion-transporting membrane proteins (Na+,K+-ATPase, H+,K+-ATPase) using electrophysiology, fluorescence spectroscopy, and voltage-sensitive dyes. Key contributions include discovering the dimeric pumping mechanism of Na+,K+-ATPase and developing methods to measure membrane orientational polarisability.

His 15 most recent publications (2023-2025) explore electrostatic switches in membrane protein regulation, cholesterol effects on ion pumps, ATPase phosphorylation dynamics, and sustainability mechanisms at cellular scales. Articles appear in journals like Biophysical Reviews, J. Phys. Chem. B, and Int. J. Mol. Sci.

• McAulay-Hope Prize for Original Biophysics (2010)
• Humboldt Fellowship (2014-15)
• Max Planck Research Fellow (1990-99)

Active in grants including ARC Discovery Projects (2016, 2021, 2025) and NHMRC equipment grants. Member of the Sydney Nano Institute with ongoing work in membrane asymmetry, ion transport regulation, and sustainable biophysical systems.