Ramon Ganigue

Biography

Senior Lecturer Dr Ramon Ganigué leads a research program on microbial biotechnologies for sustainable manufacturing, addressing critical challenges such as climate change and circular resource management for the benefit of people and planet.

He obtained his PhD in Environmental Engineering from the University of Girona, Spain. Prior to joining The University of Queensland (UQ), Ramon held academic and research positions across Europe and Australia, including Assistant Professor (2017–2022) and Associate Professor (2022–2026) in the Department of Biotechnology at Ghent University, Belgium, alongside postdoctoral appointments at Ghent University, the University of Girona, and UQ.

He has published over 100 peer‑reviewed articles and established extensive international collaborations spanning Europe, Australia, China, and North America. Ramon has led multiple large-scale, multi-partner research projects and, over the past five years, has secured approximately AUD 10 million in competitive European funding to support his team’s activities. In 2024, he was appointed Associate Editor of Frontiers in Bioprocess Engineering.

Research

Vision: To harness the diversity and functionality of microbial systems to enable sustainable, circular manufacturing processes that decouple production from fossil resources and support the transition to a net-zero bioeconomy.

Mission: To engineer robust, scalable microbial bioprocesses that convert complex, non-refined feedstocks into high-value products for the benefit of people and planet. His team integrates microbial physiology, community engineering, and process design to unlock the potential of non-model microorganisms and microbiomes, while developing intensified and industrially relevant bioprocess platforms.

Dr Ramon Ganigué’s research lies at the intersection of microbial biotechnology, chemical engineering, and sustainability, with a focus on engineering microbial bioprocesses for sustainable production systems. His team applies an integrated toolbox spanning microbial physiology, community engineering, metabolic and process modelling, and bioprocess intensification to develop next-generation biotechnologies.

Central to this approach is a deep understanding of microbial physiology and metabolism. The research places particular emphasis on non-model microorganisms, including anaerobes, extremophiles, and complex microbiomes, which offer unique and underexploited capabilities for sustainable bioproduction. These systems are leveraged to convert non-refined and complex feedstocks into value-added products, such as biochemicals, biofuels, bioplastics, and alternative proteins.

A key focus of the program is addressing the operational and engineering challenges that limit industrial deployment. This includes the development of continuous, intensified, and non-axenic bioprocesses, as well as innovative reactor configurations designed to enhance robustness, efficiency, and scalability. Through this integrated approach, the research aims to bridge the gap between fundamental microbiology and industrial application, enabling practical and scalable solutions for sustainable manufacturing.

While sustainable biomanufacturing remains a core focus, the group actively explores the application of its microbial biotechnology toolbox to other systems and challenges aligned with sustainability goals for people and planet.

Teaching & learning contributions

Ramon is an experienced educator contributing across undergraduate and postgraduate programs. He currently lectures in key courses including Principles of Biomedical and Bioprocess Engineering (BIOE1001), Environmental Systems (ENVE2501), and the capstone Process Engineering Design Project (CHEE4001). He is also co-editor of the 2024 IWA Scientific Book Resource Recovery from Water: Principles and Application, and has contributed to MOOCs on resource recovery from wastewater and carbon capture and utilisation technologies.