A/ProfUnnikrishnan Kuzhiumparambil

Unni Kuzhiumparambil is an Associate Professor in the Discipline of Biotechnology, Faculty of Science, at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS). He is the Chemistry and Biomaterials Research Lead at the UTS Climate Change Cluster (C3), where he leads a multidisciplinary research team working across sustainable biomaterials, environmental chemistry and biotechnology.

His research focuses on developing sustainable biomaterials, including bioplastics, bio-based fibres, carbon materials and sustainable building products. He also leads research on sustainable textile dyeing technologies using natural pigments and bio-based binders to reduce reliance on conventional synthetic chemicals.

His environmental research includes investigating legacy chemicals and emerging contaminants in recycled textiles and plastics through projects funded by the NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA). He also contributes to the Solving Plastic Waste Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) program, focusing on the chemical and physical characterisation of recycled polyethylene and polypropylene to assess material properties, quality and suitability for reuse.

As Chemistry Lead at C3, he oversees analytical chemistry research and method development, with expertise in chromatography, spectroscopy, chemical characterisation and omics analysis. He also coordinates the undergraduate subject Bioreactors and Bioprocessing (91368) at UTS.

Prior to joining C3, he worked at the Centre for Medicinal Plants Research in Kottakkal, India, and completed his PhD in Chemistry and Biomolecular Sciences at Macquarie University, Sydney, in 2011. He subsequently held a three-year postdoctoral position in forensic toxicology at UTS.