Professor Alarco is a Materials Scientist, with a very strong foundation in Physics, Mathematics, solid-state materials synthesis and characterization. He is also very experienced in industrial research and development. He did his undergraduate studies in Physics at The National University of Engineering, Lima, Peru. He then continued his research qualifications in Sweden, where he was awarded a PhD in Materials Science from the Department of Physics, Chalmers University of Technology in 1994. After his PhD, he joined The Centre for Microscopy and Microanalysis, and Advanced Ceramics Development (ACD), The University of Queensland (UQ), where he played an active role in various applied and industrial R&D projects. These projects involved a range of materials and component developments for the electrical distribution industry, construction of an automated machine for complex metal oxide chemical production, and advanced materials for waste water treatment, among others.

After 5 years working at UQ, he left The University to co-found ScienceWorks Consultants Pty Ltd (SWC), where he has been playing a technical, scientific and executive director’s role for about 12 years. The work at SWC has involved invention of new processing methods for homogeneous, nanoscale, complex metal oxides for one of SWC’s major clients, Very Small Particle Company Ltd. The process invention was taken all the way from lab concept to prototype plant at tonnage scale and then to design of commercial plants. The process invention, combined with the capability to produce at larger scale, created significant interest worldwide. Based on this invention, Professor Alarco has participated in a range of collaboration and commercial developments with large multinationals. He is co-author of various patents on complex metal oxide and nano materials processing and products, several of them with applications within catalysis and in battery materials.

In 2011, he joined QUT as scientific consultant/Adjunct Professor to assist in establishing more collaborations with industry. Since 2013, he has become full-time Professorial Fellow at the Institute for Future Environments and the School of Chemistry, Physics and Mechanical Engineering, Science and Engineering Faculty. He is currently Chief Investigator in the Auto-CRC Project with the Malaysian Automotive Industry for Lithium Battery Manufacturing Scale-up and Process Optimisation, led by Professor Peter Talbot and awarded over $4,000,000 in late 2014.