Peter Girguis is a professor of organismic and evolutionary biology at Harvard University. His research focuses on understanding the physiological and biochemical adaptation of microbes and animals to "extreme environments." He is renowned for building novel instruments and sensors, such as underwater mass spectrometers and microscale microbial samplers.

Dr. Girguis received his B.S. from the University of California, Los Angeles; his Ph.D. from the University of California, Santa Barbara; and completed postdoctoral research at the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute prior to joining Harvard University. He was a Distinguished Lecturer for the National Science Foundation, a Merck Co. Innovative Research Awardee and a Department of Energy E.C.-U.S. Biotechnology Fellow. Dr. Girguis has authored or co-authored over 95 publications, served as Chair of the National Deep Submergence Science Committee (2010-2016) and serves as a member of several notable ocean advisory boards, including the Ocean Exploration Trust.

Girguis’ honors include the 2007 and 2011 Lindbergh Foundation Award for Science & Sustainability, the 2018 Lowell Thomas Award for groundbreaking advances in Marine Science and Technology and the 2020 Petra Shattuck Award for Distinguished Teaching. He was named a Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation Investigator for his research on marine symbioses.