Kostas Gavroglu was born in Istanbul. He received his bachelor degree in theoretical physics from Lancaster University, completed the Part III Mathematical Tripos in Cambridge University at the Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics, and received his doctorate from the Department of Physics, at Imperial College, University of London. His doctorate was on theoretical aspects of elementary particle physics (Non-leptonic decays of hyperons). He had a post-doctoral appointment at the State University of New York at Long Island, was appointed as a privat dozent at the Departments of Physics, first at the University of Patras and, then, at the Physics Department of the National Technical University of Athens. Since 1994 he is professor of history of science at the Department of History and Philosophy of Science at the University of Athens.

He has been a visiting professor at Imperial College, Harvard University, Boston University, Cambridge University, and Istanbul Technical University. He was research fellow at the Chemical Heritage Foundation, Pennsylvania and the Dibner Institute for the History of Science and Technology at MIT. He has been scientific coordinator in many research projects funded by the European Union, the European Science Foundation, the Greek State and private foundations. He is also Director of the Laboratory of the Electronic Processing of Historical Archives (www.phs.uoa.gr/dlab ) and President of the Executive Board of the Historical Archive of the University of Athens (www.archive.uoa.gr). He is a member of the Executive Board of the John S. Latsis Public Benefit Foundation (www.latsis-foundation.org). He is currently a co-editor of the series in history and philosophy science by Springer Publishers and editor of the series in history of science by Crete University Publishers.

His research fields are the history of physical chemistry, the history of quantum chemistry, the history of artificial cold as well as issues related with the appropriation of the scientific ideas and practices by the European periphery from the 18^th century.