Christopher Berndt

Professor Christopher Berndt is a Distinguished Professor in Surface Science and Engineering at the School of Engineering, Swinburne University of Technology, where he joined in 2008 as the founding professor of this discipline. He previously held founding professorships at James Cook University and was a tenured professor at Stony Brook University, USA, where he remains an Adjunct Professor. He also served as a Fellow at NASA-Lewis Research Center, working on thermal barrier coatings. His leadership in professional societies includes serving as President of the Thermal Spray Society (ASM) and being inducted into the Thermal Spray Hall of Fame in 2007.

His research interests center on materials engineering, particularly surface science, thermal spray technologies, high-entropy alloys, and coatings for extreme environments. He also contributes significantly to biomedical engineering through bioactive coatings and clean energy via advanced materials for batteries and hydrogen technologies. His work bridges fundamental materials science with industrial applications in aerospace, energy, and manufacturing.

The recent publications reveal a strong focus on advanced thermal spray techniques such as HVOF and HVAF, development of high-entropy and medium-entropy alloys, and innovative coating applications in energy storage, corrosion resistance, and high-temperature protection. His research consistently emphasizes microstructural control, phase stability, and mechanical performance under extreme conditions.

• Inducted into the Thermal Spray Hall of Fame (2007)
• Fellow of the Australian Institution of Engineers
• Fellow of ASM International
• Fellow of The Institution of Metallurgists (UK)
• Fellow of ASME, ACS, and ACerS
• Chartered Engineer (UK)
• Professional Engineer (Australia)
• Member of the College of Bioengineers (Australia)

Professor Berndt actively supervises numerous PhD students, with current projects on high-entropy alloys, internal pipe coatings, and biomedical surface engineering. He has secured extensive research funding from organizations including the Australian Research Council (ARC), Department of Defence, Office of Naval Research (US), and industry partners such as Entromat and Amaero Engineering. He leads major initiatives such as the ARC Training Centre in Surface Engineering for Advanced Materials (SEAM) and has contributed to commercialization projects in space vehicle manufacturing.

He is the Founding Editor and now Editor Emeritus of the Journal of Thermal Spray Technology and has edited over 10 conference proceedings. His research network spans across Australia, the USA, and Thailand, reflecting a strong international collaborative footprint in advanced materials research.