Christopher Goyne

Christopher Goyne is an Associate Professor in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at the University of Virginia (UVA) and Director of the UVA Aerospace Research Laboratory. He holds a B.Eng. (1991) and Ph.D. (1999) in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Queensland, Australia. His research focuses on hypersonic propulsion, scramjet technology, instrumentation development, and advanced manufacturing. He leads the UVA Hypersonics Research Complex and is a key figure in the University Consortium for Applied Hypersonics. Goyne’s work includes contributions to NASA’s Hyper-X Program and the HyShot scramjet flight test program. He is an Associate Fellow of the AIAA and serves on editorial and advisory boards for journals and organizations such as the Shock Waves journal and Virginia’s Aerospace Advisory Council.

Education: B.Eng. (Mechanical Engineering, University of Queensland, 1991); Ph.D. (Mechanical Engineering, University of Queensland, 1999).

Research Interests:

• Hypersonics and scramjet propulsion
• Diagnostic techniques (e.g., laser-based methods, optical emission spectroscopy)
• Wind tunnel and flight testing
• Controls and adaptive systems for hypersonic flow paths
• Advanced manufacturing for aerospace components

Awards: Recipient of the 2023 James C. McDaniel Fellow Award and 2022 Outstanding Researcher Award. Holds leadership roles in AIAA committees, including past Chair of the HyTASP Program Committee. Recognized with the Sigma Gamma Tau Outstanding Aerospace Professor Award (2006) and multiple research fellowships.

Grants and Projects: Funded by NASA, the Air Force Office of Scientific Research, and industry partners. Leads UVA’s contributions to hypersonic ground and flight testing, including sensor development and combustion efficiency studies.

Labs and Teams: Directs the UVA Aerospace Research Laboratory, collaborating on projects such as the UVA Hypersonics Research Complex and the University Consortium for Applied Hypersonics. Advises student chapters of AIAA and Sigma Gamma Tau.