معرفی
Christopher Hendon is an Associate Professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at the University of Oregon, where he leads research in computational chemistry, sustainable materials, and energy storage. He is a key member of the university’s Energy and Sustainable Materials Initiative, promoting interdisciplinary collaboration to address global sustainability challenges.
- Department: Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
- School: College of Arts and Sciences
- University: University of Oregon
- Lab: HMS Oregon – located in the Lewis Integrative Sciences Building
- Education: BSc (Advanced Hons) from Monash University, PhD from the University of Bath, Postdoc at MIT
Hendon’s research spans computational modeling of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), defect chemistry in semiconductors, and the physics of coffee extraction. He uses quantum chemical simulations to study electron transport, doping, and catalytic mechanisms, with applications in batteries, hydrogen storage, and carbon capture. His work in coffee science has revolutionized understanding of water chemistry, grinding, and brewing reproducibility, influencing both industry and academic communities.
The recent articles from his group reflect a strong interdisciplinary trend, combining chemistry, biology, environmental science, and sensory analysis. Key themes include coffee quality, food safety (e.g., mycotoxins), microbiome interactions, packaging, and neurocognitive effects of caffeine. The research increasingly integrates data science, consumer behavior, and sustainability metrics.
Scientific Engagement:
- Author of Water for Coffee, a foundational text in specialty coffee
- Collaborator with World Barista Champions (Maxwell Colonna-Dashwood, Kyle Ramage)
- COHOP research collaboration in coffee science
- Developer of a proposed interdisciplinary coffee research lab at UO
Hendon actively mentors graduate and undergraduate students and collaborates with experimentalists worldwide. His lab does not handle traditional chemicals but uses supercomputers for quantum simulations. While he currently cannot support postdoctoral scholars due to funding limitations, he encourages applications from motivated graduate students through the UO Chemistry Department. His outreach through coffee has made complex scientific concepts accessible to broad audiences.
Lab and Research Team:
- Graduate Students: Tekalign T. Debela, Parker Brodale, Doran Pennington, Brian Diamond, Casey Clark
- Undergraduates: Jasper Sterling, Julio Miranda, Maggie French, Laurel Wood, Ian Reynolds, Octavio Solórzano
- Visiting Scholar: Matthew Sciprint
- Focus Areas: MOFs, defect engineering, energy materials, coffee science
