Martin Birkett

Professor Martin Birkett is a faculty member in the Mechanical and Construction Engineering Department at Northumbria University. He leads the Engineering Materials and Mechanics Group (EM2G) and teaches in materials and manufacturing technology. His research focuses on thin film materials and coatings for biomedical, mechanical, and electrical applications, funded by organizations like the European Commission, EPSRC, and the Leverhulme Trust. He holds a BEng (Hons) in Manufacturing Systems Engineering and a PhD in thin film materials.

Research Interests: Development of advanced thin film coatings for biomedical implants, antimicrobial functionality, and material characterization. His work contributes to UN Sustainable Development Goals related to health and innovation. Notable projects include the Northumbria University Scanning Electron Microscope Picomechanical Indenter (NU-Pico) and the Advanced Thin Film Sputtering Fabrication Facility (TF-FAB). Collaborations span international institutions and industry partners.

Grants & Projects: Active and completed projects include funding from EPSRC, EU, and industrial collaborators. His work emphasizes material science advancements with practical applications in healthcare and engineering.

Labs/Teams: Leads the EM2G group, focusing on materials innovation. Supervises PhD students and has advised 11 research projects. Holds professional certifications including Senior Fellow of HEA, Fellow of IMechE, and Chartered Engineer status.