Richard Johnston

Professor Richard Johnston is a distinguished academic at Swansea University's Materials Research Centre, where he serves as Professor in the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences within the Faculty of Science and Engineering. He leads the X-ray Imaging group at Swansea and chairs the Executive Group of the Swansea University Research Forum (SURF). As Co-Director of the Materials Academy and a member of the Materials Institute's Minerals and Mining Education Committee, Professor Johnston plays a pivotal role in advancing materials science research and education at Swansea University.

Professor Johnston's research focuses on the characterization of structures using X-ray Microtomography, with particular emphasis on biomimicry and bioinspiration. His work spans diverse materials from plant and biological specimens to concentrated superalloys. He investigates aerospace materials, including abrasive coatings, ceramic matrix composites, and nickel superalloys, while also conducting corrosion studies of zinc alloys and steel. His group applies artificial intelligence to manufacturing, process optimization, metals creep, and sports performance, demonstrating a truly interdisciplinary approach.

An analysis of Professor Johnston's recent publications reveals a strong focus on advanced imaging techniques, particularly X-ray microtomography, applied across diverse fields from aerospace engineering to biology. His work shows consistent themes of biomimicry, material characterization, and the application of advanced imaging to solve complex engineering problems. The interdisciplinary nature of his research is evident in collaborations spanning glaciology, tephrochronology, regenerative medicine, and Egyptology.

Professor Johnston has secured research grants as PI or Co-I totaling over £20 million since 2014, including the £9 million Advanced Materials Imaging (AIM) center funded by EPSRC/WW. His commitment to public engagement is evident through his outreach program Materials: Live and his writings for Nature, Scientific American, The Guardian, and Huffington Post.

Professor Johnston has received numerous honors including the 2013 British Science Association Media Fellow (based at Nature) and the 2015 Software Sustainability Foundation Fellow. He is the inventor of the #ResearchAsArt Awards and won an Early Career Researcher prize in the Research as Art 2013 competition at Swansea University.

As an active supervisor, Professor Johnston mentors numerous PhD and EngD students across various materials science topics. His teaching portfolio includes modules on mechanical deformation, fracture and fatigue, design classifications, and public engagement with science.

Professor Johnston leads the JohnstonLab at Swansea University, which is characterized by its passion for interdisciplinary and collaborative research. The lab's fundamental ethos emphasizes the excitement and energy that comes from working with researchers from very different fields. The lab has developed strong capabilities in X-ray computed tomography, leading to diverse collaborations across multiple scientific disciplines.