graduated in 1977 with a BAppSc. in Metallurgy. His PhD was earned in the Materials Engineering Department of Monash University in mid-1981. His higher doctorate, DEng, was awarded in 2014. Chris was invited to apply for a position at Stony Brook University, NY-USA in 1989 and was promoted to Full Professor with tenure in 1995. Berndt remains as an Adjunct Professor at Stony Brook University as well as being appointed to the Adjunct staff of the Indian Institute of Technology - Ropar. He moved to Swinburne University of Technology in late 2007 as the founding Professor of Surface Science and Interface Engineering. He was elevated to University Distinguished Professor in March 2014.

Berndt’s professional interests gravitate around manufacturing; especially in the area of protective coatings. He was inducted into the Thermal Spray Hall of Fame in 2007. He was the President of Thermal Spray Society (an affiliate of ASM International) in 2002 through to 2004. He was appointed as a Trustee (the Board of Directors) of ASM Int. (aka “the American Society of Materials”) for 2005-2008. Berndt became the Vice-President of ASM Int. and progressed to President in October 2011.

Berndt is a Member of 10 professional societies in the materials, mechanical, manufacturing and bioengineering fields. Berndt is an Honorary Life Member of The Australian Ceramic Society.

Berndt’s major discipline areas are “Materials Engineering” and “Manufacturing Engineering” with a sub-disciplinary expertise in the topics of ceramics, biomaterials, thick coatings, and thermal spray technology. Berndt is especially proud of his students and post docs who have achieved professional prominence and earned good lives over the past 35 years.