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Hawkins is pleased to welcome Dr Johann Perera, who joins us as an Associate in our Reigate office. Johann brings a wealth of knowledge in advanced materials science, battery technology, and mechanical failure analysis, alongside a strong record of academic publication and applied research impact.
Johann holds both an MEng and DPhil in Materials Science from the University of Oxford. During his MEng, he was awarded the prestigious Armourers and Brasiers’ Company Prize for Materials Selection, recognising his outstanding performance in the field. His doctoral research focused on advanced battery systems for electric vehicles, specialising in the development of all-solid‑state batteries – a rapidly evolving field central to next-generation energy storage.
During his DPhil, Johann became skilled in advanced material characterisation and mechanical failure analysis. He developed specialist expertise in micromechanical testing, fatigue analysis, and the study of air-sensitive and ceramic materials. His work included the creation of novel testing methods to enable more detailed analysis, and he gained extensive experience with , nanoindentation, and related investigative techniques.
Following his doctoral studies, Johann undertook a postdoctoral research position at the University of Oxford, where he led the mechanical investigation and testing team for solid-state battery science as part of the Faraday Project. During this time, he contributed to the development of a groundbreaking model identifying the root cause and mechanism of failure in solid-state battery short circuits. Johann has a proven track record of translating complex academic research into practical, investigative outcomes and has published multiple papers in high-impact scientific journals, including Nature.
Johann joined Hawkins in December 2025, and we are delighted to welcome him to the team.
