Rate My Professor Mark Hoffman

Professor Mark Hoffman serves as Honorary Professor in the School of Engineering at the University of Newcastle. He joined the University of Newcastle in March 2020 as Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic). Previously, he held senior leadership positions at the University of New South Wales (UNSW) over more than two decades, including Dean of Engineering from 2015 to 2020, Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research) from 2012, Head of the School of Materials Science and Engineering from 2007, and progression from Lecturer to Professor since 1997. His academic qualifications include a Doctor of Philosophy and a Bachelor of Engineering (Mechanical Engineering) with Honours from the University of Sydney, and a Master of Business and Technology from UNSW. Hoffman's research specializations encompass materials science and engineering, with fields of research in functional materials, numerical modelling and mechanical characterisation, and composite and hybrid materials. His work addresses fracture mechanics, ceramics, piezoelectric materials, thin films, coatings, and biomedical applications including dental enamel wear and dental composites.

Hoffman is a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering, elected in 2014, and a Fellow of Engineers Australia. He has authored or co-authored key publications such as the book 'Fracture of materials: Moving forwards' with Yiu-Wing Mai (2007), chapters including 'Fracture Resistance of Ceramics' (2013), and journal articles like 'Effect of rotational forces on the durability of dental materials: Implications in biology and anthropology' (2026), 'Fatigue and wear of human tooth enamel: A review' (2023), 'Fracture and electric-field-induced crack growth behavior in NBT-6BT relaxor ferroelectrics' (2021), 'Electrical fatigue in 0.94Na0.5Bi0.5TiO3–0.06BaTiO3' (2020), and 'Cyclic fatigue mechanisms in partially stabilised zirconia' (1995). His research has garnered over 7,500 citations. At UNSW, under his leadership as Dean, engineering student numbers increased by 33% to over 16,000, female student participation rose by 48%, industry-supported research tripled, and the faculty reached top global rankings. He has served as Chair of the Education Policy Forum at the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering, Chair of the NSW universities Deputy Vice Chancellor Academic Committee, and Chair of the Cladding Product Safety Panel for the NSW State Government.