Denny John received his bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering (ME) in 2015 from Mahatma Gandhi University, India, and his master's degree in ME in 2018 from the National Institute of Technology, India. He received his PhD in material science and engineering in 2024 from Florida International University, where he currently is a visiting postdoctoral researcher. He pioneered cold-sprayed aluminum high-entropy alloys with engineered amorphous-to-crystalline transitions that exceeded the benchmark strength of Al 7075-T6. He also co-developed a new class of boron nitride nanotube-reinforced aluminum composites with superior radiation shielding and wear resistance — an innovation with strong implications for space and hypersonic applications. In addition, he worked on the development of cold-sprayed lunar regolith coatings for in-situ resource utilization in lunar environments. These innovations led to six granted U.S. patents, three additional filings, 20+ peer-reviewed publications, direct licensing to a U.S. aerospace startup, and being named a 2025 senior member of the National Academy of Inventors. As a faculty researcher, his goal is to bridge physical metallurgy with data-informed manufacturing to produce fatigue-resistant, radiation-shielding, and thermally stable materials for extreme environments. Concurrently, John will develop new courses that incorporate modules on data analysis, sustainability, and ethics to ensure students are technically equipped and socially conscious. He also plans to design interdisciplinary capstone projects in collaboration with industry partners, giving students experiential learning opportunities.

Research Interests

Additive Manufacturing, Cold Spray, Thermal Spray, Multiscale Microstructural and Mechanical Characterization