Chris Beckett was a Research Associate and later a Research Fellow in the School of Civil, Environmental and Mining Engineering from 2012 to 2017. He is now a Lecturer in Geotechnical Enigneering at The University of Edinburgh, UK, and holds an Adjunct Research Fellow position at UWA. His research focuses on the interaction between soil microstructural features and their mechanical properties, within the unsaturated soil mechanics (USM) framework.

Chris currently remotely supervises one PhD student. He supervised over 60 final year research projects whilst at UWA in the fields of rammed earth research and agricultural engineering.

RE construction: RE is a sustainable, environmentally friendly construction technique which offers vast energy savings over traditional construction materials. Championed by Chris and others at UWA, research into these material based on USM principles is now becoming the industry standard.
Mine tailings: Seepage control in Tailings Storage Facilities (TSFs) is critical for human and environmental safety. This work developed innovative and versatile equipment for use with the UWA geotechnical centrifuge to test model TSF embankments, providing industry with reliable, benchmark results.
Agricultural soils: Proper management of agricultural soils is critical for future food security. This research applies USM principles to soil management to predict the effects of physical management strategies on soil performance.