Berndt Joost is since 2008 professor of pharmaceutical process engineering at the University of Applied Sciences Northwestern Switzerland (FHNW). He is directing a research group in the area of particle engineering with particular attention to nanomilling, (hot melt) extrusion, and spray drying. Furthermore, production related projects with focus on process optimization are executed.

Prior to his assignment at the FHNW Institute for Pharmaceutical Technology Berndt Joost was four years at the Institute for Particle Technology (iPAT) at the Technical University of Braunschweig, Germany, as senior engineer and deputy director. His research activities focussed there already on the processing of nano-particles.
Before his academic assignments Berndt Joost spent almost 12 years in the industry. At Bayer AG, Uerdingen, Germany as process engineer, at Salzgitter Anlagenbau GmbH (plant engineering) where he holds several positions; last position Project Manager for design, procurement, and construction of an LDPE production plant in France. Subsequently he ran his own consulting business in the field of contract administration and project management.
Berndt Joost graduated from the Technical University Braunschweig, Germany in 1987 in Mechanical Engineering with focus on Mechanical Process Engineering. After 2 years professional experience he returned to University and earned his PhD in 1994 in the field of nano-milling in the group of Prof. Dr.-Ing. Jörg Schwedes. He gathered intercultural experience in Japan, the US and France.
He is member of the International Society of Pharmaceutical Engineering (ISPE), the Verein Deutscher Ingenieure (VDI), and ProcessNet.