Photo of Professor James Cooper

Professor James Cooper BSc (Hons), PhD, FHEA

Faculty Director of Postgraduate Research Geography and Planning

    About

    Personal Statement

    Professor of Hydrology: My expertise lies in monitoring and forecasting environmental hazards within fluvial, hillslope and estuarine environments. A major focus of my work is the assessment of the climate resilience of critical infrastructure to these hazards, working with stakeholders to forecast weather-related risk and advise on mitigation. My more fundamental research focuses on the mechanics of flooding, erosion and the transport of contaminated sediment.

    I work across the environmental science-civil engineering interface, having a mixed background in Geography (BSc) and Civil Engineering (PhD). I have previously worked as a PDRA at Sheffield, an ARCO Research Fellow in Environmental Fluid Dynamics at Hull and a Lecturer in Civil and Environmental Engineering at Bradford. I was Chair of the UK Chapter of the International Association of Hydro-Environment Engineering & Research.

    I am Faculty Director of Postgraduate Research, providing academic leadership across four Schools within the Faculty of Science and Engineering, and Chair of the Faculty PGR Committee.

    Previously I was School Director of Education leading on education provision across two departments and five disciplines, and Chair of the School Education Committee and School Board of Studies.

    I have strong interests in digital learning and authentic assessment, having received a University Learning and Teaching Fellowship, a University Sir Alastair Pilkington Award for Teaching Excellence, and two Faculty Learning and Teaching Awards.

    Prizes or Honours

    • Honorary Research Fellowship (National Tsing Hua University, 2020)
    • University Learning and Teaching Fellowship (Univesity of Liverpool, 2018)
    • Sir Alastair Pilkington Award for Teaching Excellence (University of Liverpool, 2018)
    • Commendation for ‘University Lecturer of the Year’ (University of Liverpool, 2018)
    • Awarded 'Outstanding reviewer' (Geomorphology journal, 2018)
    • Chair of UK Chapter (International Association of Hydro-Environment Engineering & Research, 2018)
    • Awarded 'Outstanding reviewer' (Journal of Hydrology, 2018)
    • Faculty Learning and Teaching Award (University of Liverpool, 2018)
    • Honorary Research Fellowship (National Tsing Hua University, 2018)
    • Vice-chair of UK Chapter (International Association of Hydro-Environment Engineering & Research, 2017)
    • Honorary Research Fellowship (National Tsing Hua University, 2017)
    • Awarded 'Outstanding reviewer' (Geomorphology journal, 2017)
    • Awarded 'Outstanding reviewer' (Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, 2017)
    • Honorary Research Fellowship (National Tsing Hua University, 2016)
    • Awarded 'Outstanding reviewer' (Geomorphology journal, 2015)
    • Visting Professor Fellowship (University of Tsukuba, Japan, 2014)
    • Faculty Learning and Teaching Award (University of Liverpool, 2013)
    • Visiting Professor at University of Padova (University of Padova, Italy, 2011)

    Funded Fellowships

    • Visiting Professor at University of Tsukuba (European Commission, 2016)
    • Visiting Professor at University of Tsukuba (2014)
    • Visiting Professor at University of Padova (2011)
    • ARCO Research Fellowship in Environmental Fluid Dynamics (2005 - 2009)