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Dr Jonathan Pearson

Academic profile photograph

Dr Jonathan Pearson

Associate Professor 
Head of Warwick Water

J dot M dot Pearson at warwick dot ac dot uk
+44 (0) 24 7652 2844

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Biography

Jonathan Pearson is an Associate-Professor in the School of Engineering at the University of Warwick.

He has over 20 years experience of research in the field of coastal and environmental hydraulics, having previously worked at the Universities of Edinburgh and Sheffield.

He has been funded to undertake research studies at major European research laboratory facilities at HR Wallingford, DHI & UPC; has fundamental research funded by EPSRC, NERC, BBSRC & the EU, with applied research supported by Unilever, Syngenta & the Coal Authority.

In recent years I've not been able to update things - please see for recent publications (copy n paste) - https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=5P8S0WUAAAAJ&hl=en 

Education / Qualifications

  • 1999 Ph.D - 'Mixing due to the effects of waves', University of Sheffield, UK
  • 1992 1st Class Honours Degree Civil & Structural Engineering, B.Eng (Hons), University of Sheffield, UK

Appointments held

  • 2012 - Associate Professor, School of Engineering, University of Warwick
  • 2007 - Assistant Professor, School of Engineering, University of Warwick
  • 2005 - 2006 Research Fellow, School of Engineering, University of Warwick
  • 1999 - 2004 Research Fellow, School of Engineering, University of Edinburgh
  • 1993 - 1998 Research Assistant, Dept. of Civil & Structural Engineering, University of Sheffield
  • 1992 - 1993 Graduate Engineer, Bullen Consultants, Merseyside

Research Interests

Dr Pearson's research has 2 major themes:

1) Resilient infrastructure from natural hazards

Current funded research include; a British Council funded award entitled “Mitigating the effects of climate change: Disaster Management and Emergency Response to flooding” and a Royal Academy of Engineering / The Leverhulme Trust Senior Research Fellowship entitled “Coastal flood risks under extreme events: Creating resilience through retrofitting”, which is in collaboration with HR Wallingford. The project will specifically investigate the effects of climate change (e.g. combined effects of sea level rise and extreme climatic events) to on a range of coastal defence configurations, where gaps in knowledge are known to exist.

2) Environmental fate of Organic pollutants

Current funded research include; a BBSRC/Syngenta award entitled “Seasonal variation in the biodegradation of chemicals”, and recently completed awards include; a NERC/Unilever project investigating the effect of bed-form characteristics on the diversity and pollutant degrading potential of microbial communities inhabiting biofilms at the sediment surface, and the way in which direct discharge scenarios affect interactions between bed-form, microbial community composition and pollutant biodegradation rates. The results of a EPSRC/Unilever funded project to improve our understanding of chemical exchanges between the water column and fixed bed sediments in freshwaters, has recently been published.

Teaching Interests

Selected Publications

Projects and Grants

October 2007
( 12 months )
“Mathematical and experimental approach to investigate turbulence and its effects on solute transport processes in the nearshore region” - University of Warwick: Institute of Advanced Study £2,556
November 2007
( 42 months )
“Improving our understanding of chemical exchange between the water column and fixed bed sediments in freshwaters” EPSRC CASE (CNA) AWARD / Unilever SEAC £87,000

Previous Research Grants and Contracts

July 2003
( 6 months )
‘Hydrodynamics and Pollutant Dispersion due to Combined Waves and Currents in the Nearshore Zone’ – DHI, Denmark European Commission - Improving Human Potential Programme c.€120,000
Feb 2001
( 6 months )
‘Violent Breaking and Overtopping by Waves at Seawalls and Breakwaters (Big-VOWS)’ – UPC Barcelona European Commission - Trans-national Access to Major Research Infrastructure c.£90,000
January 1997
( 6 months )
‘Vertical Solute Mixing Under Waves’ – Delft Hydraulics, The Netherlands - European Commission - Human Capital and Mobility Programme. £3,300

School Administration

  • 2014 - Postgraduate Research Admissions tutor
  • 2013 - 2014 Director of Graduate Studies, School of Engineering
  • 2009 - 2013 Member of Undergraduate Admissions Team (Civil)
  • 2009 -2013 Leader of the Civil Engineering Industrial Link Scheme
  • 2008- 2013 Secretary of Civil Engineering Teaching Group
  • 2009- 2013 Organiser of Civil Engineering Industrial Advisory Panel
  • 2009 - 2013 Member of School Technical Committee
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