Dr Jonathan Pearson
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
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.
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
- Third year MEng/BEng - ES3D5 Water Engineering for Civil Engineers (15.0 CATS shared module)
- Fourth year MEng/BEng - ES4D6 River Mixing (15.0 CATS shared module)
- Fourth year MEng/BEng - ES4A2 African Field Course (15.0 CATS shared module)
- Fourth Year MEng - ES410 Multidisciplinary Design Group Project
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