James Harper

  • Assistant Teaching Professor
  • Faculty Advisor, Engineers Without Borders-USA CU Boulder Chapter
  • Member, Boulder Faculty Assembly, Student Affairs Committee
  • Design

Education

  • Doctor of Philosophy in Civil Engineering, University of babyÖ±²¥app Boulder, 2020
  • Master of Science in Civil Engineering, University of babyÖ±²¥app Boulder, 2018
  • Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering, University of California San Diego, 2010
  • Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering, Summa Cum Laude, University of California San Diego, 2010

Selected Publications

  • Abdel Sattar, R., Rogla, J., Veasna, T., Kozole, T., Nicoletti, C., & Harper, J. (2024) Effects of climate vulnerability on household sanitation access, functionality and practices in rural Cambodia. Environment, Development, and Sustainability. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10668-024-04881-2. Published article available at https://rdcu.be/dHn4M and preprint available at .
  • Harper, J., Abdel-Sattar, R., Kozole, T., Veasna, T., Rogla, J., Ross, M., Ives, N., Pruitt, H., Soneja, P., & Capone, D. (2023). Microbial Hazards in Real-world Alternating Dual-Pit Latrines Treated with Storage and Lime in Rural Cambodia. Journal for Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene for Development. 13 (10): 764–775. .
  • Nicoletti, C., Lestikow, G., Veasna, T., May, A., Macaranas, R., Hudner, D. & Harper, J. (2022) Increasing latrine sales among poor households in rural Cambodia using targeted subsidies: a randomized control trial. Journal of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene for Development 1 November 2022; 12 (11): 782–791. .
  • Thomas, E., Salvinelli, C., Harper, J., MacDonald, L., Klees, R., Platais, G., Javernick-Will, A., & Linden, K. (2021). A Body of Knowledge and Pedagogy for Global Engineering. 16(1), 21.  
  • Harper, J., Bielefeldt, A., Javernick-Will, A., Dickinson, K., Veasna, T., Kozole, T., & Nicoletti, C. (2021). Household preferences for rural fecal sludge management services in cambodia: A discrete choice experiment. Environmental Science & Technology, 55(3), 1832–1841. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.0c04636
  • Harper, J. (2020). Fecal Sludge Management in Rural Low-Resource Contexts: Understanding Decision-Making by Households in Cambodia. https://www.proquest.com/openview/8b5e7fac974ed8c81911fd4b0ccdf007/1?pq-origsite=gscholar&cbl=51922&diss=y
  • Harper, J., Bielefeldt, A., Javernick-Will, A., Veasna, T., & Nicoletti, C. (2020). Context and intentions: Practical associations for fecal sludge management in rural low-income Cambodia. Journal of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene for Development, 10(2), 191–201. 

Honors

  • International Conference Travel Scholarship ($2000), Rotary International 2019, 2020
  • First Place Poster Presentation ($250), CU Boulder Research and Innovation Week 2019
  • Third Place Poster Presentation ($100), Symposium for Sustainable Infrastructure 2 2017
  • Honorable Mention, NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program 2017
  • First Place for Biosand Filter, Instructables' Apocalypse Preparedness Context 2015
  • Highest Academic Achievement Award, UC San Diego MAE Department 2008
  • Best Senior Design Award, UC San Diego MAE Department 2008
  • Membership, Tau Beta Pi Engineering Honors Society 2003 - 2010
  • Membership, Phi Beta Kappa Honors Society 2003 - 2010

Grants Funded

  • Graduate Assistance in Areas of National Need (GAANN) Fellowship. United States Department of Education. $250,000. Apr 2016. Funded PhD research.
  • HDR Foundation. $60,670. Nov 2015. Funded three Engineers Without Borders-USA projects in Andhra Pradesh, India: two community-based water purification systems (one each for the communities of Narasapuram and Chakicherla Pedda Patapu Palem); and 18 houses with rainwater catchment systems and latrines for the community of Chakicherla Pedda Patapu Palem.
  • Caterpillar Foundation. $13,000. Nov 2012. Funded one Engineers Without Borders-USA project in Andhra Pradesh, India: one solar power system with battery backup to power a reverse-osmosis water purification facility in the community of Chakicherla Pedda Patapu Palem.

Professional Certifications and Affiliations

  • Professional Engineer licensed in California, 2014 - Present
  • Member, Engineers Without Borders-USA 2013 - Present
  • Member, American Society of Mechanical Engineers, 2003 - 2020

Volunteer Service

  • Firefighter EMT, Timberline Fire Protection District, 2022 - Present
  • Advisor for earthquake-resistant housing construction in rural Nepal, , 2019 - Present
  • Reviewer of academic journal articles, Multiple academic journals, 2018 - Present
  • Lead Engineer on community development projects, Realize Research and Engineers Without Borders-USA, 2012 - Present
  • Adviser to Innovation Lab Steering Committee, , 2020 - 2021
  • Operation Leader and Instructor, San Diego Mountain Rescue Team, 2010 - 2016
  • Ski Patroller, Bear Mountain Ski Patrol, 2010 - 2013
  • Backpacking Trip Leader, Sierra Club, 2010 - 2013