James Harper
Assistant Teaching Professor • Faculty Advisor, Engineers Without Borders-USA Â鶹Ãâ·Ñ°æÏÂÔØBoulder Chapter • Member, Boulder Faculty Assembly, Student Affairs Committee • Design
james.harper@colorado.edu

Education

  • Doctor of PhilosophyÌýin Civil Engineering, Â鶹Ãâ·Ñ°æÏÂÔØ, 2020
  • Master of Science in Civil Engineering, Â鶹Ãâ·Ñ°æÏÂÔØ, 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., &ÌýHarper, J.Ìý(2024) Effects of climate vulnerability on household sanitation access, functionality and practices in rural Cambodia. Environment, Development, and Sustainability. . Published article available at and preprint available atÌý.
  • 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.Ìý.
  • Nicoletti, C., Lestikow, G., Veasna, T., May, A., Macaranas, R., Hudner, D. &ÌýHarper, J.Ìý(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.Ìý.
  • Thomas, E., Salvinelli, C.,ÌýHarper, 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.ÌýÌý
  • 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.
  • Harper, J.Ìý(2020). Fecal Sludge Management in Rural Low-Resource Contexts: Understanding Decision-Making by Households in Cambodia.
  • 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.Ìý

Honors

  • International Conference Travel Scholarship ($2000), Rotary International 2019, 2020
  • First Place Poster Presentation ($250), Â鶹Ãâ·Ñ°æÏÂÔØBoulder 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,Ìý,Ìý2019 - 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,Ìý, 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