Austin R. Cooper

Austin R. Cooper serves as Assistant Professor of History in Purdue University's College of Liberal Arts, Department of History, specializing in nuclear history and international politics since 1945. He additionally holds a Senior Research Associate position at SciencesPo Paris' Center for International Studies within the Nuclear Knowledges program.

Education:

• PhD in History and Sociology of Science, University of Pennsylvania

His research investigates French nuclear testing in the Algerian Sahara during the Cold War, analyzing how radiation exposure claims influenced international relations and decolonization processes. Current projects examine gaps in nonproliferation regimes and sociogenomic dimensions of nuclear policy, bridging historical analysis with contemporary security concerns through Purdue's Sociogenomics initiative.

Recent publications consistently explore Saharan nuclear testing politics, radiation narratives, and Cold War institutional responses across Africa and Europe, revealing patterns where decolonization intersected with nuclear diplomacy and radiation safety concerns.

Scientific recognition includes:

• Stanton Foundation Postdoctoral Fellowship at MIT Security Studies Program
• Stanford University CISAC Fellowship

Cooper advises student research on nuclear history and international security since 1945 while developing his book Saharan Fallout: French Nuclear Ambitions in Algeria during the Cold War Arms Race and initiating new work on civilian nuclear facility vulnerabilities.