Cooper Andrew Ian

Prof. Cooper Andrew Ian is an international leader in materials chemistry at the University of Liverpool, where he holds a Personal Chair (since 2003). He has led major research initiatives, including the Materials Innovation Factory (£68M) and the Leverhulme Research Centre for Functional Materials Design (£10M). He has been a Royal Society University Research Fellow (1999–2003) and has served as Head of the School of Physical Sciences (2009–present).

Education:

• B.Sc. (First Class), University of Nottingham (1988)
• Ph.D., University of Nottingham (1991), supervised by Prof. Sir M. Poliakoff FRS

Research Interests: Prof. Cooper focuses on polymers, supramolecular chemistry, energy materials, and porous materials. His work includes photochemical water splitting, high-throughput methodology, and computationally-led materials design. His research bridges fundamental science and industrial applications, emphasizing sustainability and innovation.

Awards and Grants:

• Fellow of the Royal Society (2015)
• ERC Advanced Investigator Grant (2013–2018)
• Leverhulme Centre for Functional Materials Design (2016–2026)
• Recipient of the Tilden Prize (2014), Doolittle Award (2014), and numerous other international accolades

Advising and Leadership: He has mentored 30 PhD students, 60 postdoctoral researchers, and 10 technical staff. He pioneered the Materials Innovation Factory and Centre for Materials Discovery, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration. His seminars on research leadership are globally recognized.

Labs and Initiatives: Directs the Materials Innovation Factory and the Leverhulme Centre for Functional Materials Design. His Cooper Group at the University of Liverpool is a hub for cutting-edge materials chemistry research.