James Lawrence

Dr James Lawrence is a Professor in Geological Engineering at Imperial College London, within the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (Faculty of Engineering). His affiliations include the Earth Observation Network, Geotechnics Group, and the Grantham Institute. Previously, he held roles at the University of Brighton, University of Leeds, and Radioactive Waste Management Ltd (RWM). He leads research in geotechnics, Cretaceous geology, and geophysical methods, with a focus on InSAR technology for monitoring ground movements and radioactive waste disposal.

Education: MSc in Mineral Resources from Cardiff University, followed by a PhD at the University of Brighton.

Research interests include the geological evolution of chalk cliffs, infrastructure challenges posed by geological formations, and the safety of geological disposal facilities (GDF). Recent projects involve InSAR monitoring for rural UK deformation and nuclear decommissioning.

He has authored over 30 journal articles and led 15+ research projects. Teaching includes Rock Engineering, Soils, and Geomorphology at Imperial College, with fieldwork in the UK and Greece. Management roles include coordinating the Civil Engineering (MEng) course.

Professional memberships include the British Geotechnical Association (BGA), International Society for Rock Mechanics (ISRM), and editorial board of the Quarterly Journal of Engineering Geology and Hydrogeology.