Richard A C Cooke

Richard A C Cooke serves as a Professor in the Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering and the Lemann Center for Brazilian Studies at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. His research bridges agricultural engineering and environmental science, focusing on developing practical solutions for water quality improvement in agricultural landscapes through innovative drainage and treatment systems.

Professor Cooke's research centers on bioreactor technology and subsurface drainage engineering, with particular expertise in denitrifying woodchip bioreactors, phosphorus management, and nutrient removal systems. His work integrates field-scale implementation with computational modeling to address critical challenges in agricultural water management, including tile drainage optimization, emerging contaminant removal, and sustainable infrastructure design. Current projects emphasize renewable energy integration, designer biochar applications, and multi-pollutant treatment systems that balance environmental protection with agricultural productivity.

Analysis of Professor Cooke's publication record reveals a strong trajectory toward integrated treatment solutions, with increasing focus on simultaneous nutrient and contaminant removal, renewable energy applications, and transition from laboratory validation to field implementation. His recent work demonstrates sophisticated integration of geospatial tools like QGIS with hydraulic modeling to solve complex drainage design challenges.

Scientific recognition includes:

• Fulbright Scholar Award (2020)

Professor Cooke's collaborative network spans international institutions, with significant work through the Lemann Center for Brazilian Studies addressing tropical agricultural water challenges. His research program addresses critical gaps between laboratory findings and field application, particularly in phosphorus sorption media performance and bioreactor scalability. While specific grant details aren't provided in source materials, his extensive publication record and Fulbright recognition indicate substantial research funding support for his work in agricultural water quality engineering.