Professor Jared West

Jared West has over 25 years of experience in hydrogeology, including research and commercial projects, class and field teaching and PhD and Masters dissertation project supervision. He has contributed to the MSc in Hydrogeology (ran from 2004 -2012) and MSc in Engineering Geology (1967 - ) at University of Leeds, and from 2013 to 2017 was Programme Leader for the MSc in Engineering Geology. He has been Deputy Head of School of Earth and Environment with responsibility for staff, since 2017. Jared has published more than 50 peer reviewed articles on topics including hydrogeology, hydrogeophysics, engineering geology and rock engineering, and has supervised more than 20 PhD students.

Jared’s research has concerned the development and application of physical and geophysical approaches to the characterization of hydrological processes and mechanical properties within the Earth's Critical Zone , with particular focus on fractured rock. Groundwater is an important source of drinking water throughout the world but is also used for irrigation and industrial purposes; it requires protection from pollution by over-abstraction, agrochemicals and disposal of wastes, including deep radioactive waste disposal.

Protecting groundwater requires a good understanding of the processes of flow and pollutant transport within aquifers; Jared’s research has focussed on the development and application of direct, borehole-based physical measurement techniques including hydraulic and tracer testing, and indirect geophysical techniques such as ground penetrating radar, and use of such techniques to inform modelling. Work has involved field scale experiments and monitoring of fractured rock aquifers, and laboratory-based approaches for measuring properties of aquifers. In recent years his research has taken on an increasingly applied emphasis, working with end-users (water companies, government agencies, hydrocarbons industry) to use scientific understanding developed to inform management of resources and risks, and land-use planning.