Ian Cotton

Biography

I studied for my first degree in Electrical Engineering at the University of Sheffield. Following this I worked for an electricity distribution company before returning to University to complete a PhD. This saw me work on lightning protection of wind turbines at UMIST (one of the two Universities that merged to form the University of Manchester in 2004). I have been employed at the University since 1998 within the Electrical Energy and Power Systems Group of the School Of Electrical and Electronic Engineering at the University of Manchester. 

I have a number of roles at the University. I carry out research in the area of high voltage with particular interests including the novel power system equipment, power systems transients, the use of higher voltage systems in aerospace applications and power system induced corrosion. I also work in the area of smart cities - supporting a range of projects that are using the University campus and the wider city to test out new energy technologies. My work is based in the University of Manchester HV Laboratories, the largest in the UK where a 2MV impulse generator, 800kV AC test set and 600kV DC test set is available. I have supervised 15 PhD students to completion and am the author / co-author of over well over 100 papers. My research has led to a number of patents and the formation of a spin-off company, Arago Technology, of which I am a Director. 

I am Head of the Power & Energy Division within the School of Electrical & Electronic Engineering. I am also the Director of Manchester Energy, the cross-University research initiative maximising the societal impact of our energy research and the University academic lead for Sustainability. I am a Member of the IET, a Senior Member of the IEEE and a Chartered Engineer. I am also a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.

Qualifications

BEng (Sheffield), PhD (UMIST), CEng, MIET, SMIEEE. FHEA