Having previously held a series of executive-level administrative positions across eight years at Imperial College London, James began at Rice as a Research Administrator in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering in December 2018, before going on to lead the Interdisciplinary Research Support Office, and then moving to Research & Cost Accounting in early 2025. James holds an undergraduate degree in Environmental Sciences and a post-graduate certification in Sustainable Development. He grew up in Bournemouth, a large coastal town on the South coast of England. Outside of the office, James enjoys spending time with his wife & his two dogs, following international cricket, and developing his emergent appreciation for baseball.