Wes Cooper is the Laboratory Manager and Senior Research Scientist at the Asphalt Institute. A veteran in asphalt testing, he has accumulated many years of experience in asphalt science and education since joining the Institute in 2008. He is a member of AAPT, ASTM and ASCE, and is a contributor to several key research projects, including AIF 22-03 and NCHRP 09-63.
As a writer, Wes regularly contributes to Asphalt Magazine and other industry outlets. He has published numerous technical papers and reports and was the primary author for the award-winning “Best Paper” for the Transportation Research Board Committee on Binders for Flexible Pavements in 2024. As a technical leader, has also been the primary author in drafting ASTM test methods for improved characterization of asphalt binders, both in the paving and roofing sectors.
Wes also serves as the primary staff representative for the Asphalt Institute Roofing Technical Advisory Committee and manages the Asphalt Institute Roofing Proficiency Sample Program. As an educator, he is regularly involved in the National Binder Technician Certification program and Rheobit advanced rheology course. A lifelong Lexington native, he is a graduate from the University of Kentucky and is happily married with three children.
