Richard Cooper

About Richard Cooper

After 35 years as a Technical Director in the Structural Pest Management industry, Richard Cooper, established R Cooper Consulting an independent firm providing consulting services in Urban Entomology and Pest Management. His clients include pest management companies, manufacturer\'s of pest management products. As a subject matter expert on bed bugs, Richard provides expert testimony in bed bug related legal claims and caters to a wide variety of industries impacted by bed bugs including the multi-family housing and hospitality industries. In addition to his consulting business, Richard also holds position as a Research Associate in the Urban Pest Management Lab, at Rutgers University, Department of Entomology, where he studies pests of urban importance such as bed bugs, cockroaches, and rodents. Prior to becoming an independent consultant, Richard served as the Technical Director and owner of Cooper Pest Solutions from 19••••18 and as a Senior Director of Special Services at Terminix International from 20••••21, following ServiceMaster\'s acquisition of Cooper Pest Solutions.Richard holds a BS, MS & PhD in Entomology. He received his PhD in Entomology from Rutgers University where he studied the behavioral ecology and management of bed bugs. He is a frequent speaker at scientific and pest management industry meetings, speaking on a variety of urban pest related topics and has authored 2 books, 8 book chapters, over 40 articles in peer-reviewed scientific journals, and trade magazines. In 2001 Richard received PCT Magazines distinguished leadership award and in 2003 was recognized as one of the top 40 professionals in the pest control industry under the age of 40 years old. In 2010 he was appointed to serve on the NYC Bed Bug Advisory Board by New York City’s Mayor Bloomberg.Richard has served as an expert witness in over 30 law suites and insurance claims dealing with bed bugs and has been utilized as a subject matter expert on bed bugs by the NY Times, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, USA Today, The Discovery Channel, CBS’s The Early Show, NBC’s Today Show, The Dr. Oz Show, National Public Radio (NPR), among others.Richard has served on the New Jersey IPM Task Force which developed IPM standards for the State of NJ and has participated in a number of organizations including the Entomological Society of America, Pi Chi Omega, the National Pest Management Assoc. and Earth Share, NJ.

Experience

1. Entomologist, Owner

   R Cooper Consulting

   May 2021 — Present

   Independent Consultant in Urban Entomology and Pest Management

Education

• Rutgers University

  Master of Science (MS), Entomology

  1989 — 1991

• Rutgers University

  Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Entomology

  2010 — 2015

• University of Delware

  Bachelor of Science (BS), Entomology