Jim C.P. Liou is a Professor of Civil Engineering at the University of Idaho, Moscow, Idaho, and a guest lecturer at the IHE-Delft, The Netherlands. He is engaged in research on fluid transients and real-time pipeline leak detection. Prior to his present position, he was with Bechtel Inc. in Ann Arbor, Michigan for 3 years and then with Stoner Associates, Inc. in Carlisle, Pennsylvania for 7 years.

He has experience in design, field investigation, and software development related to fluid transients. He stays involved with engineering practice by being a consultant to the water, power, and oil pipeline industries.