Rate My Professor Andrew Rodda

Andrew Rodda is a Senior Lecturer and Director of Education in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering within the Faculty of Engineering at Monash University. He obtained his PhD in Materials Engineering from Monash University in 2014, with research on synthetic cell microenvironments, and a BE/BSc double degree in Mechatronics Engineering, Physiology, and Applied Mathematics from the same university. Throughout his career, Rodda has held positions as a research scientist in the Medical Device Technology group at Callaghan Innovation, where he developed novel diagnostic assays; an R&D consultant at Aeroqual Ltd.; and researcher in groups at the University of Auckland and the University of California, Berkeley. He previously served as an Assistant Lecturer in Materials Science and Engineering at Monash University before his promotion to Senior Lecturer.

Rodda's research focuses on biomaterials science, including surface modification, biofunctionalisation, biorecognition, polymer brush coatings, electrospinning for cell scaffolds, and biosensors. His work aims to control interactions between engineered materials and biological molecules for applications such as implantable cell scaffolds, stem cell microenvironments to direct development, low-fouling coatings, and detection of biomolecules in complex samples, with emphasis on cell-free DNA and responses of neural and stem cells to biomaterials in vitro and in vivo. Notable publications include "Design and Prototyping of a Novel Triple Lumen Photo-Angioplasty Device: Lumi-Solve-T" (2025, Cardiovascular Engineering and Technology), "Advances in Design and Development of Lumi-Solve: A Novel Drug-Eluting Photo-Angioplasty Device" (2023, Cardiovascular Engineering and Technology), "Design, Development, In Vitro and Preliminary In Vivo Evaluation of a Novel Photo-Angioplasty Device: Lumi-Solve" (2021, Cardiovascular Engineering and Technology), "Nerve guidance conduit development for primary treatment of peripheral nerve transection injuries: a commercial perspective" (2021, Acta Biomaterialia), and "Extending Circulating Tumor DNA Analysis to Ultralow Abundance Mutations: Techniques and Challenges" (2018, ACS Sensors). For his excellence in engineering education, particularly in project-based learning and medical technology programs, he received the Dean's Teaching Award for Programs that Enhance Learning and a Special Commendation in the Vice Chancellor's Award for Programs that Enhance Learning in 2024. Rodda's research contributes to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 3: Good Health and Well-being. He is currently accepting PhD students.