Rate My Professor David Richards

David Richards is a Lecturer in the Department of Mathematics within the School of Science, Computing and Emerging Technologies at Swinburne University of Technology. His research primarily revolves around mathematical modelling applied to biological and medical phenomena, as well as educational aspects of engineering and science programs. Richards has made contributions to understanding the spatial and temporal dynamics of infectious diseases through models incorporating diffusion effects. For instance, he has modeled the Zika virus as both a mosquito-borne and sexually transmitted disease, accounting for diffusion to simulate realistic propagation patterns. Similarly, his work on malaria epidemics explores the presence of diffusion and numerical studies of disease spread involving self and cross-diffusion mechanisms in the host-vector system.

In addition to infectious disease modelling, Richards has investigated the regression of tumor cells in response to chemotherapeutic treatment, developing mathematical frameworks to analyze treatment efficacy and cellular dynamics. Other areas include dynamic hip fracture modelling, which examines internal fixation techniques such as the dynamic hip screw for neck of femur fractures. His research extends to educational methodologies, including the development of 'real world' project skills for engineering students, comparisons between first-year and final-year project outcomes, and explorations of first-year domestic and international student experiences in tertiary learning environments. He has also addressed undergraduate engineering project work and historical thermometer exposures in Australia. Key publications include 'Mathematical modelling of Zika virus as a mosquito-borne and sexually transmitted disease with diffusion effects' (2019), 'Modelling of Tumor Cells Regression in Response to Chemotherapeutic Treatment' (2017), 'A Numerical Study of the Spread of Malaria Disease with Self and Cross-Diffusion in the System' (2017), 'A Study of Malaria Epidemic Model in the Presence of Diffusion' (2016), 'Development of "Real World" Project Skills for Engineering Students' (2012), 'Learning project skills for "real world" environment' (2011), 'Lost in transit: exploring the first-year domestic and international student experience' (2011), 'Undergraduate engineering project work' (2010), 'Dynamic hip fracture modelling' (2008), and 'Historical Thermometer Exposures in Australia' (1996). These 10 publications have accumulated 128 citations and 9,692 reads on ResearchGate. Richards supervises honours projects focused on optimisation and mathematical modelling and is available for Master's supervision. He has taught units including Engineering Mathematics 4B, Linear Algebra and Applications, and Engineering Mathematics 2.