His academic interests cover a broad range of topics, including coding theory and code assignment, Cyber Security and AI, combinatorics, cryptography, encryption and side-channel attacks. During his PhD, his research focussed on the security of Loosely Synchronous (LS) codes in Code-division Multiple-access (CDMA) systems.  

Additional Research Activities: Pedagogy Research – researching the link between collaboration and technology, with producing ongoing findings at the USW Learning & Teaching Conference (2022 & 2020), at the USW Student Experience Plan (2019), and at the CELT Learning & Teaching Conference (2018).

Dr Richard Ward is a lecture in Cyber Security who enjoys sharing his enthusiasm for the subject with a wide range of students. He has a real passion for introducing computing and security to beginners, and visits local Primary and Secondary schools to deliver Cyber linked workshops. His aim is to teach in a fun, educational and innovative manner whether lecturing on one of our MSc courses or during outreach projects with Primary school children.

Foundation Teaching Areas:
- Cyber Security and Forensics

Undergraduate Teaching Areas:
- Cyber Tools and Processes
- Principles of Computer Programming
- Secure Design, Testing and Programming
- The Computing Professional in Practice
- Dissertation Project Supervision

Postgraduate Teaching Areas:
- Secure Code and Applied Cryptography
- Masters Project Supervision

Postgraduate Research Areas:
- Supervisor for PhD Student based around Side-Channel Attack (SCA) Vulnerabilities and Exploitations