Dr Richard Ward's 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 – research linked to challenged-based learning, with producing ongoing findings at the USW Learning & Teaching Conference (2024, 2022 & 2020), at the USW Student Experience Plan (2019), and at the CELT Learning & Teaching Conference (2018).

Dr Richard Ward is a senior lecturer in Cyber Security and the course leader for the BSc Applied Cyber Secuirty and BSc Computer Security courses.  Richard enjoys sharing his enthusiasm for the subject with a wide range of students. He has a real passion for introducing computing and cyber security to beginners. 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
- Securing Data with Cryptography
- The Computing Professional in Practice
- Undergraduate Dissertation Project Supervision

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

Postgraduate Research Areas:
- Currently supervising eight PhD students including research based around side-channel attack vulnerabilities and exploitations, research around the challenges facing behaviour, security and life cycle of operating automated vehicles, research around the cyber security of the IoT (Internet of Things) Farming, developing a security compliance framework for the IoMT (Internet of Medical Things) and other IoMT cyber related areas
- Supervisor for a MRes Student based around the governance of IoMT