Research Professor Richard D. Jones

Current roles

• Director, Christchurch Neurotechnology Research Programme
• Biomedical Engineer & Neuroscientist, Department Medical Physics & Bioengineering, Christchurch Hospital
• Research Professor, Department of Medicine, University of Otago, Christchurch
• Professor, Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering, University of Canterbury, elec.canterbury.ac.nz/people/jones.shtml
• Professor, Department of Psychology, University of Canterbury
• Member, Scientific Advisory Committee, Canterbury Medical Research Foundation

Background

Richard received his BE(Hons) and ME degrees in Electrical and Electronic Engineering from the University of Canterbury in 1974 and 1975 respectively and a PhD in Medicine from the Christchurch School of Medicine, University of Otago, Christchurch, in 1987.

He is Director of the Christchurch Neurotechnology Research Programme, a biomedical engineer & neuroscientist in the Department of Medical Physics & Bioengineering of Canterbury District Health Board, a Professor in the Departments of Electrical and Computer Engineering and Psychology at the University of Canterbury, and a Research Professor in the Department of Medicine at the Christchurch School of Medicine & Health Sciences of the University of Otago.

Richard is a Fellow of the Institution of Professional Engineers New Zealand, a Fellow and a Past President of the Australasian College of Physical Scientists and Engineers in Medicine, a Fellow of American Institution for Medical and Biological Engineering, a Fellow of the Institute of Physics (UK), and a Fellow of the Institute of Electrical & Electronic Engineers (IEEE). He is Editor of the Neural & Rehabilitation Engineering Theme at Annual International Conferences of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine & Biology Society, has been on most of the EMBS's International Conference Committees since 1988. He is an Associate Editor of IEEE Transactions on Neural Systems and Rehabilitation Engineering, a past member of the Editorial Board of Journal of Neural Engineering, a past Associate Editor of IEEE Transactions on Biomedical Engineering, and a past member of the EMBS's Administrative Committee (representing the Asia-Pacific region).

In 2013 and 2015, he was voted Supervisor of the Year by the students of University of Canterbury.

Research interests

• Biomedical and neural engineering
• Lapses (microsleeps & lapses of attention) and drowsiness – Detection from behavioural measures (tracking and video metrics); Advanced signal processing and machine learning approaches to the detection and prediction of microsleeps from electrophysiological signals (EEG, EOG); Underlying brain mechanisms via simultaneous-fMRI+EEG+Tracking+Video and beamforming approaches to deep electrical activity.
• Human performance engineering - Development and application of computerized tests for quantification of upper-limb sensory-motor and cognitive function, particularly in brain disorders (stroke, Parkinson's disease, traumatic brain injury) and driving assessment.
• Obstructive sleep apnea and adverse effects on brain.
• Neural control of swallowing and rehabilitation of swallowing disorders.
• Forensic brainwave analysis