Dr. Richard Leibbrandt is a Lecturer at Flinders University's College of Science and Engineering, with full membership in the Medical Device Research Institute and associate membership in the Flinders Digital Health Research Centre. He holds a PhD from Flinders (2009) focused on computational models of language acquisition in children. His interdisciplinary background bridges psychology and computer science. Research Interests: Leibbrandt specializes in cognitive science, human-machine language learning, and human-centered computing systems. His work spans virtual agents, digital health applications, neural behavior modeling, and AI-driven diagnostic tools. Key domains include: Machine learning in healthcare (e.g., PCR optimization, mental health sensing) Virtual reality systems for behavioral research Social determinants of health analytics Computational neuroscience (neural coding, insect pursuit dynamics) Research Output Trends: Recent publications (2020-2025) demonstrate strong emphasis on AI/ML applications in biomedicine, including smart diagnostic devices, virtual reality behavioral platforms, and computational neuroscience. Health technology innovation is a consistent theme, with 30% of works involving clinical translation studies. Projects & Supervision: Active in ARC/NHMRC initiatives including 'From Talking Heads to Thinking Heads' and neuroimaging projects. Supervised 2 AI-focused students. Secured grants for virtual patient training systems in clinical education. Affiliations: Contributes to UN Sustainable Development Goals through digital health research. Associated labs include the Medical Device Research Institute (full member) and Flinders Digital Health Research Centre (associate member).












