Stuart Richards

Biography

I am an experienced Senior Lecturer in Cyber Forensics with over nine years of teaching and research experience in UK higher education. I am a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA) and hold a strong record of curriculum development, pedagogical innovation, and professional practice. Prior to entering academia, I worked within law enforcement, providing electronic security and protection for high‑value and high‑risk targets, including political figures and military establishments. This professional background significantly informs my teaching and research, grounding both in real‑world digital investigation practices and security operations.

Qualifications

• 2014 – MSc (Hons) Computer Forensics, University of South Wales, Pontypridd
• 2018 – Postgraduate Certificate in Academic Practice (PGCAP), University of Gloucestershire, UK
• 2018 – Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA), UK

Teaching & Research

Teaching

My teaching portfolio spans several core areas within Cyber Forensics and Digital Security, including:

• Digital Forensics
• Internet of Things (IoT) Security and Forensics
• Ethics and Professional Practice
• Software Development
• Compliance in Digital Forensics
• Courtroom Skills and Expert Witness Practice

Research

My research interests focus on emerging challenges within the cyber forensics and security domain, with particular emphasis on:

• Data recovery from emergent and non‑traditional digital devices
• Environmental sensor forensics, including work on Tree Talker and similar IoT‑based ecological monitoring systems
• Physical penetration testing and vulnerabilities within blended physical–digital security environments

Subject for media interview

• Cyber Forensics