Dr David Hobbs
Senior Lecturer
College of Science and Engineering
David has bachelor degrees in Physics (1992-1994) and Biomedical Engineering (1996-2000), with First Class Honours, and a PhD (2010-2018, in Rehabilitation Engineering) from Flinders University. He has extensive experience as a Rehabilitation Engineer in the field of disability, rehabilitation engineering and assistive technologies, and is currently a Senior Lecturer and academic staff member within the College of Science and Engineering and a researcher within the Medical Device Research Institute (MDRI) at Flinders University.
David’s professional honours to date include being awarded a Churchill Fellowship in the field of rehabilitation engineering and Universal Design (2003); Engineers Australia’s Young Professional Engineer of the Year (2004); Engineers Australia's Top 100 Most Influential Engineers (2005); and a Fulbright Professional Scholarship in the field of paediatric rehabilitation engineering (2008). David is also a Fellow of Engineers Australia (FIEAust), the Professional Association for all Engineers in Australia.
David has experience working in rehabilitation engineering research and industry institutions in Australia, England, Canada and the United States, holds a patent for his PhD work, and has twice won first prize in the College of Biomedical Engineers’ Better Technology Awards for novel assistive technologies. He is an invited TEDx speaker, has delivered numerous invited and keynote presentations, and he has represented Australia at two Global Research, Innovation, and Education in Assistive Technology Summit events at the WHO in Geneva.
David is also the Course Coordinator for the Biomedical Engineering and Engineering Science Degree Programs.
View my ORCID ID, LinkedIn, ResearchGate and Google Scholar profiles via the above links on the right hand side. Connect with me via Twitter via the above link as well!
PhD (Rehabilitation Engineering), part-time, Flinders University, 2010 - 2018
Accredited National Association of Testing Authorities (NATA) Test Engineer (signatory status), 2002 - 2010
Executive Diploma in Business Planning, Enterprise Development Institute, 2001
Bachelor of Science (Life Sciences) / Bachelor of Engineering (Biomedical) (Hons I), Flinders University, 1996 - 2000
Bachelor of Science (Physics), Flinders University, 1992-1994
Emerging Research Leader Award, College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University (2024)
Life Membership, ARATA, the Australian Rehabilitation and Assistive Technology Association (2023)
Student-Led Teaching Award, Most Supportive Supervisor, Flinders University (2023)
Vice-Chancellor's Award for Excellence In Teaching Team Award, Flinders University (2022)
Fellow, Engineers Australia (2021)
PhD Platform Award Winner, Australasian Academy of Developmental Medicine and Cerebral Palsy (2020)
Dean (Education) Award for Excellence in Teaching and Innovation (2018)
Distinguished Alumni Award, Flinders University (2016)
Finalist, 10th National Disability Awards, Excellence in Technology category (2016)
National Finalist, Inaugural Design Entrepreneur Awards, CtechBA and Good Design Australia (2016)
'Better Technology Award' (prototype category, 2014)
iAward (SA State Award and National Merit) Community Category (2014)
1st Prize, The Soft Technology Award, awarded by ARATA for 'developments, improvements and innovations in service delivery to Assistive Technology users' (2012)
Finalist, Science Excellence Awards SA, Early Career STEM Educator of the Year (2012)
3 Minute Thesis (3MT), Flinders University Winner (2011)
Fulbright Professional Scholarship in FES (Functional Electrical Stimulation) and cerebral palsy (2008)
South Australian "Top 50 Rising Stars" list (2007)
ABC-Australian Academy of Science Media Fellowship (2005)
Engineers Australia's "Top 100 Most Influential Engineers", in the 'Young Engineers Top 10 Newcomers' category (2005)
Engineers Australia's "Young Professional Engineer of the Year" Award (2004)
Churchill Fellowship in Rehabilitation Engineering (2003)
The Entrepreneurial Award, a Scholarship to undertake the "South Australian Enterprise Workshop" (2001)
Engineer Australia's "Flinders University" Medal (2000)
Course Coordinator, all Biomedical Engineering Degree Programs (undergraduate and post-graduate); Engineering Science Degree;
Conducting and Supervising projects relating to Disability, Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology within the College;
Teaching Engineering Design and Rehabilitation Engineering, Disability and Assistive Technology;
Coordinating International and Domestic Engineering Work Integrated Learning (WIL) Placements.
Design, Rehabilitation Engineering, Assistive Technology, Disability, Cerebral Palsy, Impairment, Medical Devices, Commercialisation.
Member, Society of Medical & Biological Engineering (SMBE): 2001 - present
Member, National Committee on Rehabilitation Engineering (NCRE), through Engineers Australia: 2001 - present
Member and former National Board Member (2004 - 2007), Engineers Without Borders (EWB) Australia: 2003 - present
Member and former National Board Member (2004 - 2010), Australian Rehabilitation and Assistive Technology Association (ARATA): 2001 - present
Member, Medical Device Partnering Program (MDPP): 2008 - present
Member, Australasian Academy of Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine (AusACPDM): 2014 - present
Member and former Chair, College of Biomedical Engineers (SA Chapter), through Engineers Australia: 2009 - present
Member, College of Biomedical Engineers National Board, through Engineers Australia: 2009 - 2010
Technical member, State Government Department for Communities and Social Inclusion (DCSI) Equipment Evaluation Sub-Committee: 2010 - 2014
Chair, Australian Fulbright Alumni Association (SA Chapter): 2010 - present
Member, Fulbright South Australian State Selection Committee: 2010 - 2014
- Engineering - Biomedical
- Rehabilitation
- Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology
If you'd like to see the kind of work that I do, then watch this TEDxFulbrightMelbourne talk on "Improving Life for People with Disability"
Sturt Rd, Bedford Park
South Australia 5042
South Australia | Northern Territory
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