Todd A. Richmond

Photo of Todd Richmond
Director, Pardee RAND Tech + Narrative Lab; Professor, Pardee RAND Graduate School; Adjunct Research Staff
Santa Monica Office

Education

Ph.D. in chemistry, Caltech; B.A. in chemistry, University of San Diego

Overview

Todd Richmond is the director of the Tech & Narrative Lab and a professor at the Pardee RAND Graduate School. Richmond is also a musician, visual artist, and self-described "conceptual troublemaker." Early in his career as a chemistry professor at The Claremont Colleges, he incorporated multimedia and web technologies into his teaching and research. That work led him to evolve from his specific focus on chemistry to instead pursue a broader understanding of technology and content, moving to USC.

At USC's Institute for Creative Technologies, Richmond led the Mixed Reality Lab and Advanced Prototypes group and has worked in a variety of areas: emerging disruptive technologies for training, learning, and operations; future environments for communication and collaboration; immersive technologies; interactive education; visualization and analytics. He has taught in the USC Marshall School of Business and USC School of Cinematic Arts.

Richmond increasingly broadened his scope of interest and expertise, particularly around the unintended consequences of technology. His “applications and implications” mantra led him to move into the public policy realm at Pardee RAND Graduate School.

Richmond earned a B.A. in chemistry from the University of San Diego and a Ph.D. in chemistry from Caltech, followed by a postdoctoral fellowship in protein engineering at U.C. San Francisco. He has also studied with Grammy-winning bassist Victor Wooten and performs regularly with a number of different ensembles.

Research Focus

Previous Positions

Research Faculty, USC School of Cinematic Arts. Director of Advanced Prototypes, USC Institute for Creative Technologies.

Commentary

  • Nurse Pamela Omboko prepares a Malaria vaccine for infants at a clinic in Gem, Siaya County, Kenya, October 7, 2021, photo by James Keyi/Reuters

    Malaria Vaccine May Not Eliminate Need to Combat Counterfeit Medicines

    The newly announced malaria vaccine could be a critical tool to combat the tremendous socioeconomic burden malaria causes. But global achievements in reducing malaria cases and deaths in the past decades may be in danger of significant reversal if the problem of counterfeiting continues.

    Nov 8, 2021 The Hill

  • Laura Ng, who has lupus and had to recently call at least five pharmacies before she could find a place to fill her hydroxychloroquine prescription, in Seattle, Washington, March 31, 2020, photo by Lindsey Wasson/Reuters

    The Unintended Consequences of a Proposed Cure for COVID-19

    The very discussion of chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine as therapeutic options against COVID-19 has decreased their availability for proven treatments, exacerbated global shortages, fueled a rampant counterfeit drug market in Africa, and worsened trade tensions. What can be done to deal with these unintended consequences?

    Apr 29, 2020 The Hill