Richard Tsai earned his Ph.D. in mathematics from the University of California, Los Angeles. He is a professor in mathematics, a member of the Oden Institute Core Faculty, a member of the Oden Institute Graduate Studies Committee (GSC), and affiliated with the Oden Institute Center for Numerical Analysis and the Applied Mathematics Group.

His current research interests include multiscale modeling and computation, inverse source problems, interface problems, robotic path planning problems involving visibility optimization, and image processing. His current works involve applications in crystal growth, porous media flow, seismic imaging, robotics, oscillatory mechanical systems, and endoscopic image analysis.

He is a recipient of an Alfred Sloan Research Fellowship, a FEMLAB prize, and a 2018 Peter O’Donnell Jr. Distinguished Research Award.