My Expertise
- Engineering Education
- Engineering Design
- Mechanical Engineering
- Computational Fluid Dynamics
- Finite Element Modelling
- Microfluidics
- Nano-material
- Advanced Drug Delivery
- Green and Durable Fire Retardant Materials
Keywords
Fields of Research (FoR)
Engineering education, Higher education, Mechanical engineering, Biomechanics, Particle physics, Colloid and surface chemistry, Biomedical fluid mechanics, Engineering design, Computational methods in fluid flow, heat and mass transfer (incl. computational fluid dynamics)Biography
Dr. Darson Li is a senior lecturer in the School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering. His fields of research include innovations in engineering education, engineered health solutions, advanced drug delivery using nanoparticles and magnetic particles, microfluidics and biofluidics, and discrete element modelling of particulate colloidal systems.
Employment:
2025-present, Senior Lecturer, School of Mechanical and Manufacturing...view more
Dr. Darson Li is a senior lecturer in the School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering. His fields of research include innovations in engineering education, engineered health solutions, advanced drug delivery using nanoparticles and magnetic particles, microfluidics and biofluidics, and discrete element modelling of particulate colloidal systems.
Employment:
2025-present, Senior Lecturer, School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, The University of New South Wales
2023-2025, Lecturer, School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, The University of New South Wales
2021-2022, Associate Lecturer, School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, The University of New South Wales
2020-2021, Postdoctoral Fellow, School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, The University of New South Wales
2019-2020, Senior Research Officer, School of Pharmacy, the University of Sydney
2017-2018, Casual Academic, School of Engineering, Macquarie University
2013-2019, Casual Academic, School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, The University of New South Wales
My Grants
2025 UNSW Faculty EDI Grant $11,400
Project Title: Levelling the Playing Field: Addressing Equity in First-Year STEM Education.
2025 UNSW EF Grant – Educational Collaborations Category $5,000
Project Title: Future-Ready from Day One: Embedding Industry-Relevant Skills into First-Year STEM Curricula.
2025 UNSW Engineering EFFECT Grant $10,000
Project Title: Harnessing Augmented Reality for Enhancing Engineering Education: A Blended Learning Approach.
2025 UNSW Engineering EFFECT Grant $10,000
Project Title: Don’t Give Them a Fish, Teach Them How to FISH: A Collaborative Feedback System Integrating Human Educators and Regulated AI Assistants.
2025 UNSW Engineering EDI Outreach Fund $5,900
Project Title: Race to Opportunity: UNSW Redback Racing Rural & Regional Outreach Program to the Albury-Wodonga Region
2025 UNSW Engineering Diversifying Visitor Grant $8,000
Hosting: Dr Hanna Zakiyya from Universitas Negeri Surabaya.
2025 UNSW EF CoPs Special Projects Grant $8,000
Project Title: Unfiltered Voices: Analysing First-Year Student Challenges Through Reddit and AI.
2024 UNSW Engineering EFFECT Grant $20,000
Project Title: Developing an Innovative Plagiarism Detection System for 3D CAD Models in Engineering and Industrial Design Courses.
2024 UNSW Engineering EDI Outreach Fund $6,170
Project Title: Race to Opportunity: UNSW Redback Racing Rural & Regional Outreach Program to the Tamworth Region
2022 UNSW Engineering GROW Grant $39,730
Project Title: Self-directed Scaffolded Teaching and Learning Approach to Encourage Critical Thinking and Deep Learning.
My Qualifications
Doctor of Philosophy
2019, the University of New South Wales (UNSW Sydney)
Bachelor of Engineering in Mechanical Engineering with Honours Class 1 and the University Medal
2015, the University of New South Wales (UNSW Sydney)
Bachelor of Commerce in Accounting and Finance with Distinction
2015, the University of New South Wales (UNSW Sydney)
My Awards
The University Medal 2015
Australian Postgraduate Award 2015
UNSW Research Excellence Award 2015
UNSW Business School Dean’s Awards 2015
The RAA Bryant Prize 2014
UNSW Faculty of Engineering Dean’s Awards 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014
My Research Supervision
Supervision keywords
Areas of supervision
- Engineering Education Innovations
- AI in Engineering Education
- Computational Fluid Dynamics
- Discrete Element Modelling
- Discrete Phase Modelling
- Microfluidics
Currently supervising
Primary Supervisor
Ms Quynh Doan (PhD): Transforming the Undergraduate Engineering Curriculum: Enhancing Diversity and Inclusivity for Women in STEM
Mr Tom Catalan Wilson (PhD): The Analysis of Upper Limb Movement and Gait for Clinical and Rehabilitation Applications using the Vicon Motion Capture System
Joint Supervisor
Mr Aaron Krause (PhD): VRWalk+ Motorised Pedal Exciser and Haptic Foot/Ankle Stimulation
Secondary Supervisor
Mr Raiden Lemon (PhD): Personalised Fluid-Solid-Growth Models of Long-Term Coronary Artery Disease Progression
My Engagement
- 2025 - present Member of the UNSW Faculty of Engineering Promotion Committee, Lecturer A - B
- 2025 - present Co-chair, UNSW Early Career Academics Network
- 2025 - present Co-lead, UNSW 'Enhancing First Year Experience' Education Focussed Community of Practice
- 2024 - present Nominated member of the AAEE Academy of Early Career Engineering Educators
- 2023 - present Member of the Australasian Association for Engineering Education
- 2023 - present Member of the UNSW School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering Education Committee
- 2022 - present Member of the UNSW School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering External Relations Committee
- 2024 - 2025 Member of the UNSW Faculty of Engineering Education Committee
My Teaching
MECH3110 Mechanical Design 1
MMAN1130 Design and Manufacturing
ENGG1000/DESN1000 Introduction to Engineering Design and Innovation
MMAN3400 Mechanics of Solids 2
Publications
ORCID as entered in ROS
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6630-5515