STAFF PROFILE
Associate Professor Cliff Da Costa
Position:
Associate Professor
College / Portfolio:
School of Science Cluster
School / Department:
Mathematical Sciences
Phone:
+61 3 9925 6114
Email:
cliff.dacosta@rmit.edu.au
Campus:
Bundoora Campus
Contact me about:
Research supervision
Associate Professor Da Costa undertakes collaborative research projects with the Chinese Medicine Unit involving randomised clinical trials of herbal and alternative treatments. He provides research design and statistical analysis support to students and staff involved in research projects and higher degrees to academic divisions within the School of Health Sciences.
His research and consulting expertise is in the area of statistical methods in meta-analysis. Currently he is exploring the applicability of multilevel models for meta-analysis of randomised clinical trials and application of Bayesian statistical methods to data from randomised clinical trials.
Responsibilites
- Associate Professor in Statistics
- Bundoora Campus Service Courses Coordinator
- Biostatistics Consultant to Chinese Medicine Unit, Division of Osteopathy, Division of Chiropractic
Teaching activities
Semester 1
- MATH 1275 – Statistical Computing (Course Coordinator)
- MATH 1276 – Statistical Computing (Course Coordinator)
- MATH 1279 – Statistical Analysis 1 (Course Coordinator)
- MATH 1280 – Statistical Analysis 1 (Course Coordinator)
- MATH 1233 – Advanced Statistical Analysis (Course Coordinator)
Semester 2
- MATH 1277 – Statistics (Course Coordinator)
- MATH 1278 – Statistics (Course Coordinator)
- MATH 1281 – Statistical Analysis 2 (Course Coordinator)
- MATH 1282 – Statistical Analysis 2 (Course Coordinator)
- MATH 1233/2214 – Advanced Statistical Analysis (Course Coordinator)
- PhD, Stanford University
- EdS (Education Specialist, Program Evaluation), Stanford University
- MS, Stanford University
Professional interests / links to industry
- Member, Australasian Statistical Society
- Charter Member, Australasian Evaluation Society
Administrative positions held
- 2002–present – Bundoora Campus Service Teaching Coordinator, School of Mathematical and Geospatial Sciences
- 1990–1997 – Program Leader, Graduate Diploma in Human Services Research
- 1997–2002 – Learning Technology Mentor, Department of Statistics and Operations Research
- 1997–2000 – Department of Statistics and Operations Research representative on Faculty of Applied Science Research Committee
- 1998–2000 – Director of Teaching Quality, Department of Statistics and Operations Research
- 1998–2001 – Department of Statistics & Operations Research representative, Faculty of Applied Science Library Information committee
Accomplishments and prizes
- Recipient of the RMIT University College of Science, Engineering and Health outstanding Good Teaching Scale (GTS) Award for MATH 1279/1280, Semester 1, 2013
- Recipient of the RMIT University College of Science, Engineering and Health outstanding Good Teaching Scale (GTS) Award for MATH 1280, Semester 1, 2012 (Score > 85%)
- Recipient (with M. Ovens) of the RMIT University College of Science, Engineering and Health outstanding Good Teaching Scale (GTS) Award for MATH 1279, Semester 1, 2011 (Top 20 in College)
- Recipient of the RMIT University College of Science, Engineering and Health outstanding Good Teaching Scale (GTS) Award for MATH 1280, Semester 1, 2010 (Top 50 in College)
- Recipient of the RMIT University College of Science, Engineering and Health outstanding Good Teaching Scale (GTS) Award for MATH 1278, Semester 2, 2009 (Top 15 large class course in College)
- Recipient of the RMIT University College of Science, Engineering and Technology Student Choice Teaching Award, 2007
- Recipient of the Francis Ormond Medal, for commitment, dedication, excellence and exceptional service to RMIT University, 2006
- Recipient of the RMIT University Department of Nursing and Midwifery, Commendation Award for statistics teaching and research supervision support provided to students undertaking nursing degrees, 2004
- Recipient of the RMIT University Dean of the Faculty of Applied Science Award in teaching and learning in recognition and celebration of outstanding commitment and performance in teaching and learning within the Faculty of Applied Science, 2000
- Recipient of the RMIT University Quality Award for contributions to teaching and learning in higher education, 1998
- Alhaiti, A.,Jones, L.,Da Costa, C.,Alotaibi, A.,Lenon, G. (2016). Psychometric evaluation of the revised michigan diabetes knowledge test (V.2016) in Arabic: Translation and validation In: Journal of Diabetes Research, , 1 - 20
- Ames, R.,Jarosz, B.,Baglin, J.,Da Costa, C. (2015). Functional Knee Extension Test (FKET): inter-rater palpatory agreement and visual analysis during a non-weight bearing functional assessment of the knee In: Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies, 19, 656 - 665
- Wang, Y.,Xue, C.,Helme, R.,Da Costa, C.,Zheng, Z. (2015). Acupuncture for frequent migraine: A randomized, patient/assessor blinded, controlled trial with one-year follow-up In: Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, , 1 - 14
- Xue, C.,Zhang, A.,Zhang, S.,DaCosta, C.,Story, D.,Thien, F. (2015). Acupuncture for seasonal allergic rhinitis: A randomized controlled trial In: Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, 115, 317 - 324
- Zhang, S.,Xia, J.,Zhang, A.,Yang, W.,Thien, F.,Yunying, L.,Wu, D.,Cai, J.,Da Costa, C.,Xue, C. (2014). Ear acupressure for perennial allergic rhinitis: A multicenter randomized controlled trial In: American Journal of Rhinology and Allergy, 28, e152 - e157
- Baglin, J.,Da Costa, C. (2014). How do students learn statistical packages? A qualitative study In: Topics from Australian Conferences on Teaching Statistics: OZCOTS 2008-2012, Springer, United States
- Baglin, J.,Da Costa, C. (2013). Comparing training approaches for technological skill development in introductory statistics courses In: Technology Innovations in Statistics Education (TISE), 7, 1 - 23
- Zhang, A.,Di, Y.,Worsnop, C.,May, B.,Da Costa, C.,Xue, C. (2013). Ear acupressure for smoking cessation: a randomised controlled trial In: Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, , 1 - 8
- Tan, H.,Zhang, A.,Xue, C.,Chen, D.,Da Costa, C.,Lenon, G. (2013). Evaluation of the efficacy and safety of a Chinese herbal formula (RCM-106) for atopic dermatitis: Study protocol for a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in children In: BMJ Open, 3, 1 - 9
- Baglin, J.,Da Costa, C. (2012). An experimental study evaluating error management training for learning to operate a statistical package in an introductory statistics course: Is less guidance more? In: International Journal of Innovation in Science and Mathematics Education, 20, 48 - 67
- Australian Acupuncture & Chinese Medicine Association LTD (AACMA) Research Grants. Funded by: Australian Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine Association Project Contract from (2007 to 2007)
- Improving Breast Feeding Outcomes: A Research-Based Intervention for Nurses. Funded by: VicHealth Contract from (1996 to 1999)
Note: Supervision projects since 2004
4 PhD Current Supervisions9 PhD Completions and 3 Masters by Research Completions
Statistics and operations research, surveys, sampling, program evaluation, biostatistics, meta-analysis, statistical methods in meta-analysis and hierarchical linear modelling, clinical trials in Chinese Medicine and Complementary Medicine.