Derek Richardson's main research interests are related to the dynamics of planets and smaller bodies in the solar system, from planet formation to ring dynamics to dust grain evolution. The principal tool for these studies is a parallel tree code optimized for solving the gravitational N-body problem coupled with mechanical collisions. He has contributed specifically to the fields of planet formation (including planet migration), grain growth, planetary rings, and asteroid family and binary formation. In May 2001 a new computing cluster was installed in the department for the purpose of advancing these lines of research. Significant upgrades occured in 2003 and 2005, and more upgrades are planned for the future. Richardson is also a member of the UMd High Performance Computing Cluster advisory and allocation committee. Richardson has two graduate students presently working with him: Randall Perrine (studying planetary ring dynamics), and Steve Schwartz (studying gravitational aggregate dynamics).

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