The Institute was formed by Clemson University faculty conducting research in human factors and ergonomics. There is an Institute Director and Associate Director. All other faculty members of the institute are considered Institute Associates. Graduate and undergraduate students who play a significant role in the Institute through funded research are named Fellows and Junior Fellows of the Institute respectively. The Institute received official approval through Clemson University’s Board of Directors and South Carolina’s Commission of Higher Education and began operations on January 15, 2009.
To help stimulate or complete research projects within the membership of the HF Institute and their graduate students. Requests can be submitted for all funding requirements related to research, but justification must be provided regarding how the funding will further the mission of the Institute.
Favor will be placed on requests that clearly support the mission of the Institute, have a likelihood of leading to future activity and lead to a clear milestone. Cost-share where other funding sources are leveraged is desirable. While salary support can be requested, its likelihood of funding is low, and it would require a clear product that directly supports the future success of the Institute.
Awarded to a student who is the presenting author at a conference and mentored by a member of the Institute. The amount of this award cannot exceed $500. Limit 1 award per student/year. Subject to fund availability. To apply for funding, please fill out this form.
These are available on a rolling application basis and simply require a submission to the Director via e-mail. It is recommended that the e-mail request follow application outline. The amount of the request cannot exceed $1000. Approval is at the discretion of the Director. To apply for funding, please fill out this form.
Name: Richard Pak
Title: Professor and Director
Department: Psychology
Research Interests: My interest is in the psychological issues around the use of automation and autonomy (across a variety of contexts) such as trust, workload, acceptance, ethics, and performance. I'm also interested in individual differences and how they affect performance with autonomous technology.
Office: Brackett 410F
Phone: 864-656-1584
Email: [email protected]
Name: David Neyens
Title: Associate Professor
Department: Department of Industrial Engineering
Research Interests: Dr. Neyens is interested in examining the impact of technology and tools in healthcare and how interventions can support the delivery of safe, effective, and efficient care. Dr. Neyens used statistical modeling techniques to use big data and population-level data to address human factors research questions. In his lab, Dr. Neyens and the students also use systems engineering techniques to explore systematic and distributed risks in healthcare.
Office: 124 Freeman Hall
Phone: 864-656-4719
Email: [email protected]
Name: Kapil Chalil Madathil
Title: Tiencken Endowed Associate Professor
Department: Departments of Civil and Industrial Engineering
Research Interests: Dr. Chalil Madathil's area of expertise is in applying the knowledge base of human factors engineering to the design and operation of sustainable human-computer systems that involve rich interactions among people and technology. His research covers the entire spectrum of system design: from identifying the user needs to designing and developing computing systems that inform and motivate user behavior and empirically evaluating the efficacy of these interventions. Using qualitative and quantitative methodologies, his research attempts to understand how humans perceive, make sense of, and interact with human-machine systems.
Office: Lowry 212
Phone: 713-294-6499
Email: [email protected]
Name: Guo Freeman
Title: Assistant Professor
Department: Human-Centered Computing Division, School of Computing
Research Interests: Dr. Freeman's research focuses on mediated experience and social dynamics forged surrounding technological objects and collaborative systems including multiplayer online games, esports, live streaming, social VR, and social media. She brings an interdisciplinary perspective to these topics and contributes to a better understanding of the specific ways in which interactive technologies affect and support interpersonal relationships and group behaviors, in order to design and develop more inclusive, supportive, and fulfilling collaborative online systems.
Office: McAdams 204
Email: [email protected]
Name: Benjamin Stephens
Title: Professor
Department: Psychology
Research Interests: Attention, especially conspicuity, within visual domains of trip-and-fall incidents, and other fall hazards.
Office: Brackett 312L
Phone: 864-656-4982
Email: [email protected]
Name: Chris Pagano
Title: Professor
Department: Psychology
Research Interests: My research interests pertain the human perception and motor control with an emphasis on how perception can occur without the need for internal mental representations or mental deliberations. In designing displays and controls for human-machine interaction, I investigate ways in which the interface can similarly support 'direct' perception and action, freeing the user from unnecessary cognitive burdens. I investigate how people calibrate to altered perceptual conditions (e.g., weighted limbs, tools, altered avatars in VR). This work has implications for understanding how attachments to the body, like tools, racquets, prosthetic limbs, exoskeletons, etc., come to be perceived as part of the body and how they come to be used proficiently.
Office: Brackett 312-F
Phone: 864-656-4984
Email: [email protected]
Name: D. Matthew Boyer
Title: Research Associate Professor
Department: Engineering & Science Education / Office of the Associate Dean for Research
Research Interests: I collaborate on interdisciplinary research and development projects that integrate technology and learning. My current work focuses on learning environments, mixed (augmented and virtual) reality, and game- and simulation-based learning.
Office: Riggs 114
Phone: 864-656-4440
Email: [email protected]
Name: Shelia Cotten
Title: Associate Vice President for Research Development; Provost's Distinguished Professor
Department: Sociology, Anthropology, & Criminal Justice; Communication
Research Interests: My research focuses on technology use and impacts across the life course. Much of my research is focused on emerging technologies such as autonomous vehicles, wearables, smart homes, etc. and older adults in particular.
Office: Strom Thurmond Institute
Phone: 864-656-1299
Email: [email protected]
Name: John DesJardins
Title: Hambright Leadership Professor
Department: Bioengineering
Research Interests: "Designing Future Orthopaedic Implants Total-Joint-Replacement Design Kinematic and kinetic performance Biomaterials tribology, friction, and wear Knee-joint anatomy and function Translational Orthopaedic Research Quantifying effectiveness of novel surgical techniques Evaluating fracture-fixation design Orthopaedic rehabilitation Prosthetics and Orthotics Helmet Design and Impact Evaluation Sports Performance and Rehabilitation"
Office: Rhodes Annex 204
Phone: 864-650-0748
Email: [email protected]
Name: Yue Wang
Title: Associate Professor
Department: Mechanical Engineering Department
Research Interests: My research interests lie in the intersection between control theory, robotics, and human-robot interaction. I seek to quantify human trust to robots and human regret in decision-making under uncertainty. I then utilize these models to design robot motion planning and control that allow them to work better with humans.
Office: 237 Fluor Daniel Building
Phone: 864-656-5632
Email: [email protected]
Name: Ge Lv
Title: Assistant Professor
Department: Departments of Mechanical Engineering and Bioengineering
Research Interests: My research focuses on the design and control of lower-limb wearable robots, i.e., exoskeletons and prostheses, to improve life quality for individuals with disabilities. To achieve this goal, I investigate control and optimization algorithms, implement them on physical robotic devices, and verify the potential outcome via biomechanics studies on human subjects.
Office: Fluor Daniel 250
Phone: 864-656-7291
Email: [email protected]
Name: Dawn Sarno
Title: Assistant Professor
Department: Psychology
Research Interests: Dr. Sarno applies visual attention techniques (e.g., eye tracking) to further our understanding of human performance in applied tasks such as baggage screening, radiology, and cybersecurity. Additionally, in each of these applied areas, Dr. Sarno is interested in how we can develop interventions that improve human performance, particularly across the lifespan.
Office: Brackett Hall 312-I
Phone: 864-656-4983
Email: [email protected]
Name: Sudeep Hegde
Title: Assistant Professor
Department: Industrial Engineering
Research Interests: My research focuses on the study of adaptive performance in complex sociotechnical systems, such as healthcare. I have applied concepts and techniques in cognitive systems engineering, such as the critical decision method and cognitive task analysis to understand decision making and performance among physicians, nurses and other domain stakeholders. My work has resulted in novel interfaces for decision making and training in surgery, emergency medicine, and a self-reporting tool for hospital staff to share semi-structured narratives of adaptation in everyday work.
Office: 272 Freeman
Phone: 864-656-0111
Email: [email protected]
Name: Rick Tyrrell
Title: Professor
Department: Psychology
Research Interests: Expertise and interests in human vision and visual perception, particularly in challenging visual conditions. Especially interested in visual issues associated with driving at night.
Office: 319-B Brackett Hall
Phone: 864-656-4977
Email: [email protected]
Name: Jackie Cha
Title: Assistant Professor
Department: Department of Industrial Engineering
Research Interests: My research applies human factors to improve the lives of professionals by leveraging new technologies to enhance their performance and thus their interactions with society. My lab aims to measure and use human data for skills assessment, intervention, and ultimately enhance team performance. My focus is primarily on surgical care and other areas of healthcare.
Office: Freeman 268
Phone: 864-656-1874
Email: [email protected]
Name: Kelly Caine
Title: Associate Professor
Department: School of Computing
Research Interests: Dr. Caine is an expert in research methods, usable security and privacy, human-computer interaction, human factors, health informatics, and designing for special populations.
Office: McAdams Hall
Email: [email protected]
Name: June J. Pilcher
Title: Alumni Distinguished Professor
Department: Department of Psychology
Research Interests: I have an extensive background in applied psychology research. My research is broadly based on stress and fatigue and examines their impact on performance, health, and well-being.
Office: Brackett 312-G
Phone: 865-656-4985
Email: [email protected]
Name: Andrew Duchowski
Title: Professor
Department: Visual Computing, School of Computing
Research Interests: My research and teaching interests are rooted in eye tracking and the capture and analysis of human visual attention.
Office: McAdams 309
Phone: 864-656-7677
Email: [email protected]
Name: Bob Sinclair
Title: Professor
Department: Psychology
Research Interests: My research focuses on Occupational Health Psychology - the application of theories and methods of psychology to the study of worker safety, health, and well-being. Most of my current research focuses on (1) economic stressors (such as job insecurity and perceived income inadequacy) and health, (2) building organizational climates that enhance worker safety, health, and well-being, and (3) occupational health risks in special populations such as gig workers, healthcare (physicians/nurses) and military personnel.
Office: Brackett 319A
Phone: 864-656-3931
Email: [email protected]
Name: Divya Srinivasan
Title: Professor
Department: Industrial Engineering
Research Interests: I study biomechanics, physical ergonomics and human movement control. I am interested in studying human behaviors to understand and improve how humans physically interact with tools and technologies (in the workplace), what kinds of design approaches and work strategies are effective for improving performance and reducing risks of fatigue and MSDs, and how to train for achieving such impact. Our lab is currently focused on a variety of human-robot interaction problems, including those involving wearable technologies such as exoskeletons.
Office: Freeman Hall 277A
Phone: 864-656-5645
Email: [email protected]
Name: Nathan McNeese
Title: College of Engineering, Computing and Applied Sciences Dean's Professor; Assistant Professor of Human-Centered Computing
Department: Human-Centered Computing
Research Interests: A great deal of my work focuses on how to: 1) better understand human-AI teaming interactions, 2) develop more effective human-AI teams, and 3) develop AI agents that are able to conceptualize, develop, and partake in teamwork behaviors.
Office: 119 McAdams
Email: [email protected]
Name: Sab Babu
Title: Associate Professor
Department: Division of Human Centered Computing, School of Computing
Research Interests: Perception-Action in VR, Cybersickness, Virtual Humans and Avatars, 3D Human-Computer Interaction
Office: 121 McAdams Hall
Email: [email protected]
Name: Thomas Britt
Title: Professor
Department: Psychology
Research Interests: His current research programs investigate how stigma and other barriers to care influence employees in high stress occupations seeking needed mental health treatment, and the identification of factors that promote resilience among employees in high stress occupations. His research has been funded by multiple grants and contracts from the Department of Defense, the Intelligence Community, and NASA.
Office: 410G Brackett Hall
Phone: 864-656-4979
Email: [email protected]
Name: Dustin Souders
Title: Assistant Professor
Department: Psychology
Research Interests: Dr. Dustin J. Souders works in the areas of human factors, aging, and transportation safety. As head of the STAAR Lab, his research focuses on leveraging advanced vehicle technologies, from advanced driver assistance systems to fully autonomous vehicles, to safely maintain older adults’ mobility. Dustin has worked with teams from several engineering disciplines and social sciences on a wide range of policy-relevant issues surrounding the application of vehicle automation to safely improve individuals' quality of life. His lab equipment includes a state of the art driving simulator, head-mounted eye tracker, and VR headset that are used to study drivers' interactions with advanced vehicle technologies.
Office: 410A
Phone: 864-656-4986
Email: [email protected]
Name: Anjali Joseph
Title: Professor of Architecture and Industrial Engineering, Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System Endowed Chair in Architecture + Health Design, Director of the Center for Health Facilities Design and Testing
Department: School of Architecture
Research Interests: Dr. Joseph’s research on safe operating room design has resulted in numerous publications, development of a prototype OR and physical mock-up and implementation of design concepts in multiple ambulatory surgery across the US. Her work has resulted in practical tools to support translation of research into the practice of healthcare facility design. She collaborates extensively and builds relationships with healthcare organizations, architecture firms, and non-profit organizations to support evidence-based design decision-making for healthcare facility design.
Phone: 864-656-2273
Email: [email protected]
Name: Adam Hoover
Title: Professor
Department: Electrical and Computer Engineering
Research Interests: My current research focuses on tracking systems. Tracking can refer to physical problems, such as locating where things are in the world, and also signal problems, such as identifying the relative health of an individual's blood pressure over time. Image and signal processing, mHealth, state space modeling, filtering, and embedded computing form the background of my work. My group works with many types of sensors, and often builds embedded systems that prototype novel tracking ideas. I am currently an Associate Editor for the IEEE Journal of Biomedical and Health Informatics.
Office: Riggs 313a
Phone: 864-650-6026
Email: [email protected]
Name: Lesley Ross
Title: Associate Professor
Department: Department of Psychology
Research Interests: Dr. Ross is the SmartLife Endowed Chair of Aging and Cognition, Director of the Institute for Engaged Aging, Co-director of the Study for Healthy Aging & Applied (SHAARP) lab, and an Associate Professor of Psychology. She examines trajectories of cognitive, physical and everyday functioning with a focus on the development of interventions to to maintain healthy brain aging, mobility, and independence for adults. She utilizes an array of methodologies including neuropsychological/cognitive, physical, sensory, and health assessments in the lab; ecological momentary assessments of cognition and lifestyle factors within everyday life; neuroimaging and biological specimen collection; driving simulation; and active and passive assessments of functioning within the real world.
Email: [email protected]
Name: Bart Knijnenburg
Title: Associate Professor
Department: School of Computing
Research Interests: I study the psychological principles behind the decisions people make in online environments. Using Big Data and Machine Learning principles, I try to make these decisions a little easier with education, better user interfaces, and “smart default settings”. Among other application areas, my research is mainly focused on Usable Privacy and on Recommender Systems. Methodologically, I specialize in conducting large-scale online user experiments.
Office: McAdams 205
Email: [email protected]
Name: Andrew Robb
Title: Assistant Professor
Department: School of Computing
Research Interests: I am broadly interested in research exploring how virtual reality experiences and technologies impact user experience and human behavior, especially when these effects could have relevance at a societal level. Specific focus areas include 1) understanding how long-term experience with VR changes the way people use and behave in virtual environments, 2) exploring how social interactions differ when mediated through virtual reality, and 3) investigating how perception and action is affected by the characteristics of virtual systems. Other areas of interest include presence, virtual avatars and virtual agents, locomotion in virtual reality games, and user interface design for immersive systems.
Office: McAdams 122
Phone: 407-802-7724
Email: [email protected]
Name: Marissa Shuffler
Title: Associate Professor
Department: Psychology
Expertise: Dr. Marissa Shuffler has over a decade of experience conducting basic and applied research in the areas of team development, leadership, and organizational effectiveness. Her research focuses on the study of scientifically derived, innovative interventions needed to develop, sustain, and maximize inter- and intra-team functioning and well-being in high risk and complex environments including healthcare systems, the military, and spaceflight. Current projects include an NSF-funded interdisciplinary effort to explore the future of human-robot teaming in future construction sites, as well as an NSF-sponsored Future Manufacturing seed grant with mechanical and automotive engineering researchers exploring the role of intelligent agent-human teaming in future manufacturing. Shuffler is also working with colleagues at Rice, Florida Tech, University of Georgia, and Aptima to develop a novel experimental testbed to study team composition and teaming dynamics for the U.S. Army Research Institute.
Office: Brackett
Phone: 864-656-2831
Email: [email protected]
Name: Gregory S. Batt, Ph.D.
Title: Associate Professor
Department: Food, Nutrition, and Packaging Science Department, Clemson University
Research Interests: Greg earned his Ph.D. in mechanical engineering and a M.S. in packaging science while working at Clemson University. Starting as a packaging test lab technician in 2001, he progressed through the ranks to his current role as an associate professor with teaching, research, and service programs focused in packaged-product dynamics. Recently, Greg’s research has focused on the multi-axis motion of transport vehicles, the development of tribo-electric generators for energy harvesting during transport, and the characterization and modeling of football helmet facemasks. Greg serves as the director of the Clemson Packaging Dynamics Laboratory which has provided industry packaging testing services to over 350 companies and houses the Clemson Headgear Impact Performance (CHIP) lab. The CHIP lab provides state of the art facilities for Ph.D., M.S., and undergraduate students in various departments across campus such as Bioengineering and Mechanical Engineering.
Name: Bing Li
Title: Assistant Professor
Department: Department of Automotive Engineering, Clemson University
Research Interests: Dr. Bing Li's research focuses on sensing and perception for robots and vehicles, driving safety, and intelligent human autonomous machine interface design. He has also been developing assistive mobility and navigation aid technologies for people in need. He founded and is directing AutoAI Lab research group. He is passionate about STEM education and outreach activities for K-12 students, Summer outreach, and local visually impaired community, for instance, Dr. Li has been instructing a Clemson Summer Scholar camp 'Intelligent Vehicles and Driving Safety Features' for high school students.
Office: CU-ICAR 340
Phone: 864-365-0649
Email: [email protected]
Name: Shubham Agrawal
Title: Assistant Professor
Department: Psychology
Research Interests: My research focuses on addressing human factors issues in transportation, especially emerging transportation technologies. I extensively collaborate on research related to connected and automated vehicles, real-time information systems, smart mobility, new-generation smartphone apps, workforce development, and alternative fuel transportation.
Office: Brackett Hall 319C
Phone: 864-656-3936
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://www.rationalite.com
Name: Emma Dixon
Title: Assistant Professor
Department: School of Computing
Research Interests: Dr. Dixon is interested in investigating technology use by neurodiverse individuals, individuals living with chronic condition and older adults. She takes a mixed methods approach, using qualitative methods to ground her work deeply in situated understanding of people’s experiences, participatory design methods to democratize the technology design and development process, and quantitative methods to test the usability of emerging technologies.
Office: 219 McAdams
Phone: 864-986-0554
Email: [email protected]
Name: Carlos Toxtli-Hernandez
Title: Assistant Professor
Department: School of Computing, Human-Centered Computing Division
Research Interests: Dr. Toxtli-Hernandez’s research focuses on the study of how AI can empower people in the workplace. He develops socio-technical systems tested in real-world settings to evaluate the impact of AI-based solutions. Dr. Toxtli-Hernandez is interested in understanding how smart tools can help individuals to improve people’s well-being and promote social mobility.
Office: 214 McAdams
Phone: 864-656-3444
Email: [email protected]
Name: Jessica Avilés
Title: Assistant Professor
Department: Industrial Engineering
Research Interests: My research focuses on understanding and enhancing human mobility using motor learning training techniques and assistive devices. My lab specializes in biomechanics and understanding how injury can be prevented among a wide variety of individuals including older adults and individuals with disabilities such as amputees.
Office: 117 Freeman Hall
Phone: 864-656-2145
Email: [email protected]
Name: Allison Traylor
Title: Assistant Professor
Department: Psychology
Research Interests: My research focuses on teamwork, training, and diversity and inclusion in organizations. I conduct research across many contexts, and recent projects focus on effective teamwork in the neonatal intensive care unit and other healthcare contexts and on promoting inclusive and effective teamwork in STEM.
Office: Brackett Hall 321-B
Phone: 864-656-8576
Email: [email protected]
Name: Jinan Allan
Title: Assistant Professor
Department: Psychology
Dr. Jinan Allan’s research explores the effects of human cognitive abilities and statistical numeracy (i.e., practical probabilistic reasoning) on decision-making skills and risk literacy — i.e., the ability to evaluate and understand risk information. Her research uses behavioral science and psychometric techniques to develop metrics and models of human decision-making and risk communication, with applications to diverse domains, including medical decision making, cyber security, and extreme weather risks (e.g., tornado and hurricane warnings).
Office: Brackett 410B
Phone: (864) 656-4980
Email: [email protected]
