Seeking Undergraduate Researchers for Human Factors Projects

The Human Performance Laboratory (HPL) within the Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering is seeking undergraduate student researchers. The HPL conducts research in the intersection of Human Factors and transportation safety. More specifically, we are interested in reducing traffic injuries and fatalities by understanding how drivers interact with driving technology and infrastructure to guide the design of driver-vehicle interactions.

We are looking for 2 undergraduate students to start in Spring 2026 who will focus on one of two projects: (1) reducing teen driver traffic fatalities and improving teen driver performance through training; and (2) investigating, examining, and improving upon the human-computer interaction between truck drivers and their automated commercial motor vehicle.

Name of research group, project, or lab
Human Performance Laboratory
Why participate in this opportunity?

Students will learn valuable skills that can be added to their resume, including, but not limited to: data collection, data analysis, data visualization, software/coding, and academic/technical writing.

Representative publication or further information
IMG_4477.pdf
Logistics Information:
Subject Category
Industrial Engineering
Student ranks applicable
Junior
Senior
Student qualifications

Ideally, students will be or have already taken MIE 273/CEE 260 - Probability and Statistics for Engineers as well as MIE 360 - Human Factors Engineering.

Time commitment
5-7 h/wk
8-10 h/wk
Position Types and Compensation
Research - Independent Study or Research Assistant credit
Number of openings
2
Project start
Spring 2026
Contact Information:
Mentor
Shannon Roberts
scroberts@umass.edu
Associate Professor
Name of project director or principal investigator
Shannon Roberts
Email address of project director or principal investigator
scroberts@umass.edu
2 sp. | 0 appl.
Hours
5-7 h/wk (+1)
5-7 h/wk8-10 h/wk
Project categories
Industrial Engineering