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 Human Factors with applications in transportation and healthcare. 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 also growing our research portfolio in healthcare Human Factors, which a focus on how healthcare professionals (nurses and doctors) interact with technology and how it may impact patient care.

We are looking for 2 undergraduate students to start in Spring 2026 who may focus on a host of projects including: (1) human-computer interactions in automated trucking; (2) roadside worker safety; (2) training teen drivers on the use of advanced technology; (3) studying and mitigating driver distraction; (4) nurse's interactions with IV smart pumps; (5) doctors use of AI in surgery.

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.

Logistics Information:
Field(s) of Study
Industrial Engineering
Student ranks applicable
Sophomore
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
Credit for Research and Teaching
Number of openings
2
Project start
Fall 2026
Contact Information:
Mentor
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.
Time commitment
5-7 h/wk (+1)
5-7 h/wk8-10 h/wk
Field(s) of Study
Industrial Engineering