Associate
Director
Michael Knodler, Jr.
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Lab
Manager
Anuj Kumar Pradhan
Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering
The Human Performance Laboratory at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, is located in a space easily accessible to older and younger adults. Equipment, valued at well over one million dollars, is available to students to use in their research: a new, state-of-the-art driving simulator sits inside the lab; a fully instrumented van can be used for on-the-road studies; a truck simulator with programmable image side view mirrors is located nearby in Marston Hall; and other equipment such as an advanced eye tracker is fully portable and can be used wherever necessary. Close ties exist between the Human Factors and Ergonomics Program in the Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, the Transportation Engineering Program in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, and the Cognitive Program in the Department of Psychology. Close ties also exist between the Human Performance Laboratory and private companies around the country including Amsign (variable message signs), Bose Corporation (sound systems), Ford Motor Company, Millitech (millimeter wave sensors), Motorola (car phones), Peter Pan Bus Lines (Springfield), and Whistler (police radar detectors). Our graduate students, at both the masters and doctoral level, form the nucleus of the research team.
We regularly offer tours of the Human Performance Laboratory to any interested individuals or groups of individuals. We can schedule a group most any time of the week and often on the weekends if that is more convenient. We encourage school groups to visit our laboratory and the other laboratories in the College of Engineering. Recent visitors include:
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Schools |
Businesses |
Public Agencies |
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Holyoke High School |
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Connecticut DOT |
Individuals interested in visiting the Human Performance Laboratory can come directly to campus and schedule an appointment with someone here. The lab is located at the northwest corner of campus near the intersections of Holdsworth and Natural Resources Roads. Alternatively, you can call the lab at 413-545-3393 during most weekdays.
Graduate students who are interested in working closely with the Human Performance Laboratory usually study one of the following disciplines:
Human Factors and Ergonomics. Students interested in entering the Human Factors and Ergonomics Program can request an application at the Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering and subsequently to the Graduate Programs. You should also feel free to call the Director of the Program, Professor Donald L. Fisher, at: 413-545-1657, or email him at fisher@ecs.umass.edu . Support is provided to entering graduate students as fellowships, teaching assistantships or research assistantships.
Transportation Engineering. Students primarily interested in entering the Transportation Engineering Program in the Department of Civil and knodler@ecs.umass.edu.
Cognitive Psychology: Students interested in an advanced degree in Cognitive Psychology with a focus on human factors should contact Dr. Alexander Pollatsek via email at pollatsek@psych.umass.edu .
Computer Science: Straddling the fence between Human Factors, Cognitive Psychology, and Computer Science, recent research in the lab has been related to Intelligent Tutor development. A student interested in this type of research from an engineering or training perspective can apply through the Department of Mechanical & Industrial Engineering. Or, if the student's research interests lie more in the coding of these tutors, then one can contact Dr. Beverly Woolf, the Program Director in the Computer Science Department, via email at bev@cs.umass.edu .
Last Updated 3/26/2008
tmz