What We Do

Since 2015, we have promoted human factors research across surface transportation, human-automation interaction, and aviation.

 

Our Mission

We focus on understanding the mechanisms of the perceptual and cognitive processes that constrain human performance in applied domains. We employ a variety of basic and applied methods such as psychophysics, cognitive modeling, eye tracking, driving/virtual simulation and physiological measures.

 

“ACPL conducts academically rigorous research with real world impact. I’ve learned so much about communicating complex ideas to a range of audiences, designing meaningful and creating experimental paradigms, and using cutting edge analyses to uncover insights about cognitive processes. What I’ve learned in the lab has helped me develop into the strong human factors practitioner I am today. ”

— Shelby Long, M.S., Ph.D. candidate

“The tools that the ACPL lab gave me are ones that I use every day!”

— Molly Liechty, Ph.D.

 

What We’ve Achieved

  • Started an NSF-funded Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program on interdisciplinary approach to behavioral science in transportation.

  • Conducted research sponsored by various federal and private organizations including NASA, Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR), National Science Foundation (NSF), Virginia DMV, and Volvo Group Trucks Technology.

  • Graduated three Ph.D. students in Human Factors and two master’s students in Experimental Psychology.

  • Grown our facilities to include two driving simulators, multiple eye-trackers (computer and head mounted), and five testing environments.

  • Held meetings to encourage development of future researchers