Tufts HFE/ENP Research

Researcher Spotlight

Learn about the ground-breaking projects happening at Tufts!

Meet the researchers making innovation possible!

Professor Spotlight

Dr. Intriligator is the Director of the Tufts Human Factors Engineering program. His research interests include design, design thinking, marketing, branding/packaging, consumer psychology, perception, cognition, attention, emotion, VR, AR, innovation, and entrepreneurialism.

Two of his most recent publications include:

See a full list of his publications

Some of Professor Intriligator's current research projects include:

Next Gen Baggage Screening Systems (DHS funded)
Gestural Interfaces for Holographic Displays (Navy funded)
Multisensory Data Exploration System (Missile Defense funded)
Soft-Robotics Innovation and Design
VR for Rehabilitation
Autonomous Vehicles (AR within AVs, auditory cues, etc.)

To get involved in his projects, contact Professor Intriligator at james.intriligator@tufts.edu.

Research Labs

Center for Applied Brain and Cognitive Sciences

The Center for Applied Brain and Cognitive Sciences is a collaboration between interdisciplinary scientists and engineers to further the understanding and application of brain and cognitive sciences. The Center conducts applied research geared towards understanding and enhancing cognitive capabilities and human system interactions between individuals and teams.

Several labs participate in this center, including:

Emotion, Brain, and Behavior Lab (EBBL)

PI: Professor Heather Urry

The Emotion, Brain, and Behavior Lab (EBBL) was established in 2005 by Dr. Heather Urry. Research in the EBBL focuses on understanding how people (primarily adults) experience, express, and regulate their emotions. The lab primarily uses behavioral and psychophysiological methods in order to identify emotion and emotion-regulatory processes that can predict performance under stress.

Human Robot Interactions Lab (HRI)

PI: Professor Matthias Scheutz

The HRI Lab aims to understand and improve all aspects of interactions between humans and robots. As the intersection of technology and psychology, projects range from studying natural language reasoning to developing computational models for social behavior to debating moral/ethical questions. The ultimate goal is to examine the impact that artificial agents can have on human social interactions and wellbeing.

Applied Cognition Lab (TACL)

PI: Professor Nathan Ward

The Tufts Applied Cognition Lab (TACL) was established in 2016 by Dr. Nathan Ward in the Department of Psychology at Tufts University. In this lab, researchers investigate the underlying mechanisms of cognition, with a particular interest in multitasking, and whether cognition can be altered through the use of brain stimulation and other interventions.

Spatial Cognition Lab (SCL)

PI: Professor Holly Taylor

Established by Dr. Holly Taylor (also the co-director of the Center of Applied Brain and Cognitive Sciences), this lab explores a variety of topics related to human learning and memory, including spatial cognition, spatial language, spatial visualizations, and spatial abilities. Emphasis is placed on the application of these research topics to real world problems in education, training, human performance, human factors, and engineering.

Additional Research Labs

Reality of Virtual Environments Lab (TRoVE)

PI: Professor James Intriligator

Tufts' Reality of Virtual Environment (TRoVE) seeks to understand how virtual reality and augmented reality can be used to impact a range of different activities. Research projects involve applying or adapting VR and AR to digital interfaces, processes, tasks, and jobs within various industries. By utilizing design thinking, researchers evaluate how whether VR and AR can improve the user experience.

The Assistive Agent Behavior and Learning Lab (AABL)

PI: Professor Elaine Schaertl Short

The goal of AABL is to make robots more helpful and improve human life. By developing new algorithms for human-robot interactions and evaluating robotic performance in real-world situations, researchers work at the intersection of assistive technology and social robotics. Many researchers are especially focused on the under-served populations, such as children, older adults, and people with disabilities.

The Human Computer Interaction Lab (HCI)

PI: Professor Robert Jacob

The Human-Computer Interaction Lab (HCI) is focused on examining and developing the next generation of brain-computer interfaces. Machine learning algorithms analyze fNIRS brain data and other physiological information to obtain more information about the user, their brain activity, and their context. Researchers then use this data to create real-time adaptive user interfaces that respond effortless and directly to humans, their stressors, and their environments.

Thanks to the diversity and applicability of the discipline, students in Human Factors and Engineering Psychology can be found doing research in a wide variety of labs aside from the ones mentioned above.

Even more research labs can be discovered by visiting the following websites:

Psychology Labs: https://as.tufts.edu/psychology/research/labs
Mechanical Engineering Labs: https://engineering.tufts.edu/me/research-areas and https://engineering.tufts.edu/me/research/research-areas/design-and-human-factors
Computer Science Labs: https://engineering.tufts.edu/cs/research/areas