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BACKGROUND:
Title: Applied Concentration in Ergonomics and Human Factors (PhD). Contact: Marvin Dainoff, Department of Psychology, Miami University, Oxford, OH 45056; 513/529-2414; dainofmj@muohio.edu, http://www.muohio.edu/psychology/cogsci/ergonomics. Est: 1983. Semester. Granted last 3 years: PhD 1, MA 2. Part-time: no. Program: The program's emphasis is on a firm and extensive foundation in basic psychology (theory and method), which then serves as a springboard to allow the student to function as an effective problem solver in a variety of applied settings. Students are expected to be involved in formal research and participate in real-world design problems generating specific products. Group interaction among students and faculty is highly valued. Miami University is a member of the Southwestern Ohio Human Factors and Ergonomics Consortium. Other members include the University of Cincinnati and the University of Dayton. Students have access to faculty, courses, and laboratories at each participating institution. HFES student chapter: no. Catalog: (free) Department of Psychology, Miami University, Oxford, OH 45056; markls@muohio.edu.

APPLICATION:
Deadline: 2/1. Fee: $35.

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS:
GPA: 3.0. GRE: 1100 v + q. Other: Psychology GRE, TOEFL, BA, some background in psychology, mathematics, computers. Research: high. Work experience: medium. Letters: high. Interview: medium.

ADMISSIONS:
Students applying last year: 7. Accepted: 5. Openings/year: 2.

TUITION AND FEES:
Resident: $5962/year. Nonresident: $12422/year.

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE:
% receiving: 100. Amount: $9600/$11000 plus $1600 summer supplement. Available: TA, RA, all exempt. Apply: with application.

DEGREE REQUIREMENTS:
PhD (includes master's): 90 units, comprehensive exam, no languages, continuous research, 5 years. Nonthesis option: no.

CURRICULUM:
Required courses: Introduction to Human Factors, Statistics and Experimental Design, Research Methods, Task Analysis, Usability of Complex Systems, Anthropometry and Biomechanics, Advanced Seminars in Experimental and Applied Psychology (cognitive processes, knowledge systems, motion perception, perception and action). Electives: Special Topics in Methodology (lab instrumentation, microprocessor logic and interfacing, analog and digital electronics, neural net modeling, quasi-experimental design, program evaluation). Required courses outside department: n/a. Recommended courses outside department: n/a. Offered: evening, summer. Class size: 3-8.

RESEARCH/TEACHING OPPORTUNITIES:
Research facilities: The Center for Ergonomic Research includes facilities for workstation design and analysis, including apparatus for dynamic postural analysis and anthropometric modeling. The Vision Lab includes facilities for computer-generated motion simulation, spatial frequency analysis, photometry, and colorimetry. Corporate partnerships provide research opportunities in cognitive systems engineering, interface design and usability evaluation. Other apparatus available through collaborative relationships with the Department of Manufacturing Engineering, the Department of Health and Physical Education, members of the Southwestern Ohio Human Factors and Ergonomics Consortium, NIOSH, and Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. Teaching: Students serve as teaching assistants in the department's undergraduate research methods and statistics course. In addition, some can teach a course of their own design. Current research: Perception-action analysis of workstation design; methods of anthropometric analysis; spatial orientation and adaptation with respect to motion sickness and simulated (virtual) environments; quantitative modeling of cognitive, perceptual, and decision-making processes; contrast gain-control mechanisms in spatial perception; cognitive work analysis with specific application to products, workspaces, and computer systems; human/computer interaction with emphasis on user-centered design and system usability; use of simulated (virtual) environments to study orientation and navigation in large-scale spaces.
 

STUDENT STATISTICS:
Active: 6 men, 4 women. First-year students: 2. Mean scores: PhD: GRE 1280 v + q, GPA 3.6.

FACULTY:
Gordon A. Allen, PhD 1971, Stanford U; memory, applied cognition. Sian Beilock, PhD 2003, Michigan Sate U; expertise and performance under pressure. Willima P. Berg, PhD 1990, U Minnesota; motor control and coordination, visual guidance, aging. Hal Blatman (adjunct), MD 1980, Medical College of Pennsylvania; workplace ergonomics. Marvin J. Dainoff, PhD 1969, U Rochester; workstation ergonomics, ergonomic standards, cognitive systems engineering. Osama Ettooney, PhD 1987, U Minnesota; manufacturing engineering. Douglas L. Gardner (adjunct) PhD 1997, Miami U; cognitive systems engineering, HCI, usability. Yvonne Lippa, PHD 1996, Ludwig-Maximilians U; interaction of perception and action, movement planning. Leonard S. Mark, PhD 1979, U Connecticut; perception and action, workstation ergonomics. Lynn Olzack, PhD 1982, UCLA; higher-level processing mechanisms in visual perception. Allan J. Pantle, PhD 1968, Northwestern U; form and movement perception. Robin Thomas, PhD 1995, Indiana U; decision making. Kim J. Vicente (adjunct), PhD 1991, U Illinois; ecological interface design. David Waller, PhD 1999, U Washington, spatial cognition.   Rik Warren (adjunct), PhD 1972, Cornell U; flight simulation.