Virtual Skies

Career Radar

Job Title:

Human Factors Researcher

Related Job Title:

research psychologist, research associate, human performance researcher, human physiology researcher

Job Description:

This type of work within aviation involves studying pilots in the cockpit as they relate to the cockpit controls all the way to studying sleep physiology in order to improve safety for pilots during flight operations of long duration. The researcher would use the scientific method to develop a hypothesis and set up an experiment that would test the theory. After lengthy and repeated trials, the results would be presented and enacted in a trial of the new methodology being suggested by the study. The researcher would have to be able to develop and perform scientifically based experiments and document the results. Such studies might occur over a long period of time, other studies might cover a few weeks or days with others lasting no more than an hour. The researcher must be a keen observer with excellent note taking skills as well as fine writing skills with which to develop detailed reports.

Areas of Expertise:

• Behavioral Sciences: psychology, clinical psychology, physiological psychology
• Biology: biophysics, physiology, kinesiology
• Human/system integration technology

Interests and Abilities:

• Interest in high-tech hardware and software
• Strong powers of observation and attention to detail
• Interest in physiology and psychology
• Ability to analyze complex systems in terms of their individual components and the interactions between them
• Highly proficient at research, experiments and data collection

Suggested Topics to Study in School:

• Mathematics: algebra and statistics
• Psychology
• Sociology
• Physiology
• Kinesiology
• Biology

Education and Training Needed:

• Total education needed:
  • To manage the research program would require a Ph. D. (that takes about 6 years after the Bachelor's degree is earned)
  • To oversee some research projects would require a Master's (that takes 1 - 2 years after the Bachelor's is earned)
  • To perform the lab work would require a Bachelor's degree (that takes 4 years of college)
• Depending upon what specialty you go into, a license might be required which would mean you have to take a licensing exam.

You might want to further explore this career by checking out the web sites given below.

What can I do right now?
Visit a medicine and technology museum to see the advances made in medical research so far.
Interview a psychologist and ask about psychology research.
Participate in a chat or Web cast at NASA Quest that discusses human factors research.
Do a report in your psychology or sociology class on human factors research in aerospace labs.
Work with your biology, psychology or kinesiology teacher to devise a research project that follows all proper safety guidelines.
Volunteer to collect data for a research project.

Aviation Research
Virtual Skies Main Menu