Dr. Ranjana Mehta, associate professor in the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering at Texas A&M University, has been selected as the 2019 Creativeness in Ergonomics Practitioner of the Year by the Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers.
The award is presented to researchers who have shown achievements in the creative application of ergonomics for a specific project or series of projects. In her research, Mehta studies neuroergonomics, which focuses on how the brain and body interact during work. The award recognizes her creative approach on employing neuroergonomic tools to help understand, assess and improve worker performance, health and safety.
“As an academic, you always wonder if your research is translational and if it is really impacting worker well-being and safety,” Mehta said. “Receiving this award makes me feel great because our industry is telling me that not only is my work translational, but also creative. I am honored to receive this valuable feedback, as it encourages me to push the boundaries of traditional research.”
The field of neuroergonomics is growing and research like Mehta’s helps increase understanding and fill in the gaps in the field.
“By understanding and assessing how the mind and brain influences human behavior ‘in the wild’ using neuroergonomics, researchers and practitioners can develop intelligent systems to help people interact safely and successfully with their environments, ranging from predictable modern office to unstructured disaster environments,” Mehta said.
The award was presented at the 22nd annual Applied Ergonomics Conference, which took place in New Orleans this March.