Driven by a love for discovery and a desire to make meaningful change, Ph.D. student David Nartey stepped into a new challenge this summer — translating his research from the lab to a leading global company. His internship at Intel Corporation in Hillsboro, Oregon became a proving ground for both his technical skills and his leadership.
Nartey is pursuing his Ph.D. in industrial engineering at Texas A&M University, where he studies how artificial intelligence and machine learning can forecast human fatigue and improve system performance. His research combines human factors, data analytics and process optimization, giving him a unique perspective to design systems that are efficient and user-friendly.
That perspective guided Nartey through his summer at Intel, where he worked on the Chemical Mechanical Planarization team. He validated a manufacturing process change through data analysis, saving the company hundreds of thousands of dollars annually. He also designed new gauges, conducted gage repeatability and reproducibility (R&R) analyses and developed best practices for 3D printing the gauges at a 99% reduced cost.
“This project demonstrated how small technical optimizations go a long way to improve operational and financial outcomes,” Nartey said. “It also reiterated the importance of clear communication across process, product development and management teams to find sustainable solutions.”
During his internship, Nartey helped automate a defect detection tool across modules, combining human factors with process optimization. Each project required balancing efficiency with usability to ensure solutions were practical for operators.
“My internship gave me the chance to see how technical work translates into real-world results,” he said. “Designing gauges and optimizing processes was one thing in theory, but seeing it actually save money and improve workflow was incredibly rewarding.”
The internship allowed him to refine skills central to his doctoral work. By applying data analytics, 3D modeling and human-system design principles, he approached problems from multiple perspectives.
“ISEN’s data analysis courses, especially ISEN 613, really helped me parse the data and create meaningful graphs for insights,” he said. “The health and human systems courses, like ISEN 630, helped me design gauges that were intuitive and ergonomic while saving costs.”
Even teaching experience proved valuable. As a teaching assistant for ISEN 210, Nartey taught 3D modeling fundamentals, a skill he later applied when designing gauges at Intel.
My internship gave me the chance to see how technical work translates into real-world results. Designing gauges and optimizing processes was one thing in theory, but seeing it actually save money and improve workflow was incredibly rewarding.
“That experience helped me think critically about how to make tools both functional and user-friendly,” he said.
In addition to his internship, Nartey passed his preliminary exam and proposal this summer, officially advancing to Ph.D. candidacy under the faculty guidance of Dr. Ranjana Mehta and Dr. Farzan Sasangohar.
“It was a lot of work, but it did feel great,” he said. “My advisors and committee were very supportive. They provided feedback while giving me space to focus on my internship.”
Outside of class, Nartey serves as president of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society (HFES) student chapter and is a member of the Applied Cognitive Ergonomics (ACE) Lab and NeuroErgonomics Lab (UW-Madison).
“Leading TAMU HFES has helped me strengthen my leadership skills and collaborate with students and professionals,” he said. Nartey also pointed out that “the ACE and NeuroErgonomics Labs have given me a community of researchers who support each other, whether it’s solving complex problems or just needing to talk.”
Balancing internships, research and leadership has taught Nartey the value of intention and resilience.
“These are not just options,” he said. “Internships, research and leadership require different skill sets. For any students looking for advice, mine is to be intentional with your choices, give yourself space to rest and build a network of mentors and peers who understand what you’re going through.”
After graduation, Nartey plans to pursue a career combining data science, human factors and system optimization.
“Ultimately, I want to lead research and innovation efforts that translate data into solutions that optimize systems,” he said. “The goal is to make sure the impact of what we design goes far beyond the lab.”
While remaining active in research publications and preparing to defend his dissertation, Nartey plans to carry his passion for data-driven innovation into the next phase of his career. His experiences in ISEN have not only shaped his goals, but also laid the foundation for the impact he hopes to make beyond Texas A&M.