Human Technology Interaction

Improving humans’ ability to work effectively in complex technical systems.

Hand holding a personal medical device with data on screen

From faculty who specialize in human factors engineering to experts in building a superior autonomous vehicle, our Human Technology Interaction researchers investigate the complicated questions that arise when people interface with technology. When integrating human and machine intelligence, how do we know which one should be in charge when? How do we maximize the contributions of both? Can we imbue a machine with emotional intelligence, so it can use its cameras, sensors and algorithms to understand and act on what a human partner needs? Our researchers are asking these kinds of questions as they address challenges in areas such as haptics, autonomy and controls and control systems, risk and decision analysis, and human-centered computing. 

Human Technology Interaction Faculty

Qing (Cindy) Chang

Professor
Qing Chang’s current research interests include math-based and data-enabled modeling and analysis of dynamic manufacturing systems, improving manufacturing efficiency and sustainability through adaptive control and machine learning-based methods, and driving innovation in human-robot collaborations…
Google Scholar ResearchGate Intelligent Systems Lab
Email qc9nq@virginia.edu

Afsaneh Doryab

Assistant Professor, Systems and Information Engineering Assistant Professor, Computer Science

Afsaneh Doryab's research is at the intersection of ubiquitous computing, AI, HCI, and health. She works on computational modeling of human behavior (incl. Activity Recognition) from data streams collected via mobile, wearable, and embedded sensors. 
Google Scholar Website Human-AI Technology (HAI) Lab Link Lab
Email ad4ks@virginia.edu

Gregory J. Gerling

Professor

Gregory J. Gerling is a Professor of Systems Engineering at the University of Virginia. His research spans fields of haptics, computational neuroscience, UX/UI, human factors and ergonomics, biomechanics, and human–machine interaction.
Google Scholar ResearchGate Gerling Touch Lab YouTube
Email gg7h@virginia.edu
Phone (434) 924-0533

Tariq Iqbal

Assistant Professor, Systems Engineering, Computer Science
My research focuses on building robotic systems that can fluently coordinate and collaborate with people in complex human environments - for example, in a factory setting in close proximity with people. In order to successfully act within a group, a robot must be able to perceive and predict the…
Email ti3fe@virginia.edu

Leidy Klotz

Professor
Leidy Klotz is filling in underexplored overlaps between engineering and behavioral science, in pursuit of more sustainable systems. He has published over 80 peer-reviewed articles in venues that include top academic journals in built environment engineering, engineering education, and design, as…
Google Scholar ResearchGate Subtract Book
Email lk6me@virginia.edu

James H. Lambert

Chair, Faculty Senate of the University of Virginia (2024-25) Janet Scott Hamilton & John Downman Hamilton Professor Director, Center for Risk Management of Engineering Systems Site Director, NSF Center for Hardware and Embedded Systems Security & Trust Professor of Systems & Information Engineering Professor of Civil & Environmental Engineering
Dr. Lambert received the 10th annual Aspen Institute Italia Award for scientific research and collaboration, in 2025. He received the 2024 Distinguished Educator Award of the Society for Risk Analysis (SRA). He is a General Co-Chair of the 11th IEEE International Conference on Control, Decision and…
Google Scholar ResearchGate UVA Engineering Link Lab CRMES NSFCHEST
Email lambert@virginia.edu

Sara Lu Riggs

Associate Professor
My research focuses on task sharing, attention management, and interruption management in complex environments that have included aviation, healthcare, military operations, and manufacturing. These work environments impose considerable and continually increasing attentional demands on operators by…
Google Scholar ResearchGate
Email sr4ex@virginia.edu
Phone (434) 924-2037