Partner with NC State experts to turn real-world challenges into rigorous, actionable ergonomics research.

Bridging Academic Rigor with Real-World Application

As part of NC State University, The Ergonomics Center brings together academic rigor and applied industry expertise to support meaningful ergonomics research initiatives. We collaborate with industry partners, government agencies, and academic teams to design and conduct studies that address real-world challenges and advance the science of human performance.

Our role is to help translate practical questions into well-structured research studies that deliver credible, defensible, and actionable results.

Comprehensive Research Facilitation & Support Services

We support the full lifecycle of ergonomics research projects, including:

• Study design and protocol development
• Human subjects research support
• Experimental design and validation
• Data collection and instrumentation
• Motion capture and biomechanical measurement
• Cognitive workload and human performance assessment
• Statistical analysis and interpretation
• Technical reporting and documentation
• Industry-facing summaries and applied recommendations

Collaborative Research Partnerships

We actively collaborate with:

• Private industry partners
• Federal, state, and local government agencies
• University research teams
• Safety, transportation, healthcare, and manufacturing organizations

These partnerships allow us to conduct high-impact applied research that directly informs product design, workplace design, training, policy, and technology development.

Advanced Research Laboratories

Our research is supported by access to specialized laboratories at NC State University. These facilities allow us to simulate, measure, and analyze human performance across a wide range of environments and applications.

• Biomechanics Lab – Motion analysis, force measurement, posture, and physical workload assessment
• Virtual & Augmented Reality Lab – Human interaction with simulated environments, training systems, and digital interfaces
• Driving Simulator – Transportation safety, driver behavior, workload, and human-machine interaction
• Intelligent Cognitive Ergonomics Lab – Cognitive workload, decision-making, attention, and human-AI interaction

Types of Research We Support

• Workplace ergonomics and injury prevention
• Product and equipment usability testing
• Transportation and driving performance
• Human-machine interaction
• Virtual and immersive training environments
• Cognitive workload and decision support
• Fatigue, stress, and performance
• Safety system effectiveness

What Partners Gain from Working with The Ergonomics Center

• Access to university-level research expertise
• Scientifically defensible study design and methods
• Objective, third-party data
• Translation of research findings into practical solutions
• Enhanced credibility with stakeholders and regulators
• Support for grants, pilot studies, and large-scale research initiatives

From Research to Real-World Impact

Unlike purely academic research efforts, our projects are designed with implementation in mind. We help ensure that findings lead to practical improvements in:

• Workplace design
• Equipment and product usability
• Training systems
• Safety programs
• Human-system performance

Who This Service Is For

• Manufacturing and industrial organizations
• Transportation and fleet operators
• Healthcare systems
• Technology developers
• Government agencies
• Research institutions
• Grant-funded research teams

How Research Support Integrates with Other Center Services

Research Facilitation & Support integrates seamlessly with Engineering Guidelines & Checklists, Product & Equipment Design Evaluations, Industrial Evaluations, Solutions Pilot Testing, and Continuous Improvement Events, allowing research insights to flow directly into design, operations, and training.