UB - University at Buffalo, The State University of New York

Clara Marin hails from Colombia and came to UB with a B.S. in chemical engineering. After her B.S., she worked in the industry doing quality assurance; after her M.Eng. from UB, she worked as a safety engineer. She decided to return to UB as a Ph.D. candidate in IE in order to integrate her earlier training and work experience into her growing interest in human factors engineering. "I feel fortunate to be here," she says, and especially because of the "multidisciplinary approach, not just in ISE but in the entire university."

This multidisciplinary attitude carries over within the sub-fields of IE in the department; when they work on projects together, "they all learn from each other about the different approaches of the various sub-disciplines." This is unusual, she says, because typically in a PhD program you get more and more focused, narrower, in your approach. "I think the future of many of these research grants is interdisciplinary," she asserts. "The problems are so complex that you need to combine approaches…UB is going in the right direction here."

In addition to the research on language errors in aviation maintenance, she's worked on a TSA-funded project integrating OR, HF, and simulation research to improve the screening process in airport security centers, as well as joining researchers from the geography department on a project at MCEER, UB's earthquake center, to improve emergency response systems. The best thing about UB ISE, she says, is "the opportunity to be a part of a research team." Being part of these teams, and participating in programs like Six Sigma, provides "incentive for students; it's a great opportunity" to meet people working in industry and explore real-world applications. "UB is really open," she comments. "I like that. You have the opportunity to meet people from many different cultures. I think that's a real strength."

Her own dissertation research investigates Buffalo's October storm of 2006 in order to improve decision –making and emergency response in future disaster situations. "I think people are very open to seeing what lessons were learned," she comments. And since "UB is really good in research, in creating new things," Clara is in the right place to make a difference.