Research

From exploring how to prevent work-related disorders, such as low back injuries, that affect millions of people to evaluating the long-term health effects of exposures to toxic chemicals — and everything in between — our centers are where advances that improve the health and safety of millions of the nation’s workers come into focus. 

Our faculty and student researchers investigate some of the most urgent and complex challenges facing today’s workforce: chemical exposures in manufacturing, musculoskeletal injuries in healthcare, cancer risks in agriculture, increasing mental health challenges among office workers.

The list goes on.

Our research spans every sector of the economy, but we have a particularly sizable impact on industries where the risks are highest. By collaborating with labor, government, and industry partners, we ensure that what happens in our labs leads to real-world change. Our discoveries have improved the lives of construction workers at high-rise construction sites, farmers harvesting corn fields, and first responders who’ve devoted their careers to protecting their communities — among dozens of other examples. These advances also benefit employers, who we equip with new ways to improve the well-being of their employees and, in the process, bolster their bottom line.  

Put simply, pushing the bounds of what is known is part of our collective DNA. And it’s not enough to ask important questions — our centers deliver answers that matter.

  • Containment Ventilation for Exposure Reduction

    This study developed a device for the containment of respiratory aerosols generated by patients with respiratory infections that can be deployed in a variety of settings, including in military applications, using an iterative user-centered design approach.

  • From Hand Therapy To Human Factors And Ergonomics

    Through a predictive model for EMG-based normalized peak force, this research focused on identifying cost-effective and accessible predictors of hand force. The project was presented to the ergonomics, environmental health and safety, and product development teams at Boeing.

  • Motorized Hip Orthosis for Individuals with Transfemoral Amputations

    This project develops a lightweight motorized hip orthosis to enhance walking efficiency, balance, and hip function in amputees. Early results demonstrate reduced walking effort and improved mobility, indicating potential for greater independence and long-term health benefits.

  • Protecting People From The Spread Of Valley Fever

    This research forecasts when and where we expect to see the most cases of Valley fever, a lung disease that people catch from breathing outdoor dust in some regions of the West. The forecast accurately predicted sharp increases in cases over two years.

  • The Pulse Poultry Study

    Four in five poultry workers evaluated for this study were found to be at high risk of developing musculoskeletal disorders, such as carpal tunnel syndrome, with those who process more chicken parts per minute facing the highest risks.

  • Well-Being and Cancer at Work (WeCanWork)

    This study aims to longitudinally assess how cancer diagnosis impacts employment, financial, and well-being on employed Latino men treated in community- and academic-based oncology practice settings.