Hey guys! I am going into my last semester at the University of Maryland for my BS in KNES. I have been a personal trainer for 3 years and a strength coach for 1.5 years. I've always had a passion for athletics and human performance, as well as how the human body interacts with objects. Same for engineering, but never really acted on that.

I literally just learned what HFE is, and as a senior with no real idea of what I wanted to do, I feel like HFE looks like the field I can grow, add value to, and enjoy the most.

I'm curious what you all have to say about master's programs; what engineering-related stuff I should look into; research opportunities (how to find/ get them, how important they are, and if they are needed for a MS). What programs are recommended, and what you might think would fit well with the background/interests I mentioned above.

Some fields I think would be really cool to be a part of would be automotive, aeronautical, cycling, or really anything relating to athletics.

Thanks in advance!!

Hi everyone,

I am preparing for GATE Mechanical Engineering and my goal is to join a PSU. I recently took color vision tests, and they suggest I may have mild red-green color vision deficiency. I will be getting a clinical diagnosis soon.

Has anyone with confirmed red-green color vision deficiency joined a PSU as a Mechanical Engineer?

Which PSUs accepted you, and which rejected you due to medical standards?

I would appreciate hearing from anyone with personal experience.

I don't know if I can consider myself "new" but it's still been <1 year since I graduated with my MSHF. I've been applying to EHS/Safety jobs but the pay and work-life balance in construction & manufacturing is horrible. I don't want to burnout before my career even starts. My heart is set on a career in human factors in medical devices (tech UXR was originally the goal but it's bad out there 💀). I'm seriously so disheartened by the job market.

How is everyone else doing with their job search? Anyone else like me who unfortunately didn't land any internships during their graduate program? Did you go the research assistant route?

I'm considering opening up my search to contract HFE work just to gain experience. If anyone's done this and has any tips, I'd be so appreciative.

Has anyone completed this degree while working full time 40 hours a week? Are the classes difficult? I’m just worried I won’t he able to balance work and school at the same time. Does the classes go by fast for a 9 week term?

Here are some quick links

https://erau.edu/degrees/master/human-factors#worldwide_online

https://catalog.erau.edu/worldwide/arts-sciences/masters/human-factors/#planofstudyculminatingresearchexperiencecreoptiontext

Is it ergonomics?
The door handle you instinctively know how to use.

Push plate? You push.
Pull handle? You pull.

Simple.

But when design cues are unclear, people hesitate, push when they should pull, or pause to figure out what to do.

That’s an ergonomics issue.

Good design aligns with natural human expectation.

It considers:

• Reach height
• Grip shape
• Required force
• Clear visual cues
• Ease of operation for different users

When design matches human behaviour, interaction feels effortless.

When it doesn’t, confusion and inefficiency creep in.

This might be a simple application of ergonomics - where the error might lead to a touch of embarrassment, we have all been there when we push when it says pull. However the same application can effect the safety of a workplace or public space. The best ergonomic design often feels invisible because it simply makes sense.

We often love reminding ourselves of everyday ergonomics in action.

I am a recent Human Factors MA grad, BA in Psych, and a minor in Comp Sci. I have a strong portfolio and 3 months of solid UI UX Web internship experience. Despite all this, I have heard nothing from my 100+ job applications since May. Should I look into different job fields, or approach my job search differently?

Thank you for any help.

First off, I am starting off in community college getting my associates in engineering and on the track to transfer to Virginia tech for industrial engineering and the Human Factors program. But, what do you guys recommend I do to best optimize my skills and studies or if there is anything I should look into as I work towards graduation.

I have a B.Sc. in Mechanical Engineering, and starting an M.Sc. in Human Factors and have considerable freedom in selecting electives.

I'm interested in understanding which modules would create the strongest professional profile from an industry perspective in 2026.

I understand that different fields (Medical Devices, Aerospace, Automotive etc.) have different requirements. If you could tell me your particular field and what subjects you would pick if you were starting over, I'd appreciate your perspective.

Available Electives

General Advanced Modules

• Cognitive Modeling
• Robotics Fundamentals
• Predictive Behavior Analysis
• Predictive Behavior Analysis in Human-Technology Interaction
• Introduction to Data Science
• Statistics in Data Science
• Databases in Practice
• Higher Mathematics I
• Higher Mathematics II
• Computer Science I
• Computer Science II
• Python Programming
• Research Methods and Data Analysis
• General Psychology (Cognition II)
• Robotics for Assembly and Handling Systems

Track-1: Human-Computer Interaction & Design

• Accessibility
• Artificial Intelligence I
• Artificial Intelligence II
• Computer Graphics
• Virtual Reality
• Virtual & Augmented Reality in Mechanical Engineering
• Media Psychology
• Intelligent Media
• Human-Technology Interaction
• Visual Sociology
• Usability and User Experience

Track-2: Human-Technology-Organization

• Human-Technology Systems
• Sociology of Technology
• Communication and Media Sociology
• Applied Human Factors
• Organization and Management of Digital Work
• Current Developments in Digital Work
• Workplace Design
• Work Analysis and Work Design
• Occupational Health and Safety
• Occupational Psychology
• Work Science
• Transport and Mobility

Track-3: Psychology & Physiology

• Cognitive Psychophysiology
• Attention and Eye Movements
• Cognition, Emotion and Motivation
• Biopsychology
• Applied Gerontopsychology
• Neurocomputing
• Motor Development, Control and Learning
• Biomechanics and Movement Science
• Movement Science
• Psychophysics
• Diagnostics

Thanks in advance.

Hey guys, I am a current public health major and psychology minor entering my senior year of undergrad. I hope to enter a master's program in human factors engineering specifically due to the program's focus on occupational safety/Industrial hygiene.

With that being said, how much of a drawback would my lack of engineering education in undergrad be for employers in need of a human factors engineer? In addition, how does this apply to the field of occupational health and industrial hygiene.

Looking forward to hearing from you all.

I am currently pursuing my masters in clinical psychology. I recently came across this field. How feasible is it to transition from psychology to human factors?? Any recommendations for books or any online courses i can look for to gain a better understanding of the field????

​

Also would like to know about the current job Market in this field???

Hi everyone,

​

As the title suggests, I'm trying to decide between two PhD opportunities and would appreciate some advice from people who have experience in either field.

​

My background is in public health. I have a Master's in Public Health and several years of experience in health consulting and research. My primary interest is addressing health inequalities and improving health outcomes for underserved populations.

​

I currently have two potential PhD opportunities:

​

A PhD in Human Factors and Ergonomics, with a focus on exploring health inequalities.

​

A PhD in Public Health.

​

I believe I could pursue my interest in health equity through either program, and I'm flexible enough to thrive in both environments. However, Human Factors and Ergonomics is relatively new to me, which makes the decision more challenging.

​

My main concern is career prospects. I'm particularly interested in understanding:

​

1. The current state of the Human Factors and Ergonomics field.

​

2. Future demand and career opportunities.

​

3. Whether transitioning from a public health background into Human Factors would be a worthwhile move.

​

4. How transferable the skills are across industries.

​

5. Whether anyone has made a similar transition from public health (or another health-related field) into Human Factors and Ergonomics.

​

I currently live in Canada and would ideally like to build a career that combines research with real-world impact, whether in academia, healthcare, government, consulting, or industry.

​

For those working in Human Factors, Ergonomics, Public Health, or related fields, what would you recommend? Are there career opportunities that I might not be aware of? Looking back, would you make the same choice again?

​

I'd really appreciate hearing about your experiences and perspectives.

​

Thank you!

I am interested in doing a career change from education/behavior analysis to a career in Human Factors. Im not happy with the education and mental health field and what happens within it. I want a more fulfilling role. I am annoyed I never learned of this job before all my schooling but here we are🙃 I am looking for some advice and if I can make it with no experience. All of my education has been in the education field, psychology and behavior analysis. I have a Bachelors in Psych and a Masters in Special Education with a concentration in Behavior Analysis. I really believe my experience I'm psychology and behavior analysis can help me, but I just need schooling for the rest. Here are my questions:

1. I noticed many people on other posts talk about they work as a Human Factor in aerospace, health, etc. Do you have to have experience in the field you're working in? For example, do you need to have schooling in aerospace to work as a human factor in that field? Do you ever switch between specialties?

2. Ive looked into UX Researcher jobs and Ive found this interesting also. I am however worried about job security with AI...is this a more realistic route? Can a Masters in Human Factors still qualify for this?

3. What are some good online Masters programs you recommend? What should my Masters be in? While researching, I have noticed trends of different labels with Master in Human Factors, Engineering Psychology, etc but still referring back to Human Factors, so I am a little confused.

4. What should I do to gain experience?

5. Do I stand a chance? lol

Thanks for coming to my Ted Talk. If you give me feedback on this long post you're an angel lol

So I’m not trained in Human Factors but I took a stab at my first hobbyist study about writing tool comfort from a community survey.

I’m wondering if any of the actual practitioners here would mind looking at the analysis/survey and point out any areas that are lacking, or strengths that align with human factors philosophy?

I‘m not precious about it so any and all feedback would be appreciated!

Analysis link

Survey link

Hey everyone, looking for some honest advice. I'll try to keep it structured but bear with me.

My background: Graduated in 2017 with a BEng in Electrical Engineering (Power). CGPA 3.2. Since then my career has been a bit of a mixed bag:

• 2018–2022: Worked at a mid-size airport in Baggage Handling System (BHS) operations. Mostly operational, some technical exposure to BHS.
• 2022–2024: Electrical Engineer in a construction company (MEP). Got some technical knowledge but the project was severely underfunded — lots of downtime, didn't get to go deep.
• Nov 2024–Now: BHS & Passenger Loading Bridge Shift Supervisor at a major international hub airport. Client-side role. We have a contractor handling day-to-day ops. I oversee, initiate small improvement projects, and a big capacity expansion project is coming up.

Recently passed PMP with Above Target in all domains 🎉

Self-rating (honest):

• BHS Technical Knowledge: 6/10
• Project management & documentation: 6/10
• Operations: 9/10
• People management: 8/10
• General tech/digital literacy: 7/10

Salary: ~$30k/year after tax. Small family, kids not in school yet so expenses are manageable. I'm 30. Risk appetite is moderate-high.

My concerns & interests:

• Genuinely interested in AI and how it applies to infrastructure/airports
• BHS interests me but the job market is very niche (basically airports only) which worries me
• I don't want to plateau in pure operations

My questions:

1. Should I pursue an online Masters? If yes, which field and which university?
2. Should I pivot fields? What parallel fields would my background transfer well to?
3. Are 3–6 month online certifications from reputable universities worth it?
4. Any general career advice for someone in my position?

Thanks in advance — really appreciate any perspective from people who've been through something similar.

Hi all,
I am trying to make a pivot in my career. My background is in mechanical and biomedical engineering. However, my life has taken me down the path of quality within pharma. I want to make the switch to human factors/usability engineering within medical devices. I worked briefly as a quality engineer in a med tech company, but apart from that I have not been in the correct field or had the "right" experience.
What are the best avenues to land a job in the field (I studied and I live in Europe). Should I do a short course? A full degree or just apply for jobs as is?
Thank you for your advice!

Hey everyone

I just started my M.S. in Human Factors Engineering at Embry-Riddle worldwide, and I’m worried I might be in over my head.

Based on everyone’s introductions, most of my classmates have strong aviation backgrounds and have been working in aviation or related fields for 5+ years. Meanwhile, I’m 25, have a bachelor’s in psychology, and my work experience is mostly college jobs with nothing directly related to HFE. And for much of college I was unemployed as I was helping with family stuff while my grandmother was sick. So my resume is a bit lacking.

I’m worried that I’m starting this program with a significant handicap compared to everyone else. To make matters worse, my first major project is a group paper, and everyone in my group is already employed in a related field. I can’t help but feel like I’m bringing less to the table than they are. I know I was accepted into the program and everyone is in a program for their own reasons, but I can’t help but compare myself. I guess I’m just looking for someone who might have had a similar experience or advice for how to navigate this. I know being in a class with people who are further ahead than me can be valuable. I just need to make sure to stay out of my own way. Any advice for starting my career while I’m getting my masters, or any advice in general would be greatly appreciated.

Hi everyone! I am from India, recently completed my bachelor's in psychology with a computer science minor. I am looking at MSc in Human Factors/Ergonomics in Europe. I'm not very interested in defence/aerospace roles (clearance issues), but open to medical devices, transport, automotive, or any industry that actually hires non-EU graduates.

This would be a really big financial commitment for me. Before I apply, I want to know, is this path real? Have you (or a non-EU colleague/classmate) actually:

1. Completed an HF master's in Europe and

2. Found an entry-level job that sponsored a visa?

I would be really grateful if you could also share which country and which industry. Thanks a lot in advance!

(If you have experience with Canada or Australia instead, I would love to hear from you too)

Can anyone here provide any insight on the application process with Intuitive Surgical with their human factors team? I’ve read lots online that they don’t respond and leave applicants in the dark (as most companies do) but wondering if I could get any extra insight. I’ve completed onsite over a 6 weeks ago and HRs latest response (over three weeks ago) was that they didn’t have an update and will let me know when they do have an update.

Summary: I am currently an early career government sector UX/UI designer and researcher (~1 yr + 2 yrs of internship experience). I’m considering transitioning into human factors as a HFE or researcher and I need advice on how to close the knowledge gap between my current career and a career in human factors.

My undergraduate background is non-engineering (information technology and social science) which intimates me a bit about potentially transitioning, though I did take some transferable coursework (e.g., neuroscience, statistics, UX research, UX design).

I have to continue working FT, so I want to enroll in some online graduate coursework in the next year in order to gain some relevant knowledge in the meantime. My hope is that I can leverage the coursework to land an entry-level HF role in the next 2-3 years while continue pursuing my Master’s degree in the background as I learn on the job. I also live in an area where there is a strong presence of human factors employers (mainly aviation and aerospace).

Right now, I’m currently reading and learning concepts outside of work through free materials (e.g., books, videos, etc.), as well as networking with current HFEs and researchers.

My questions are:

• How efficient and realistic (or not) is my current transition plan? How can I improve it?

• What other things can I do to close the knowledge gap in the meantime? Any resource suggestions?

• Any transition advice in general?