Understanding people within emerging and complex environments

My research examines how people perceive, interpret, trust, and interact with technologies and systems that are rapidly changing human experience.

Drawing from psychology, public health, human factors, anthropology, and user-centered research, I investigate the relationships among environment, technology, behavior, mental health, safety, and wellbeing.

Areas of Research

Immersive Technology and Mental Health

I study the psychological and behavioral effects of virtual and immersive environments, including their influence on mood, perception, wellbeing, and therapeutic experience.

This work considers both the opportunities and risks associated with immersive technologies, particularly when they are used in sensitive mental-health or healthcare contexts.

Human Factors and Human–Machine Interaction

My human-factors research examines how people interact with autonomous, intelligent, and technologically complex systems.

Areas of interest include:

• Trust in automation

• Human–machine teaming

• Usability and user experience

• Safety and performance

• Cognitive workload

• Technology acceptance

• Human-centered AI and machine learning

• Manned and unmanned systems

Environment, Perception, and Wellbeing

I am interested in how environments—physical, virtual, technological, and social—shape attention, emotion, decision-making, behavior, and psychological wellbeing.

This work connects environmental psychology, public health, behavioral research, and experience design.

Selected Experience

My research background includes work involving human factors, immersive technology, mental health, human–computer interaction, AI and machine learning, public health, and complex operational systems.

I previously served as a civilian scientist for the United States Navy and have collaborated across academic, governmental, technological, and interdisciplinary settings.

Publications and Projects

This section would contain selected peer-reviewed publications, conference presentations, reports, and current research projects.

Each entry should include:

Greater usage and positive mood change for users of a dynamic VR app before and after the COVID-19 pandemic onset
Housand, J., Shackleford, K., · Frontiers in Psychology · 2024

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Research Methods

My work may involve:

• Qualitative and mixed-methods research

• Literature and evidence reviews

• Human-subject research

• User and stakeholder interviews

• Behavioral analysis

• Usability and human-factors evaluation

• Research design and strategy

• Interdisciplinary synthesis

Collaboration and Consulting

I welcome inquiries involving:

• Research collaboration

• Human-factors and UX research

• Immersive-technology evaluation

• Behavioral and psychological analysis

• Research strategy

• Mental-health technology

• Human-centered emerging technology

• Workshops, teaching, and speaking

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