Faculty Directory

Vaughn-Cooke, Monifa

Vaughn-Cooke, Monifa

Assistant Research Professor
Mechanical Engineering
Center for Risk and Reliability
Brain and Behavior Institute

EDUCATION

  • Ph.D. (Industrial Engineering), The Pennsylvania State University, 2012
  • M.S. (Industrial and Systems Engineering), The University of Southern California, 2006
  • B.S. (Biomedical Engineering), The University of Southern California, 2004

BACKGROUND

Dr. Vaughn-Cooke’s interdisciplinary research synthesizes cognitive psychology, systems engineering, and risk assessment. Her research aims to identify the behavioral mechanisms associated with system risk propagation to inform the design of user-centered products and systems. This involves: 1) Behavioral modeling of human error in hybrid systems (human-hardware-software); 2) Empirical data collection of human response (neurophysiological and subjective feedback) in 2D and 3D simulation environments and physical device prototypes; and 3) Descriptive and predictive modeling to identify and mitigate design-related sources of human error. Dr. Vaughn-Cooke’s research has been primarily applied to safety-critical technology applications in healthcare, such as patient self-management devices and hospital monitoring systems. Other recent applications include nuclear power plant and Unmanned Aerial System control rooms.

Human reliability Assessment, Human factors, Empirical Human Performance Modeling,  Experimental Design, Healthcare system and medical device design,  Design decision making, Psychometric tool development,  Bio-behavioral risk assessment.


ENRE 645/ ENSE 698G / ENME 489: Human Reliability Analysis

Methods of solving practical human reliability problems, cognitive and behavioral modeling, task analysis, performance shaping factors, error classification, distribution of human performance and uncertainty bounds, sources of human error probability data, human error risk mitigation, examples and case studies.

 

ENME 472: Integrated Product and Process Development

Integration of product development with the development process. design strategies. Product architecture. Design for manufacturing. Selection of materials. Design for assembly.

Selected Publications

 Google Scholar Profile

 

Dr. Monifa Vaughn-Cooke Awarded VA SPIRE Grant

Research focuses on creating a virtual reality system to aid balance and reach tests for individuals with compromised motor function.

Empowering Experience and Innovation

Working together, the University of Maryland and IBM encourage students and faculty to think big and leverage technology.

ME Professors Featured on IBM Business of Government Podcast

Assistant Professors Fuge, Hahn, and Vaughn-Cooke featured on podcast to discuss new research in their fields.

Spotlight on NAVAIR-Funded Research at Maryland

Cooperative agreement between UMD and NAWCAD helps support research projects in Mechanical Engineering.

Vaughn-Cooke Participates as Panelist at Virtual Reality Meets Capitol Hill Event

Assistant Professor Monifa Vaughn-Cooke participates in panel, students demo evolving medical applications of VR simulations.

ISR welcomes five new affiliate faculty

Joining ISR: Ken Wood, Bill Fagan, Daniel Butts, Monifa Vaughn-Cooke, Ilya Ryzhov.

Engineering systems for mental health work by Espy-Wilson, Resnik, Vaughn-Cooke featured in Newsweek

Research on quantifiable indicators could result in mental health tracking app.

Droguett Joins Mechanical Engineering as Associate Professor

Mechanical Engineering welcomes alumni Enrique López Droguett back to the University of Maryland as associate professor.

UMD Team Wins 2013 American Public Health Association's Affordable Care Act Codeathon

Terrapin Health Transformers & Friends team creates winning solution with ACA Benefits Buddy.

Dr. Monifa Vaughn-Cooke Appointed as ME Assistant Professor

Professor brings interdisciplinary emphasis to Maryland faculty.