TATRC’s Science Cell Expands its Expertise with New Human Factors Engineer!
September 30, 2021 | Download PDF
Benjamin Knisely, Ph.D., joins TATRC’s Science Cell as a Human Factors Engineer. He serves as a contractor supporting Mr. Matt Quinn, and the rest of the Science Cell. In this role, Dr. Knisely will work to provide human factors guidance on various projects across programs and to identify broader trends regarding human performance and military healthcare systems design.
Dr. Knisely recently graduated from the University of Maryland with a Ph.D. in mechanical engineering, focusing on human factors and design methodology. For his dissertation, he developed a methodology to promote accessible product design for specialized end-user populations, leveraging a diverse array of tools including machine learning, mathematical optimization, and structured knowledge elicitation techniques. While implications for the work are broad, Dr. Knisely’s primary application of interest was patient-facing medical devices. He is eager and looking forward to seeing how his experience might overlap and inform his work here at TATRC.
Prior to working on his Ph.D., Ben worked for the U.S. Department of Labor – Mine Safety and Health Administration as a technical support engineer. Here, Ben performed underground investigative mine ventilation surveys across the country to evaluate compliance with federal safety and health regulations. Additionally, he aided in responding to mine emergencies, performing onsite monitoring and analysis of mine atmospheres. Ben also has a B.S. degree in mechanical engineering from the Pennsylvania State University.
Dr. Knisely was born and raised in Harrisburg, PA and currently lives in Rockville, MD with his fiancée Julie. They will be married in July 2022. In his free time, Ben likes to stay active by lifting weights and running. He also really enjoys cooking, a hobby he picked up as a line cook during his undergraduate studies.
The TATRC Family is thrilled to have this wonderful and unique asset join the team!
This article was published in the April 2022 issue of the TATRC Times.