Education

Doctor of Philosophy, Engineering Psychology
Georgia Institute of Technology 2002

Master of Science, Engineering Psychology
Georgia Institute of Technology 1994

Bachelor of Electrical Engineering
Georgia Institute of Technology 1992

Employment History

Georgia Tech Research Institute
Research Scientist II 1998-PRESENT
Graduate Temporary (full-time) 1994-1998
Graduate Research Assistant (part-time) 1992-1994

Experience Summary

Dr. Fain has over nine years experience in human performance research. Dr. Fain earned his undergraduate degree in electrical engineering from Georgia Tech in 1992. Upon graduation, Dr. Fain entered a graduate program in Engineering Psychology and accepted a position with the Human Systems Engineering Branch within the Georgia Tech Research Institute.

At Georgia Tech, he has led or assisted in a variety of research programs ranging from the design of fixed and rotary wing crew interfaces to applied research in the field of accessible design. Dr. Fain has been involved in a research effort to study human factors issues in advanced traffic management systems in Intelligent Transportation Systems. He has performed human factors analyses for the user-centered design of the Advanced Traffic Management Center simulator sponsored by the Federal Highway Administration. Dr. Fain has also been responsible for performing human factors analysis, needs assessements, and led the definition of requirements on a variety of programs.

Dr. Fain has led the needs assessment portion of the Information Technology and Technical Assistance Training Center (ITTATC) project and has developed materials to support accessibility curriculum development efforts. He has led the development of an accessibility evaluation lab to support independent third party evaluations of electronic and information technology. In addition, he has led the development of training materials to educate designers and accessibility specialists in the measurement of accessibility.

Dr. Fain has led the development of web based tools to support the design of Traffic Management Centers. He has designed and developed an HTML database for the Advanced Traffic Management Simulator project. He has conducted a study of driver decision making in the presence of real-time traffic information in both young and older adults. His research led to the development of guidelines for the generation of Variable Message Sign (VMS) messages to be displayed to travelers. The basic message structure of the VMS messages recommended by his research can be seen implemented on traveler information system throughout the United States.

Dr. Fain is the lead designer of the aircrew interface for the Integrated Tactical Avionics System modification to the SH-2G(A). He is responsible for providing conceptual and detailed designs to the customer, writing the system interface design specifications detailing the configuration and function of these devices for the software team, and coordinating with the designers of other displays and controls for the cockpit.

He has assisted in the design of displays and controls for the aircrew interface with the Advanced Rocket System for the AH-1W. He also assisted in the design of an Integrated Weapons System (IWS) and Integrated Avionics System (IAS) cockpits for the AH-1W. He has assisted in the design of an A-10 cockpit upgrade program. Dr. Fain developed and implemented a human factors testing and evaluation plan for the AH-1W Stores Management System (SMS) program.

Dr. Fain was also involved in a project to design, development, and test auditory icons used in a three-dimensional advanced auditory display.

Current Fields of Interest

Accessibility of electronic and information technologies; Human factors in advanced traffic management systems; human factors in rotary-wing aviation; human factors in fixed-wing aviation; human-computer interface design; workstation design; rapid decision making; aging and decision making; advanced auditory displays; attention.

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