Peter Marshall interviews Kuba Glazek who received his PhD from the Brain and Cognitive Sciences area of our doctoral program. Dr. Glazek is currently working as a Human Factors Consultant for a forensic consulting company.

Hi Kuba! Tell me about your current position and what it involves.

I am a Human Factors Consultant at Rimkus Consulting Group, a forensic consulting company with offices around the country and globally. My work entails analyzing the human element in accident causation. I examine evidence, inspect accident sites, review scientific literature, generate expert opinions, write reports, and serve as an expert witness in legal proceedings. I examine the evidence in any particular case through the lens of my training in cognitive psychology, expertise in forensic analysis, and pertinent scientific literature to help my clients understand whether the actions of the people involved were reasonable under the circumstances.  For example, a passenger vehicle impacts a pedestrian. Footage from a home security camera from across the street was obtained by the police. The video shows the pedestrian manipulating multiple items in her hands as she walks into the street without looking out for oncoming traffic. The motor vehicle's front dips (indicating braking) 1.2 seconds after the pedestrian enters the street. All of this information is useful in my analysis, as I can determine who was or was not paying attention to their respective task. Attention, perception, motor control, and reaction time are pertinent human factors in this (imaginary) scenario, and my opinions would be generated with them in mind.

What path led you to this particular line of work?

During graduate school, I became interested in applying basic scientific research to real-world problems. The forensic world was not something I knew existed, but searching for non-academic positions was part of my routine and I saw an opportunity at a firm called Exponent. I interviewed with one of the senior managers at the Philadelphia office, and later with a principal scientist in Los Angeles, where my wife was starting a Master's program at UCLA the fall after my dissertation defense. The stars aligned. We took a scenic road trip across the country to LA and have been here ever since.

How do your studies in psychology, particularly your graduate training at Temple, inform your work?

My doctoral training was focused on visual perception, working memory, and fine motor control. I conducted studies comparing expert and novice populations in various domains. Along the way, I gained a wealth of technical knowledge in cognitive psychology, research methods, and statistics. This experience is a great match for the forensic world, as I described above. I wholeheartedly credit the faculty in the Temple Psychology Department for helping me develop as a scientist and professional. In particular, my adviser Bob Weisberg, Tim Shipley, Kim Curby, and Peggy DeWolf all gave me opportunities that I look back on as formative.

Do you have any advice for undergraduates considering graduate study in cognitive psychology?

I have three pieces of advice for students considering doctoral programs (I cannot speak to Master's programs). First, while still an undergraduate, get research experience in one of the faculty members' labs. This will make you a more competitive candidate, especially if you get a publication in the process. Second, use the library's access to academic journals to read up on topics that interest you and that you foresee will be marketable. I guarantee that you will start to see that the same researchers appear time and again in your reading. Third, contact those researchers. Ask them if they are accepting doctoral students and, if so, apply to work with them.

Thank you!