James Unverricht


Bio

James Unverricht is a research scientist with Analytical Services and Materials and is leading Langley’s human factors effort for the Advanced Air Mobility (AAM)/High Density Vertiplex (HDV) subproject. He earned his M.S. in applied experimental psychology (2019) and his doctoral degree in human factors psychology (2023), both from Old Dominion University. His research focused on eye movements and attention, human-automation interaction, and exploring the mechanisms of skill acquisition for young drivers.

In his two years working at NASA, he has applied his experience to the field of AAM and facilitated the collaboration of HDV and other researching groups such as NASA’s Transformative Tools and Technologies Autonomous Systems (TTT-AS) sub-project and NASA’s Airspace Operations Lab (AOL) at AMES research center. His current research is directed towards cognitive task analysis methodology, naturalistic decision making, and qualitative methods.

Selected Publications

  1. Unverricht, J. R., Chancey, E. T., Petty, B. J., Buck, B. K., Politowicz, M. S., & Glaab, L. J. (accepted). Simulated vertiport management and ground control station operations: Continued human factors assessment of vertiport operations. Proceedings in AIAA SciTech 2024, Orlando, FL.
  2. Unverricht, J., Chancey, E. T., Politowicz, M. S., Buck, B. K., Geuther, S., & Ballard, K. (2023). Where is the human in the loop? Human Factors analysis of GCSO’s conducting live sUAS operations within a remote operations environment. Proceedings in AIAA SciTech 2023 Forum.
  3. Unverricht, J. R., Chancey, E. T., Politowicz, M. S., Buck, B. K., & Geuther, S. C. (2023). Eye glance behaviors of ground control station operators in a simulated urban air mobility environment. Proceedings in 2022 IEEE/AIAA 41st Digital Avionics Systems Conference (DASC).
  4. Politowicz, M. S., Chancey, E. T., Buck, B. K., Unverricht, J., & Petty, B. J. (2023). MPATH (Measuring Performance for Autonomy Teaming with Humans) Ground Control Station: Design Approach and Initial Usability Results. Proceedings in AIAA SciTech 2023 Forum.
  5. Buck, B. K., Chancey, E. T., Politowicz, M. S., Unverricht, J., & Geuther, S. (2023). A Remote Vehicle Operations Center’s Role in Collecting Human Factors Data. Proceedings in AIAA SciTech 2023 Forum.
  6. Chancey, E. T., Politowicz, M. S., Buck, B. K., Ballard, K., Unverricht, J., Houston, V. E., Chandarana, M., & Le Vie, L. (2023). Foundational Human-Autonomy Teaming Research and Development in Scalable Remotely Operated Advanced Air Mobility Operations: Research Model and Initial Work. Proceedings in AIAA SciTech 2023 Forum.
  7. Long, S. K., Lee, J., Yamani, Y., Unverricht, J., & Itoh, M. (2022). Does automation trust evolve from a leap of faith? An analysis using a reprogrammed pasteurizer simulation task. Applied Ergonomics.
  8. Zakharenko, H., Unverricht, J., & Yamani, Y. (2021). How interesting is this to you: Rating the interestingness of audio clips. Technology, Mind, & Society: A virtual conference, American Psychological Association.
  9. Lee, J., Yamani, Y., Long, S., K., Unverricht, J., & Itoh, M. (2021). Revisiting human-machine trust: A replication study of Muir & Moray (1996) using a simulated pasteurizer plant task. Ergonomics.
  10. Unverricht, J., Yamani, Y., Chen, J., & Horrey, W. J. (2020). Minding the gap: Effects of an attention maintenance training program on driver calibration. Human Factors.
  11. Yahoodik, S., Tahmi, H., Unverricht, J., Yamani, Y., Handley, H., & Thompson, D. (2020). Blink rate as a measure of driver workload during simulated driving. Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society Annual Meeting.
  12. Mator, J. D., Lehman, W. E.*, McManus, W.*, Powers, S.*, Tiller, L.*, Unverricht, J. R.*, & Still, J. D. (2020). Usability: Adoption, Measurement, Value. Human Factors.
  13. Unverricht, J., Yamani, Y., Horrey, W. J., Chen, J., & Yahoodik, S. (2019). Attention maintenance training: Are young drivers getting better or being more strategic? Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society Annual Meeting.
  14. Unverricht, J., Yamani, Y., & Horrey, W. J. (2018). Calibration in older and middle-aged drivers: Relationship between subjective and objective glance performance at complex intersections. Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society Annual Meeting.
  15. Yamani, Y., Bıçaksız, P., Unverricht, J., & Samuel, S. (2018). Impact of information bandwidth of in-vehicle technologies on drivers’ attention maintenance performance: a driving simulator study. Transportation research part F: Traffic psychology and behaviour.
  16. Unverricht, J., Samuel, S., & Yamani, Y. (2018). Latent hazard anticipation in young drivers: Review and meta-analysis of training studies. Transportation Research Record.

*Asterisks indicate equal effort in authorship

Awards and Honors

2023 – NASA Group Achievement Award – High Density Vertiplex AOA Flight Test Team

2022 – NASA Associate Administrator Award 2021 – Technology and Innovation for ROAM/MPATH Development