Prof. Sara Lu Riggs

Prof. Sara Lu Riggs

Principal Investigator

  • Ph.D., Industrial and Operations Engineering, University of Michigan, 2014
  • M.S.E., Industrial and Operations Engineering, University of Michigan, 2011
  • B.S., Industrial and Systems Engineering (Minor: Business), Virginia Tech, 2009
  • B.A., Economics, Virginia Tech, 2009
  • sriggs [at] virginia [dot] edu
  • UVA profile page
  • Find me on Google Scholar

Research Highlights

National and international recognition for research:

  • Awards include: NSF CAREER Award, Jerome H. Ely Human Factors Article Award, and the APA George E. Briggs Dissertation Award
  • Editorial board member for the: International Journal of Human-Computer Studies, IISE Transactions on Occupational Ergonomics and Human Factors, and Human Factors and Ergonomics in Manufacturing & Service Industries

Originality and significance of contributions to research areas and/or interdisciplinary areas, including the quality, quantity, focus and scholarly impact of the writings:

  • Published 23 journal and 34 conference articles, including four in the flagship human factors journal, Human Factors
  • Lead or corresponding faculty author on >90% of journal articles or proceedings
  • Three best student paper awards at the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society (HFES) conferences

Sustained research support and proposal submissions, including awards of competitive fellowships:

  • Over $6 million of awarded competitive research grants (personal share >$1.3 million)
  • 3 Ph.D. advisees (Kylie Gomes, Lauren Horde, and Nicholas Gardella) received the NSF GRFP
  • 1 Ph.D. advisee (Logan Clark) awarded Facebook Fellowship

Abbreviated Teaching Statement

I love teaching because, for me, it is my way of making a difference in this world – by shaping students to become independent thinkers and creating the next generation of engineers, scholars, and innovators. To this end, my ultimate goal is to develop the students’ problem solving skills both within and beyond the classroom. Based on my experiences as a student, mentor, and instructor, my teaching is founded on the following principles: (1) learning is hands-on, (2) learning is best in an all-inclusive environment, and (3) learning is about continual improvements.

Courses I have taught include at UVa:

  • SYS 3023 – Human Machine Interface
  • SYS 3501 - Design and Analysis of Human Technology Systems
  • SYS 4582/6582 – Human Error in Complex Systems
  • SYS 6007 – Human Factors I

Outside the Classroom

In my free time I like to spend time and find adventures to go on with my husband Robert (an assistant professor in the Systems Engineering program) and two daughters. I also like to cook, bake, read, and workout (running outside, Peloton bike and bootcamp classes). I am an avid sports fan in general, but especially like college basketball and football. I closely follow and root for my alma mater teams – the Michigan Wolverines and Virginia Tech Hokies – and maybe now I will start rooting for the Virginia Cavaliers 😊

Publications
View my CV