ASPIRE 2024 AWARDS

Best Translation Paper

Recognizes the application of research in the field to demonstrate positive changes to policies, practices, or outcomes related to performance, safety, risk assessments, prognosis, prevention, or management of musculoskeletal disorders. 

Exoskeletons in Construction: Back-Support Exoskeletons do not Effectively Reduce Physical Demands during Simulated Floor Tiling Work

Ahmad Raza Usmani, Mohammad Sadra Rajabi, Aanuoluwapo Ojelade, Sunwook Kim, Carisa Harris-Adamson, Alan Barr, Maury Nussbaum

Best Computational Paper

Recognizes the development or application of computational methods for studying mechanisms or models in biomechanics, fatigue, or musculoskeletal disorders. 

Predicting External Hand Forces During Overhead Work: An Approach Using EMG and Random Forest Regression

Mohamad Behjati Ashtiani, Mohammadreza Freidouny, Aanuoluwapo Ojelade, Sunwook Kim, Maury Nussbaum

Best Experimental Paper

Recognizes innovative experimental methods founded in Occupational Ergonomics to answer rigorous scientific questions relevant to emerging topics in our technical group. 

Effects of Using Arm-Support Exoskeletons on Muscle Coordination During a Pseudo-Static Overhead Task: Preliminary Analysis of Muscle Synergy

Hanjun Park, Aanuoluwapo Ojelade, Sunwook Kim, & Maury Nussbaum

Best Poster

Recognizes outstanding Occupational Ergonomics research presented as a poster during the annual meeting.

Visual Analysis within Three-Dimensional Hand Scans to Define Hand Envelopes

Presenter: Linsey Griffin

Authors: Vanessa Segura Duque, Tse-Hsun Kuo, Kelsey Hitt, Peeyush Kumar, Linsey Griffin

To access the OETG paper and poster rubric click here. 

ASPIRE 2024 EXCELLENCE IN PRACTICE AWARD

Excellence in Practice Award

Recognizes a practitioner in the area of occupational ergonomics for demonstrating excellence in their contribution to the field such as (but not limited to) significant reduction in workplace injury, improvement in process, application of ergonomics principles in the workplace, and/or education, or implementation and integration of ergonomics program.

Robert R. “ Bob” Fox, PhD, CPE

Dr. Bob Fox was selected as our 2024 Excellence in Practice Award recipient due to his commitment and impact in the field of occupational ergonomics. Bob has had roles in both industry and academia working with organizations such as the US Army Human Engineering Laboratory, General Motors, US Department of Justice, US Department of Labor/OSHA, Texas Tech, Technical University of Wroclaw, University of Michigan, and University of California - Berkeley. Furthermore, his work extends from the ergonomics of manual material handling to the ergonomics of aging working populations, and the development of ergonomics standards and tools. Even after retirement, Bob continues to have a major impact on the field and society as he continues to be an integral part of HFES and supporting practitioners.

STUDENT TRAVEL AWARDS

ASPIRE 2024 OETG Student Travel Awards

One ($500) need-based student travel awards were awarded this year. This award aimed to support students to present an accepted paper or poster at the Annual Meeting. Travel awards were assessed based on need and randomly selected due to multiple qualified applications. The awardees was:

Darlinton Egeonu, University of Michigan - Dearborn