Centre for Human Factors and Sociotechnical Systems

Deputy Director

Research Fellow, Human Factors and Sociotechnical Systems

Transport and Infrastructure Theme Leader

Contact: gread@usc.edu.au

Associate Professor Gemma Read leads the Transport and Infrastructure Research Theme at the Centre for Human Factors and Sociotechnical Systems at the University of the Sunshine Coast. She has a PhD in human factors from Monash University and has worked in the field of transportation human factors since 2006 in both academic and government roles. She also holds undergraduate degrees in behavioural science and law. Her main areas of expertise and interest include the application of methods and approaches with a basis in complexity and systems theory to enhance safety in transportation systems. She is also interested in how better translation of human factors research outcomes into real world practice can be achieved.

Gemma currently holds an Australian Research Council Discovery Early Career Research Award which aims to address potential safety risks arising from the introduction of advanced autonomous vehicles. The project will use both human factors and computer-based simulation techniques. While automation promises to reduce crashes, the project expects to generate new knowledge about the emergence of risks through interactions between human road users and autonomous vehicles, particularly in the initial transition period. The expected outcomes include an enhanced capacity to understand how risks emerge in complex systems, and the development of specific policy and regulatory interventions.

Top cited publications

Read, G. J. M., Salmon, P. M., Lenné, M. G. & Jenkins, D. P. (2015). Designing a ticket to ride with cognitive work analysis. Ergonomics, 58(8), 1266-1286. 

Read, G. J. M., Salmon, P. M., Lenné, M. G. & Stanton, N. A. (2015). Designing sociotechnical systems with cognitive work analysis: Putting theory back into practice. Ergonomics, 58(5), 822-851. 

Read, G. J. M., Salmon, P. M., & Lenné, M. G. (2013). Sounding the warning bells: The need for a systems approach to understanding behaviour at rail level crossings. Applied Ergonomics, 44, 764-774. 

Read, G. J. M., Lenné, M. L. & Moss, S. A. (2012). Associations between task, training and social environmental factors and error types involved in rail incidents and accidents. Accident Analysis and Prevention, 48, 416-422. 

Read, G. J. M., Salmon, P. M., & Lenné, M. G. (2012). From work analysis to work design: A review of cognitive work analysis design applications. Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society Annual Meeting, Boston, USA.