Welcome to the homepage of the Department of Human Factors and Engineering Psychology at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz.
The Human Factors and Engineering Psychology department at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz is headed by Prof. Dr. Johannes Kraus. We research the interaction between humans and modern technology – such as artificial intelligence, robotics, and automated vehicles – from a psychological perspective with an interdisciplinary approach.
With our research, we want to contribute to a better understanding of the use of technology in various social contexts and to shaping it in a responsible manner. The focus is on the question of how technical systems can be developed in such a way that they take the abilities, needs, and limitations of humans into account as best as possible.
On our homepage, you will find information about our team, our research and teaching, as well as current projects and news.
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Human factors and engineering psychology are disciplines of applied psychology. The aim is to generate knowledge about how people interact with modern, intelligent technologies, process and understand information, learn about systems, and make decisions in collaboration. In addition to classic topics such as perception and cognition, the department investigates current issues relating to trust in AI, explainability of technical systems (explainable AI), accessibility, and the ethical and social implications of technological innovations.
Learn more about our research here.
The ZEN-MRI research project (Ulm Center for Research and Evaluation of Human-Robot Interaction in Public Spaces) is investigating how autonomous service robots can be integrated into public spaces in a safe, socially acceptable, and barrier-free manner. The aim is to develop a human-centered design that promotes trust, acceptance, and consideration in the interaction between humans and robots.
Learn more about the ZEN-MRI project here or on the project’s own website.
FAIR-COM is an interdisciplinary subproject of the TOPML (Trading Off Non-Functional Properties of Machine Learning) research center funded by the Carl Zeiss Foundation. It investigates how fairness in AI systems can be communicated in a way that is understandable and comprehensible to users. To this end, FAIRCOM analyzes psychological and situational factors that influence the understanding of fairness and integrates these findings into explainable AI (XAI) and interface design. The goal is to make fairness transparent, intuitively accessible, and thus usable in a responsible manner.
Learn more about the TOPML project here or on the project’s own website.
RoboCons is a European, interdisciplinary research project that aims to make the construction industry fit for the future by integrating advanced robotics and digital methods into construction practice. The goal is to develop a Robot-Human Adaptive Construction Ecosystem (ACE), a safe, resource-efficient, and environmentally conscious ecosystem in which humans and robots can work together seamlessly in the construction industry. A central component of the project is the development of the Digital Construction Platform (DCP), a digital, AI-supported integration platform that combines information from planning, construction, and operation.
Learn more about the project here.
We offer courses as part of the following degree programs:
- Psychologie & Psychotherapie (Bachelor of Science)
- Human Factors (Master of Science)
Learn more about our courses here.
