Whether it’s designing safer environments for transportation or improving medical devices for surgeries, Human Factors offers endless possibilities for creativity and impact.

Komal Saxena, our next pathbreaker,  Safety & Human Factors Consultant, focuses on enhancing transport systems safety and user experience through human-centered design.

Komal talks to  Shyam Krishnamurthy from The Interview Portal about the significance of Human Factors in industries like aviation, rail, nuclear, defense, and automobiles, where the ultimate goal is to reduce human error and improve safety.

For students, Human Factors often intersect with fields like engineering, cognitive psychology, and design, so broadening your knowledge across these areas will make you a more versatile practitioner

Komal, what were your growing up years like?

I grew up in Delhi, where I developed an interest in both psychology and human safety. My educational journey started with psychology, and over time, I specialized in Safety and Human Factors, particularly in aviation. When I was 18, I moved to the UK on my own to pursue my undergraduate studies.

My parents, both software engineers, had a significant influence on my path. My mother worked in a government autonomous body that developed software for the Indian Railways, while my father initially worked for a computer firm before starting his own software consultancy. Despite their technical background, they were supportive of my interests, even though my journey was not always easy. For several years, my mother was the sole breadwinner, as running a business can be incredibly challenging. She handled everything on her own, which made me admire her determination and independence traits that I aspired to embody.

I wasn’t an exceptional student in school, I struggled particularly with mathematics. Ironically, my mother was a Math Honors graduate, but she was understanding and accepting of my challenges. Although I had dreams of becoming a doctor, my difficulty with math made that goal seem out of reach.

During my 11th and 12th grades, I transferred to a new school, where the teaching quality and my decision to move to the UK for further studies helped set my path. It was there that I was introduced to psychology, which I found fascinating. I realized that even if I couldn’t be a doctor, I could still contribute to the medical field in some capacity. Initially, psychology wasn’t easy for me, especially with a teacher who once told me that I wouldn’t succeed in the field. However, my mother and my class teacher supported me by arranging private tutoring sessions with our school counselor. This mentorship sparked my genuine interest in psychology, leading me to pursue it for my bachelor’s degree.

What did you study?

I completed both my bachelor’s and master’s degrees in psychology from University of Nottingham and Sheffield Hallam University respectively. After that, I did my MSc in Safety and Human Factors in Aviation from Cranfield University

I got an undergraduate psychology scholarship when I got admitted to the University of Nottingham. Each course has its own scholarship opportunities, and there are also some that are offered more broadly to international students. I first received a course-based scholarship it wasn’t a huge amount, but it definitely felt good and gave me a bit of a confidence boost. Later on, for my first masters from Sheffield Hallam university,  I also got the international student scholarship from the university. Again, not a big amount financially, but both really helped boost my morale and made me feel like my efforts were being recognised.

What were some of the key influences that led you to such an offbeat, unconventional, and unique career in Safety & Human Factors?

During that time, clinical psychology was the most sought-after specialization in India. Over the summers, I interned at several major hospitals in Delhi, gaining hands-on experience with mental health patients. After completing my first master’s, I worked as an assistant psychologist in my first paid internship, which I took not for the stipend, but to gain experience.

My parents always advised me to focus on gaining knowledge and skills rather than earning money, especially when working in fields like mental health. However, during my time in clinical psychology, I realized that it wasn’t the direction I wanted to pursue long-term. I wanted to explore a unique niche, one that was still relatively unexplored in India. That’s when I discovered Safety and Human Factors, a field that intrigued me deeply.

Safety and Human Factors was a field I had to research extensively, as there were no  institutions in India offering this specialization. Even in the UK, only a handful of universities offered programs in this area. The USA had opportunities, but mostly at the PhD level, which seemed like a long shot at the time. My research into the professionals working in this field, particularly those associated with space agencies like NASA, opened my eyes to the vast potential of this field. NASA, for instance, had a Human Factors department focused on designing manned spacecraft, and that was where my imagination really took flight.

I realized that human factors could involve creativity, design, and innovation in a way that clinical psychology could not. For me, it was an exciting opportunity to explore a multidisciplinary approach that combined psychology with engineering, especially in fields such as aviation, rail, and defense.

Human Factors is essentially about designing systems, environments, and products that are optimized for human use. It’s not just about creating safe systems, but making them intuitive and user-friendly. The core principle is cognitive ergonomics, which examines how human cognitive processes interact with systems and environments.

In industries like aviation, rail, nuclear, defense, and automobiles, we focus on human-centered design. A common example is cockpit design in aviation, where we ensure that pilots can operate the cockpit seamlessly without confusion or fatigue, which could lead to human error. Our ultimate goal is to reduce human error and improve safety.

Human factors professionals work across multiple industries, and the principles we apply are consistent, even though each industry has its own specialized tools. For example, in aviation, we might analyze pilot behavior using eye-tracking studies, while in rail, we assess train operators’ workload to ensure they’re not overworked or underutilized. By analyzing human behavior in specific environments, we can identify potential risks and optimize systems for safety and efficiency.

Can you tell us about your career path in Human Safety?

After completing my master’s, I eventually got an opportunity to work with WSP, a leading global construction company in India. This company was looking to establish a Human Factors department in the rail industry, and I was selected for the role. This became my turning point.

Working on rail projects, particularly in the UK, was initially challenging, but I had great mentors who helped me transition smoothly. One of the aspects I enjoyed most was ergonomic design, where I contributed to designing railway stations and depots. The goal was to anticipate potential safety or design issues before construction, ensuring that when the infrastructure became operational, accidents could be minimised.

What were some of the challenges you faced? How did you address them?

After completing my master’s in Safety and Human Factors, the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted my plans, and I had to return to India. Although I was initially devastated, my parents were a strong support system during this time.

How did you get your 1st break?

I continued applying for jobs  was working in a small software consultancy as a Junior Human Factors consultant supporting them on there drone projects, but  eventually got an opportunity with a leading global construction company in India. This company was looking to establish a Human Factors department in the rail industry, and I was selected for the role. This became my turning point.

What problems do you solve in the field of Human Factors?

Empathy is a core concept in Human Factors. You must think from the perspective of the user whether it’s a train operator, pilot, or medical professional and understand their needs, behaviours, and emotional responses. In our work, we anticipate how emotions influence behaviour and how that can impact human-machine interactions. With the rise of AI and automation, human-machine interaction is becoming increasingly important. Everything we interact with, from laptops to medical devices, is designed with human factors principles in mind, ensuring that the user experience is intuitive and safe.

What are the skills required for your role? How did you acquire them?

In the human factors industry, key skills include a solid understanding of ergonomics, cognitive psychology, and user-centered design principles. It’s essential to have strong research skills, as you’re constantly gathering and analysing data from real users to inform design decisions. A background in statistics or data analysis helps when interpreting user studies or conducting usability tests. Additionally, communication and collaboration skills are crucial, as human factors experts often work cross-functionally with designers, engineers, and product teams. A familiarity with prototyping tools, usability testing methodologies, and human-computer interaction (HCI) principles is also highly valuable.”

I acquired these skills through a combination of formal education and hands-on experience. I studied MSc in Human Factors Safety& Human Factors (CIEHF) in Aviation from Cranfield University,  United Kingdom, which is accredited by the Chartered institute of human factors and ergonomics United Kingdom, this accreditation becomes more important when we have to apply for our chartership.

At Cranfield University, I gained a strong foundation in human-centered design and the science of human cognition and behaviour. After that, I built my expertise by working on real-world projects, including conducting usability testing, user interviews, and field studies. I also made it a priority to stay up-to-date with the latest research papers, conferences, and workshops in the human factors space. Over time, I learned the value of continuously iterating based on user feedback, which is crucial for creating effective, user-friendly products.

Any memorable projects?

Cranfield is well known for Aerospace Engineering, and while my degree wasn’t specifically in that area, aviation was actually one of our main focus areas. We had modules in aviation systems and aviation medicine, which gave us a strong understanding of how human factors come into play in high-stress or high-altitude environments.

One of the most memorable parts of the course was a real-life aircraft accident simulation that was staged on the university grounds. The setup was incredibly realistic they created a full crash site scenario, and we had to interview actors playing injured or traumatised passengers. It really gave us a chance to apply psychological and investigative techniques in a high-pressure, lifelike situation.

We also had access to flight simulators and received flight training alongside highly experienced pilots. The goal wasn’t to become pilots, but to truly understand the pilot’s role, decision-making process, and workload in real time. Since Cranfield has its own airport, aircraft, and flying school, the training was very hands-on and immersive something you don’t get in many other academic settings.

What do you love about your work?

What drives me in this field is the opportunity to innovate and experiment. Whether it’s designing safer environments for transportation or improving medical devices for surgeries, Human Factors offers endless possibilities for creativity and impact.

At the end of the day, knowing that my work plays a role in saving lives and improving safety is deeply fulfilling. For me, “Safety First” is not just a mantra, but a mission that I am passionate about.

Your advice to students?

My advice to students would be to focus on building a strong foundation in both theoretical knowledge and practical skills. It’s essential to understand human cognition, behaviour, and perception, but it’s just as important to get hands-on experience with usability testing, prototype development, and real-world product design. I’d recommend looking for internships or projects where you can practice user-centered design principles and gain exposure to cross-functional teamwork. Also, don’t be afraid to dive into interdisciplinary learning. Human factors often intersect with fields like engineering, cognitive psychology, and design, so broadening your knowledge across these areas will make you a more versatile practitioner. Finally, always advocating for the user being able to empathize with users and understand their needs is at the heart of everything we do.

Future plans?

I envision myself as an expert in the human-centered design process, with a particular focus on ethical design and ensuring accessibility for all users, especially in products aimed at vulnerable populations. I hope to have a broader impact on shaping product development practices, possibly through thought leadership or consulting roles. I also plan to stay deeply engaged in continuous learning, whether through advanced certifications, workshops, or collaborative research with universities or industry leaders.