Two Fully Funded PhD Positions in HUGO Lab at the University of South Carolina, Columbia

These are fully funded PhD positions available in the HUman Factors & erGOnomics (HUGO) Lab within the Mechanical Engineering Department at the University of South Carolina, Columbia. The positions are suitable for students with backgrounds in engineering, human factors, robotics, artificial intelligence (AI), industrial engineering, mechanical engineering, or related disciplines. Research areas include Human-AI Interaction, Human-Machine Interaction, Human-Robot Interaction, Human Factors and Ergonomics, Industrial Safety, Vehicle Ergonomics, Human Variability, Digital Twin Systems, Human-Centered Design, and Product Design and Development. Applications of this research focus on transportation, energy, industrial systems, control rooms, and pipeline safety.

This is a fully funded scholarship. Successful PhD students will receive a full tuition waiver, a monthly living stipend, and guaranteed funding for the first two years. Continued funding throughout the PhD program is subject to satisfactory academic and research performance.

These positions are open to applicants of all nationalities. Candidates should possess a Master’s degree in Engineering or a related field, demonstrate a strong interest in human-centered systems and ergonomics, and have good analytical and communication skills. Applicants must also meet the general graduate admission requirements of the University of South Carolina.

Applicants are required to prepare and submit the following documents: a one-page cover letter, a Curriculum Vitae (CV), and a one-page statement of research interests. Preferred qualifications include experience in data analysis or experimental research, research publications in journals or conferences, programming experience (MATLAB preferred), and knowledge of statistics such as regression and ANOVA.

Interested candidates should email their one-page cover letter, Curriculum Vitae (CV), and one-page statement of research interests directly to Dr. Jangwoon Park, Associate Professor (Incoming), at [email protected]. Only shortlisted candidates will be invited for an online or in-person interview.

Intakes for these positions are scheduled for Spring 2027 and Fall 2027.