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Robert L. Helmreich, Ph.D.
Professor of Psychology Emeritus (Retired)


Email: helmreich@psy.utexas.edu
Human Factors Research Project
See also Individual Differences and Evolutionary Psychology, Social and Personality
Robert Helmreich is professor of psychology at The University of Texas at Austin, where he has taught since 1966. He is principal investigator of the University of Texas Human Factors Research Project. This group studies individual and team performance, human error, and the influence of culture on behavior in aviation and medicine. Helmreich received his bachelor’s, masters and doctoral degrees from Yale University. He is a member of the Space Life Sciences Committee for NASA’s University Space Research Association. He was editor of the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology and a member of the Committee on Human Factors and the Committee on Space Biology and Medicine of the National Academies of Science.
Helmreich received the Flight Safety Foundation Distinguished Service Award in 1994 for his contributions to aviation safety through the study and development of team training techniques (Crew Resource Management) for flight crews. He was also awarded Laurels from Aviation Week and Space Technology in 1994 and 2002 for his research related to human factors in aviation. He received the David S. Sheridan Award from Albany Medical College in 1997. He is a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society and the American Psychological Association. He received the distinguished service award of the Flight Safety Foundation and the
Human Factors award of Airbus Industsrie in 2004. He is the 2005 recipient of the Public Service Award of the American Association of Anesthesia Nurses and of the University of Texas College of Liberal Arts Pro Bene Meritis Award.
He has written more than two hundred papers, chapters, and scientific reports. He is the author (with Ashleigh Merritt) of the 1998 book, Culture at Work in Aviation and Medicine: National, Organizational, and Professional Influences and co-author of Group Interaction in High Risk Environments. Research support has come from the National Science Foundation, the National Institute of Mental Health and the Office of Naval Research. Current research is supported by NASA, the Federal Aviation Administration, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, and the Daimler-Benz Foundation.
Selected Publications