A glowing brain floats in space beside the text “Technology Humans & Environments Lab—Exploring the human side of technological innovation.” Stars scatter across the dark background.

Bridging Cognitive Theory and Emerging Technologies

THE Lab studies how people interact with technological systems in increasingly complex environments. By integrating cognitive theory with advanced techniques such as eye tracking, virtual reality, and computational modeling, we investigate the mechanisms that drive human performance in the modern world.

ABOUT

Exploring the human side of technological innovation

Our research addresses challenges at the intersection of technology, humans and their environments, spanning domains such as digital exploitation, healthcare, and virtual reality. We aim to provide evidence-based insights that can help develop systems that are more intuitive, effective, and safer for humans.

Our philosophy is that humans should be at the center of technological innovation, and that systems should be designed with human capabilities and limitations, in mind.

RESEARCH

What we study

A close-up, black and white photo of a hand typing on a laptop keyboard.

Digital
Exploitation

With AI making scams more convincing than ever, our research focuses on understanding vulnerability to digital exploitation and developing tools to help people recognize and avoid scams.

A doctor in a lab coat and mask interacts with a transparent digital screen displaying brain images and medical data.

Healthcare
& Imaging

Our research examines how people search for and interpret complex medical information with the goal of improving diagnostic decision-making and patient outcomes.

A person wearing a virtual reality headset looks upward, holding the device with one hand, against a dark background.

Virtual Environments

We investigate how virtual environments influence visual cognition, exploring topics including spatial navigation, cybersickness, and memory to improve the design of immersive technologies.

PEOPLE

Meet our team

From left to right: Xavier Pham, Angelica Busciglio, Lillie del Real, Mark Neider, Jessica Goetz, Sean Hinkle, Katharine Sabo, Maria Levanidova, Dawn Sarno

Lab Directors

A man with glasses and a gray beard, wearing a maroon shirt, stands outdoors near trees on a sunny day.

Dr. Mark Neider
EMAIL: MARK.NEIDER@UCF.EDU

Woman with long dark hair in a sleeveless black top stands outdoors, smiling at the camera; trees and a building are in the background.

Dr. Dawn Sarno
EMAIL: DAWN.SARNO@UCF.EDU

Postdoctoral Researchers

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Dr. jessica goetz

Graduate Students

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Sean hinkle
6th year graduate student

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Lillie del Real
4th year graduate student

A smiling woman wearing a dark green t-shirt stands outside.

katharine sabo
5th year graduate student

A person wearing glasses and a blue collared shirt stands outside, smiling at the camera with blurred greenery in the background.

Xavier pham
3rd year graduate student

A young woman with long brown hair wearing a dark jacket and white top stands outside, smiling, with trees and a building in the blurred background.

angelicA busciglio
4th year graduate student

A woman with shoulder-length blonde hair wearing a brown button-up shirt stands outdoors, smiling at the camera with greenery and a building in the background.

Maria levanidova
2nd year graduate student

RECENT PUBLICATIONS

Want to see more of our research? Browse our publications here.

MATCH: A toolbox to assess the primary color of real-world objects and generate color-matching stimuli goes here

Behavior Research Methods (2025) 🔗

Exploring shared cognitive mechanisms underlying susceptibility to and reporting of deception across digital domains

Applied Ergonomics (2026) 🔗

Untangling the Web of Deceit: Examining Shared User Susceptibility Across Five Types of Digital Deceptions

Human Factors (2026) 🔗

JOIN THE LAB

Interested in working with us?

UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH ASSISTANTS

Apply for an Undergraduate Research Assistant Position Here

GRADUATE STUDENT APPLICATIONS

Interested in the Human Factors and Cognitive Psychology PhD Program?

Dr. Neider and Dr. Sarno are both considering PhD applicants for the 2027–2028 academic year. Prospective students whose research interests align with THE lab are encouraged to reach out via email.