From welding steel in high school to advancing human-AI teaming in tactical flight systems, Dr. Nicolette McGeorge has led with curiosity into her career. Now a Senior Scientist in our UX Innovation Division, she holds a PhD in Cognitive Systems Engineering and brings a passion for thoughtful problem-solving and human-centered insight to every challenge she takes on.
Q: Tell us a little bit about your background.
A: I grew up on the North Shore of Boston in Lynnfield, Massachusetts. In high school, I participated in a program called Destination Imagination, which focuses on solving STEAM-based problems in small collaborative teams. Every year, we tackled a creative challenge that blended science, technology, engineering, art, and math. Depending on what challenge the teams selected, solutions could involve a lot of engineering or be entirely theatrical. Ours were usually a mix of both.
For example, the most memorable challenge was to build an obstacle course that could transport five eggs in a circuit. The eggs had to fall at least three feet, pass other obstacles, and complete the course undamaged, all while we were performing an integrated skit around their transit. Solving fun challenges like that kickstarted my love of problem-solving, creative thinking, and building with my hands, which eventually led me to study engineering. Also, I will never forget the smell of old, raw eggs!
At Rochester Institute of Technology, I majored in industrial engineering, which often focuses on processes like assembly line manufacturing. I enjoyed it, but I realized I also loved interacting with people as part of my work. That’s how I discovered human factors, the study of how people interact with tasks, systems, and environments.
“That’s how I discovered human factors, the study of how people interact with tasks, systems, and environments.”
I went on to earn my master’s in physical ergonomics, a subfield of human factors. But I didn’t want to stop there. I asked myself: “How do we support the cognitive side of human performance, not just the physical?” That led me to pursue a doctorate in Cognitive Systems Engineering at the State University of New York at Buffalo.
After that, I completed a postdoc at Johns Hopkins University in their Armstrong Institute for Patient Safety and Quality. There, I focused on research in pediatric trauma, studying how care teams operate in high stress scenarios and designing technologies that better support caring for really sick kids. After more than a decade in New York and Maryland, I felt it was time to return home to Massachusetts. While exploring local companies, I discovered Charles River Analytics. I landed an interview, got a job offer, and knew I had found exactly what I was looking for.
Q. What is your favorite part of your job?
A. One of the things I love most about my field, and my job, is the opportunity to keep learning deeply about new things. Back when I was doing my master’s, I joked that I’d be happy being a “professional student” forever. Little did I know there was a company like Charles River that would let me live that dream.
“We all bring a unique perspective to problem-solving.”
What still stands out to me is that I’m not pigeonholed into one domain. Even though my background is in healthcare research, I also get to explore defense and other exciting fields.
Another favorite part of my job is the people. I learn from my amazing colleagues every day. In our division, we’re a tight-knit group with different but complementary backgrounds. We all bring a unique perspective to problem-solving. I like to see how my colleagues approach challenges, then apply those insights to other projects. That collaborative mindset is a huge part of our success.
Q. What motivates you professionally? Is there anything happening in the field currently that’s inspiring you?
A. I’m super excited about what’s emerging in human factors engineering, especially around human-AI interaction. At Charles River, we’ve been researching this for a while, and now it’s interesting to see terms like “human-AI teaming” becoming buzzwords in popular culture.
For us, the core question in this research has always been, “How do we design advanced technologies, like AI or autonomous systems, for effective human interaction?” We think of AI tools as teammates. They’re here to handle part of the task, while humans handle other parts, but ultimately the goals is for them to work together.
“Our design strategies aim to create synergy between humans and AI, where the partnership is more effective than either working alone.”
Q. Can you explain how that ties into some of your projects like TITAN?
A. Sure! We worked with the Air Force Research Laboratory (ARFL) on a project called Tactical Interfaces for Teaming with Autonomy (TITAN), where we designed strategies for pilots operating in high-pressure, high-risk tactical conditions. The key question we explored was: What information and interaction capabilities do pilots need to effectively collaborate with uncrewed aircraft?
By “tactical” we mean frontline missions like locating threats, gathering intelligence, or managing high-risk situations. These scenarios are fast-paced and complex, requiring tight coordination between pilots and AI systems. Our goal is to build human-AI teams that can thrive under those conditions.
Communication is one of the biggest challenges. In many operations, pilots deal with limited or degraded communication due to threats of detection or operational constraints. We study how those limitations affect teamwork and design tools to help pilots maintain situational awareness and mission effectiveness, even under tough conditions.
In essence, that’s what TITAN is about: preparing for the future of human-AI collaboration in the most demanding environments.
Q. What advice would you give to someone new to the field (human factors engineering)?
A. If you’re interested in designing technology with users in mind—especially if you’re curious about cognition and decision-making—this field has so much to offer. It’s incredibly broad, so there are many ways to get started.
Academically, I recommend exploring courses in psychology, human-computer interaction, survey design, and qualitative research methods, like ethnography and interviewing. These give you the tools to observe people and uncover insights. On the technical side, skills in experimental design and statistics are key for evaluating performance and studying human behavior in real or simulated environments.
If you lean toward design, UI/UX is a great entry point. You can start by learning the basics of visual design, then deepen your understanding through cognitive science and contextual design. The goal is to develop tools that align with how people actually think and work.
“My best advice? Stay curious and open to learning. Human factors is multidisciplinary, and over time you’ll find your own path into the field based on what excites you most.”
Q. Any fun facts about yourself?
A. I know how to weld! Well…I learned how to weld back in high school. It started with a Destination Imagination project where we built a steel structure. I picked up welding so we could make a few pieces ourselves and get brownie points for, “Hey, by the way, we made this!”
Later, I spent a year studying mechanical engineering and picked up some other hands-on skills. I learned how to hand draw technical drawings (no CAD!) and how to use tools like a drill press and lathe. One of my favorite little projects was making a hammer from scratch. It’s fully functional, and I still have it. It’s one of those things I look at and think, “I made that”!
I also consider myself an avid reader, but these days my life is mostly defined by my four-year-old. Sometimes there’s a funny crossover between parenting and work. I use technical language at work all the time, and I’ve caught myself using it with him too! Communicating with a young child really teaches you the value of phrasing. Ask a question one way and it’s tantrum city; ask it another way, and everything’s fine. That kind of thoughtful communication definitely carries over into my professional life as well.
A few of Nicolette’s projects and publications
Charles River Analytics awarded up to $3.2M by ARPA-H to strengthen usability and utility of biomedical data tools
Conducting User-Centered Evaluations Across an Emerging Ecosystem of Prototype Bioinformatics Tools Charles River Analytics to help the Air Force execute critical security decisions
Towards Joint Activity Design Heuristics: Essentials for Human-Machine Teaming
Charles River Analytics nets contract to increase shared awareness with mixed crewed and uncrewed teams
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Awards Charles River Analytics Grant to Design a Tool for Fertility Clinics to Help Manage Pregnancy Outcomes
Design and Development of a Prototype Heads-up Display that Supports Context-aware, Semi- automated, Hands-free Medical Documentation
