Karen Chen
Assistant Professor
- 919.515.6403
- kbchen2@ncsu.edu
- 468 Daniels Hall
Karen Chen joined NC State’s Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering as a faculty member in the Human-Systems group in August 2016. Prior to joining ISE, she was a postdoctoral research associate at the Healthcare Systems Engineering Institute at Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts.
Dr. Chen’s research studies human performances and uses human factors and ergonomics frameworks as the foundation. She also implements technologies such as virtual reality to explore potentials in improving health and safety of various populations. She has investigated the use of virtual reality to understand older driver biomechanics and the utility for ranges of motion rehabilitation of chronic pain patients. Besides research, she also offers courses in Human Factors in Systems Design, Musculoskeletal Biomechanics, Human-Computer Interface, and Special Topics in Technology and Healthcare Applications.
Visit Dr. Chen’s Virtual and Augmented Reality Lab (VARL).
Meet Karen Chen:
Watch Dr. Chen talk with WRAL News about her virtual reality research
Education
Doctor of Philosophy in Biomedical Engineering
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Masters of Science in Biomedical Engineering
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Research Description
Dr. Chen’s recent research studies patient safety in healthcare systems, specifically examines some critical junctures between primary and specialty care using human factors frameworks and methods. She also explores the application of virtual reality for chronic neck pain rehabilitation and the interface design of touchscreens for individuals with physical disabilities. These research topics also highlight her experiences in experimental design.
Honors and Awards
- IEEE VR Best Poster Award, 2014
- HFES Student Honors Award, 2014
Publications
- A usability assessment of riding lawn-mowing equipment with varying levels of design standards compliance
- Deng, Y., Shirley, J., Rose, T., Geary, L., Feltner, D., Chen, K., … Kaber, D. B. (2019), APPLIED ERGONOMICS, 78, 76–85. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apergo.2019.02.003
- Immersion of virtual reality for rehabilitation - Review
- Rose, T., Nam, C. S., & Chen, K. B. (2018), Applied Ergonomics. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apergo.2018.01.009
- Use of virtual reality feedback for patients with chronic neck pain and kinesiophobia
- Chen, K. B., Sesto, M. E., Ponto, K., Leonard, J., Mason, A., Vanderheiden, G., … Radwin, R. G. (2017), IEEE Transactions on Neural Systems and Rehabilitation Engineering, 25(8), 1240–1248. https://doi.org/10.1109/tnsre.2016.2621886
- Using the Microsoft Kinect (TM) to assess 3-D shoulder kinematics during computer use
- Xu, X., Robertson, M., Chen, K. B., Lin, J. H., & McGorry, R. W. (2017), Applied Ergonomics, 65, 418–423. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apergo.2017.04.004
- Effect of a web-based, decision support intervention to improve work ability in breast cancer survivors
- Sesto, M. E., Buhr, K. A., Sun, W., Chen, K., Tevaarwerk, A. J., Wiegmann, D. A., & Heidrich, S. M. (2016), In Meeting of the American Physical Therapy Association.
- Evaluation of older driver functional range of motion using virtual reality
- Chen, K. B., Xu, X., Lin, J.-H., & Radwin, R. G. (2015), In International Annual Meeting of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society. https://doi.org/10.1177/1541931215591206
- Evaluation of older driver head functional range of motion using portable immersive virtual reality
- Chen, K. B., Xu, X., & Lin, J.-H. (2015), Experimental Gerontology, 70, 150–156.
- Virtual exertions: Evoking the sense of exerting forces in virtual reality using gesture and muscle activity
- Chen, K. B., Ponto, K., Tredinnick, R. D., & Radwin, R. G. (2015), Human Factors, 57(4), 658–673. https://doi.org/10.1177/0018720814562231
- The accuracy of the Oculus Rift virtual reality head-mounted display during cervical spine mobility measurement
- Xu, X., Chen, K. B., Lin, J.-H., & Radwin, R. G. (2015), Journal of Biomechanics, 48(4), 721–724. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbiomech.2015.01.005
- The living environments laboratory
- Gill, E., Brennan, P., Ponto, K., Tredinnick, R., Broecker, M., & Chen, K. (2015), In IEEE VR.