Research in Focus

For this edition, we focus on our outstanding PhD graduates from 2025 and their journeys as early researchers. PhD students bring fresh perspectives, cutting-edge methodologies, and ideas forged at the frontier of their fields. They constitute emerging talent that represent the future of research in aviation, and the future of the industry itself. 

As a Human Factors specialist in aviation psychology and transport safety, my interest in aviation safety began long before my PhD. I have been studying aviation from day one of my academic journey, and it was through this continuous immersion in the field that I grew my passion and expertise. During my undergraduate studies, I found myself increasingly fascinated by one simple question: why do aviation incidents and accidents occur? That curiosity soon expanded into a broader one, which was how we can make everyday interactions with the environment safer and more intuitive for the people using it. This line of thinking eventually led me to pursue a PhD at UNSW Aviation, guided by amazing supervisors whose expertise and research interests aligned perfectly with my own.

My doctoral research, A human-centric approach to understanding the contributing factors of pilot-related runway incursions, examined pilot ATC communication, situational awareness, and human performance in safety-critical environments. What began as a broad interest evolved into a multi-study investigation involving a systematic review, an epidemiological analysis, in-depth interviews, and a simulator experiment. Like many PhD students, I entered the program imagining a steady research rhythm, only to quickly discover that participant recruitment is an extreme sport in itself. I became very creative and very online in trying to reach the aviation community. And in the process, I realised that flexibility and creative problem solving are just as essential to research as the questions we ask.

Throughout the PhD, I grew into a more critical and independent thinker. I learned the importance of planning ahead, staying objective, and holding onto hope, especially during moments when deadlines piled up and my final experiment seemed determined to test my resilience more than the pilots. Support from my supervisors, peers, and friends made all the difference.

Alongside my academic work, I gained industry experience applying Human Factors principles in the rail sector, which strengthened my passion for user-centred safety. Outside research, I recharge by reading books, binge watching dramas, and listening to music, which is my ideal routine as a fully certified introvert.

Finishing the PhD was an incredible feeling. Most of all, this journey has shown me the value of turning research into real-world change, and I hope to continue contributing to work that strengthens safety, clarity, and confidence in the systems people rely on every day. Looking ahead, I hope to continue contributing to research and practice that makes those interactions safer, clearer, and more human-centred.