You are here

Human Factors in Medical Devices and Systems

Human Factors Engineering is the study of the interaction of humans with technology. Short on time? A four-course certificate program offers foundational courses in the theory and methods of your area of interest. 

A hand turns an OXYGEN knob on a board
  • Degree Offerings
  • Faculty
  • Application Requirements
  • Contact the Department

Apply Now

Request Information

Questions about your application?

Contact us:

Office of Graduate Admissions
Bendetson Hall
Medford, MA 02155
(617) 627-3395
gradadmissions@tufts.edu

Human Factors in Medical Devices and Systems (Certificate)

In this certificate program, students will develop knowledge and skills to meet the increasing demand for trained professionals in the field of human factors engineering, who work on the design and evaluation of health and medical systems and technology.

Recognizing the medical error "epidemic," the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) now requires the manufacturers to Class II and III devices to apply HFE through the device development process and validate that representative users can operate them safely. 

This 4-course certificate helps prepare you to: 

- Make medical technology safe, effective, usable, and satisfying for clinicians and patients 

- Improve the quality of healthcare 

- Prevent injuries and deaths due to medical error

Program Highlights:

- 2 required courses in Medical Fundamentals and Human Factors in Medical Technology

- 2 elective courses chosen from various departments including mechanical engineering, psychology, computer science, occupational therapy, and more.

- Mentorship from professors at the top of their fields

- Collaborative research that crosses disciplines

Faculty

Michael Wiklund
Professor of the Practice; General Manager, UL-Wiklund
M.S. , Tufts University
Human Factors Engineering
Daniel J. Hannon
Professor of the Practice
Ph.D. , Brown University
Human Factors, Airspace Systems
James Intriligator - Professor of the Practice
James Intriligator
Professor of the Practice
Ph.D. , Harvard University
Human Factors Engineering
Gary G. Leisk
Associate Teaching Professor
Ph.D. , Tufts University
Machine Design, Non-Destructive Testing
Chris B. Rogers
Department Chair and Professor
Ph.D. , Stanford University
Robotics, Musical Instrument Design, Engineering Education
Behrouz Abedian
Associate Professor
Ph.D. , Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Fluid Mechanics, Electrokinetics, Thermal-Fluid Systems
Luisa Chiesa
Associate Professor
Ph.D. , Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Sustainable Energy, Superconducting Materials
Jeffrey S. Guasto
Assistant Professor
Ph.D. , Brown University, Engineering
Biophysics and Soft Matter, Cell Biomechanics and Sensing, Micro-Scale Fluid Mechanics and Transport Phenomena, Microfluidic Devices
Marc Hodes
Professor
Ph.D. , Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Heat Transfer, Apparent Slip, Thermal Management of Electronics, Mass Transfer in Supercritical Fluids and Thermoelectricity
Mark Kachanov
Professor
Ph.D. , Brown University
Fracture Mechanics, Micromechanics of Materials
Erica M. Kemmerling
Assistant Teaching Professor
Ph.D. , Stanford University
Medical Engineering, Fluid Mechanics
Vincent Manno - Adjunct Professor, Provost and Dean of Faculty
Vincent Manno
Adjunct Professor, Provost and Dean of Faculty
Sc.D , Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Thermal-fluid phenomena, Power generation systems
Douglas M. Matson
Associate Professor
Ph.D. , Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Solidification Processes, Thermal Manufacturing, Machine Design
Pratap Misra
Professor of the Practice
Ph.D. , University of California, San Diego
GPS, Emerging Satellite Navigation Systems
Dean Jianmin Qu
Jianmin Qu
Dean and Karol Family Professor
Ph.D. , Northwestern University
Micromechanics of composites, interfacial fracture and adhesion, fatigue and creep damage in solder alloys, thermomechanical reliability of microelectronic packaging, defects and transport in solids with applications to solid oxide fuel cells and batteries, and ultrasonic nondestructive evaluation of advanced engineering materials
Jason Rife
Associate Professor
Ph.D. , Stanford University
Navigation, Robotics, Controls
Anil Saigal
Professor
Ph.D. , Georgia Institute of Technology
Materials Engineering, Manufacturing Processes, Quality Control
Jivko Sinapov
Jivko Sinapov
James Schmolze Assistant Professor
Ph.D. , Iowa State
Developmental robotics, computational perception, artificial intelligence, machine learning
Deborah Sunter - Visiting Assistant Professor
Deborah Sunter
Assistant Professor
computational modeling, energy policy, design
Holly Taylor - Professor
Holly A. Taylor
Professor
Ph.D. , Stanford University
Spatial Cognition, Language, Memory
Thomas Vandervelde
Associate Professor and Program Director
Ph.D. , University of Virginia
The Interaction of Light with Matter, Physics of Nanostructures and Interfaces, Semiconductor Photonics and Electronics, Epitaxial Crystal Growth, Special Interest in the Area of Materials and Devices for Energy and Infrared Applications
Kristen Bethke Wendell - Assistant Professor
Kristen Bethke Wendell
Associate Professor
Ph.D. , Tufts University
Engineering Education, Design Practices, Learning Sciences
Robert D. White
Associate Professor
Ph.D. , University of Michigan
Micro- and Nano- electromechanical systems (MEMS/NEMS), Sensors, Dynamic System Modeling, Acoustics, Vibrations
Michael Zimmerman
Professor of the Practice
Ph.D. , University of Pennsylvania
Novel Polymer Electrolytes for Batteries, Liquid Crystal Polymers, Composite Materials

Application Deadline:

Spring: September 15 (international applicants) and December 31 (domestic applicants)
Fall: June 1 (international applicants) and August 1 (domestic applicants)

Application Requirements:

> Application Fee
> Resume/CV
> Personal Statement
> Official TOEFL or IELTS, if applicable
> Transcripts
> One Letter of Recommendation

For questions about this program, including scholarships and assistantships, please contact the Department of Mechanical Engineering.

Department of Mechanical Engineering
Science & Engineering Complex
Robinson Hall, Room 150
School of Engineering
Tufts University
200 College Avenue
Medford, MA 02155
Office: 617-627-3239
Department email