Karen M Feigh

Karen M Feigh is a Professor and Associate Chair for Research in the Daniel Guggenheim School of Aerospace Engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology, holding the prestigious David S. Lewis Professorship. Her interdisciplinary work integrates aerospace engineering with cognitive sciences to address human-machine interaction challenges in complex aviation and autonomy systems.

Education

• B.S. in Aerospace Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology
• MPhil in Aeronautics, Cranfield University, UK
• Ph.D. in Industrial and Systems Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology

Dr. Feigh's research centers on cognitive engineering applications for flight operations and air traffic management. Through ethnographic studies, human-in-the-loop experiments, and expert system design, she develops solutions that align technology with human cognitive processes to enhance safety and efficiency in NextGen air traffic concepts, vertical lift systems, and autonomous vehicle operations.

Scientific Awards

• David S. Lewis Professorship in the School of Aerospace Engineering (2025)
• AIAA Wilbur and Orville Wright Graduate Award (2006)
• Zonta International Amelia Earhart Fellowship (2005)
• National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship (2001-2006)
• Marshall Scholarship (2001-2003)

As director of the Cognitive Engineering Center (CEC), Dr. Feigh mentors graduate researchers and leads interdisciplinary collaborations across Georgia Tech's research ecosystem. The CEC, embedded within the Vertical Lift Research Center of Excellence and Institute for Robotics and Intelligent Machines, secures funding from agencies including NSF and AIAA to advance adaptive intelligence for industrial robotics and air traffic control systems.

Laboratories and Collaborations

The Cognitive Engineering Center under Dr. Feigh's leadership conducts field work, human-subjects studies, and mathematical modeling to solve human-machine interaction challenges. The lab maintains active partnerships with NASA, FAA, and industry stakeholders to implement research findings in real-world aerospace operations, with current focus on adaptive interfaces for autonomous systems and crew decision support tools.