Paulo Noriega

Paulo Noriega is an Assistant Professor at Universidade de Lisboa's Faculdade de Arquitectura, where he researches human-environment interactions through virtual reality. As Vice-Director of ergoUX Lab, he leads studies in cognitive ergonomics, emotional design, and safety systems. His affiliations include:

• Research Centre for Architecture, Urbanism and Design (CIAUD)
• Interactive Technologies Institute
• UNIDCOM/IADE
• ADUUX (Association of Development of Usability and UX)

His research examines how environmental variables influence behavior across three levels: perceptual responses to stimuli like light/color, decision-making in architectural spaces, and emotional engagement. Current projects include FEELS (VR study of home office ergonomics) and VR applications for building safety design.

Noriega's 130+ publications demonstrate consistent focus on VR methodologies applied to evacuation behaviors, automotive interfaces, and cultural heritage. Recent work explores multimodal alarms in emergencies (2025), non-anthropomorphic AI agents (2026), and tangible interfaces in vehicles (2024). Key trends include human factors in safety-critical systems, affective computing, and cross-cultural UX evaluation.

He teaches extensively in Design programs, covering cognitive ergonomics, emotional design, and neuroscience applications. As supervisor, he has guided multiple master's and PhD theses in Design and Ergonomics. His funded research includes 9 grants from Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, focusing on VR's role in safety systems and environmental interaction studies.

At ergoUX Lab, Noriega's team develops VR protocols for evaluating architectural spaces, emergency responses, and user experiences. The lab's multidisciplinary approach integrates psychophysics, biosensors, and behavioral analysis to advance human-centered design.