Yanik Sterchi

Prof. Dr. Yanik Sterchi is a Professor at the School of Applied Psychology of the University of Applied Sciences Northwestern Switzerland (FHNW). He is affiliated with the Institute for Humans in Complex Systems, where he conducts research at the intersection of psychology, data science, and security technology.

His educational background includes:

• Doctorate in Psychology from the University of Basel (2015-2019), with a research focus on human-machine interaction
• Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Psychology from the University of Zurich (2007-2013), specializing in social, organizational, and business psychology with a minor in economics

Sterchi's research primarily focuses on human factors in security contexts, particularly airport security screening. His work examines how humans interact with technology in complex systems, with special attention to:

• Psychology and Data Science applications in security contexts
• Human-AI interaction and collaboration
• Computer-aided performance measurement
• Technology acceptance and evaluation
• Airport security processes and optimization

His publication record shows a strong emphasis on X-ray baggage screening performance, examining factors such as work environment (remote vs. local screening), time on task effects, night work impacts on cognitive performance, and human factors in semi-automated security systems. His research often takes a field-based approach, working directly with airport security personnel to understand real-world performance challenges.

Sterchi has been a Research Associate at the Institute for Humans in Complex Systems since April 2014, building on prior experience at the Institute for Work Research and Organizational Consulting in Zurich and the Institute for Empirical Economic Research at the University of Zurich.

His current work appears to be increasingly focused on the integration of artificial intelligence in airport security contexts, examining both the technical capabilities and the human factors implications of these emerging technologies.