Welcome to the MINDxAI Lab!
The Modeling Interaction, cogNition, and Decision-making by Artificial Intelligence (MINDxAI) Lab is directed by Dr. Yunmei Liu, Assistant Professor in the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering at the University of Louisville. The lab develops human-centered AI and adaptive systems that improve how people interact with complex human-in-the-loop systems.
We model human cognitive, emotional, physiological, and behavioral states through experiments, wearable sensing, simulation, machine learning, and multimodal data analysis. Our research spans transportation and automated driving, smart manufacturing and workforce development, rehabilitation robotics and assistive technologies, and healthcare and biomedical AI.
Now recruiting
One fully funded Ph.D. opening for 2027
Start in Spring, Summer, or Fall 2027. View position details and application instructions →
Research Areas
Transportation & Automated Driving
Understanding driver states and behavior to support adaptive automation, safer mixed traffic, and driver education.
Human–AI/
Understanding human collaboration with AI, autonomous systems, and robots to support performance, learning, and user control.
Smart Manufacturing
Exploring human-centered applications of AI and virtual reality in manufacturing workflows and interaction with intelligent systems.
Education & Workforce Development
Advancing education, training, and workforce development through AI-supported learning and simulation across levels of expertise.
Rehabilitation Robotics & Assistive Technologies
Designing and evaluating intuitive prosthetic interfaces and training technologies that support human movement and rehabilitation.
Healthcare & Biomedical AI
Applying AI and human-centered research to biomedical signal modeling, neurological assessment, and patient-provider communication.
News
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Dr. Yunmei Liu Leads Human-Centered Evaluation of EMG-Based Prosthetic Control
A first-author study compares EMG-based prosthetic control modes through user performance, cognitive workload, and usability, informing human-centered prosthetic design.
Dr. Yunmei Liu Leads Study Connecting Driver Workload and Situation Awareness to Intersection Design
A first-author driving-simulator study links driver workload, situation awareness, and vehicle-control behavior to grade-separated intersection and signage design.
Dr. Yunmei Liu Co-Authors Study on UAV Interface Design for Managing Cognitive Workload
A collaborative study shows how interface designs guided by the Modified GEDIS-UAV tool can help manage operator cognitive workload, informing human-centered UAV interface development.
Henry County Teachers Explore Physiological Sensing through NSF RET Mentorship
Dr. Yunmei Liu mentored Henry County High School teachers Jessica Elliott and Steven Martell on a fatigue-monitoring project through the NSF RET Site in Manufacturing Simulation and Automation.
Dr. Yunmei Liu Mentors Undergraduate Research through the 2024 NSF REU Program
Dr. Yunmei Liu mentored UofL computer science undergraduate Emily Montgomery through the 2024 NSF REU Site in Advanced Manufacturing and Supply Chain, supporting Python-based EMG analysis and research communication.
Dr. Yunmei Liu Appointed Associate Editor of IEEE Transactions on Human-Machine Systems
Dr. Yunmei Liu was appointed Associate Editor of IEEE Transactions on Human-Machine Systems (THMS), contributing to the journal's peer-review and editorial process.
Dr. Yunmei Liu Serves as Associate Chair for the AutoUI 2024 Full Papers Track
Dr. Yunmei Liu served as an Associate Chair for the AutoUI 2024 Full Papers Track, coordinating external reviews and contributing reviews and meta-reviews to the conference's paper selection process.
Dr. Yunmei Liu Serves on the RISE Curriculum Development Committee
Dr. Yunmei Liu represented Industrial Engineering on the RISE curriculum development committee during the 2024–2025 academic year, contributing course inventories and exploring interdisciplinary pathways for a proposed undergraduate minor and graduate certificate.
MINDxAI Lab Brings Hands-On Driving Safety to the 2025 ISE Summer Camp
MINDxAI Lab hosted 19 high school students for a hands-on driving simulator session at the ISE Summer Camp, exploring distracted driving, wearable sensors, and AI through four interactive roles.
Dr. Yunmei Liu Serves on Department Chair Review Committee
Dr. Yunmei Liu served on the Department Chair Review Committee for Industrial and Systems Engineering, contributing to faculty input and the University of Louisville's departmental leadership review process.
Dr. Yunmei Liu Receives the NSF Award as Lead PI
Dr. Yunmei Liu received the National Science Foundation award as Lead PI for a three-year, $600,000 collaborative project on cognitive-emotional state assessment and adaptive automation for advanced driving systems.
Dr. Yunmei Liu Serves as Session Chair at ASPIRE HFES 2025
Dr. Yunmei Liu served as Session Chair for A1: Bridging Aging and Technology: HRI and VR Applications at ASPIRE HFES 2025, supporting research exchange on aging, human-robot interaction, and accessible virtual reality.
MINDxAI Lab Presents Across Transportation and Healthcare Tracks at ASPIRE HFES 2025
MINDxAI Lab presented one lecture and two posters at ASPIRE HFES 2025 across the Surface Transportation and Healthcare tracks.
MINDxAI Lab Shares First NSF EDSE Project Paper at AHFE 2025
MINDxAI Lab presented the first paper from its NSF EDSE project at the Applied Human Factors and Ergonomics International Conference 2025.
Dr. Yunmei Liu Advances Quantitative Modeling of Automation and Situation Awareness
A first-author Ergonomics paper introduces a continuous measure of automation proportion and a mathematical situation-awareness response model to inform human–automation system design.
Dr. Yunmei Liu Leads Study on Virtual Reality for Prosthetic Control Evaluation
A first-author paper by Dr. Yunmei Liu evaluates virtual reality as a platform for comparing prosthetic control modes and informing early-stage design.
MINDxAI Lab Presents Two Posters at TRB Annual Meeting 2026
MINDxAI Lab research on human factors, autonomous driving, and transportation safety was featured in two poster presentations at the Transportation Research Board Annual Meeting 2026.
Dr. Yunmei Liu Co-Authors Study on Driver Behavior at Alternative Intersections
An NCDOT-supported collaboration with ITRE examines driver behavior along alternative intersection corridors to inform safer, more effective roadway design.
Ignite Institute Campus Visit Brings High School Students into the MINDxAI Lab
During Ignite Institute's February 26 campus visit, Dr. Yunmei Liu and Udit Kumar Das welcomed small groups of high school students for driving simulator demonstrations in the MINDxAI Lab.
Our Master’s Student Udit Kumar Das Receives Graduate Student Council Research Grant
UUdit Kumar Das received a $750 research grant from the University of Louisville Graduate Student Council to support his master’s thesis research on novice drivers under aggressive driving conditions.
Our Collaborative Research on Human–Autonomy Teaming Presented at the NSF M3X PI Meeting
Dr. Yunmei Liu was invited to attend the NSF M3X PI Meeting, where the MINDxAI Lab shared collaborative work on human-autonomy teaming with Oregon State University and the University of Florida.
Our Ph.D. Student Yan Chen Wins Third Place at the UofL ISE Research & Innovation Competition
The MINDxAI Lab’s NeuroCanvas project, led by Yan Chen, received Third Place at the University of Louisville Department of Industrial & Systems Engineering Research & Innovation Competition - Spring 2026.
Dr. Yunmei Liu Receives Internal Jon Rieger Seed Grant as PI
Dr. Yunmei Liu received an internal Jon Rieger Seed Grant at the University of Louisville to support the MINDxAI Lab's Transportation and Automated Driving research on aggressive driving in mixed human-AV traffic.
MINDxAI Lab Presents Ongoing Research at the NSF EPSCoR Midwest Summit
Dr. Yunmei Liu presented the MINDxAI Lab's ongoing research at the NSF EPSCoR Midwest Summit and exchanged ideas with NSF program directors, awardees, and faculty members.
MINDxAI Lab Brings Driving Simulation to the 2026 One-Day ISE Summer Camp
A morning in the MINDxAI Lab driving simulator was part of a full day of engineering exploration for high school students, spanning human–AI interaction, logistics, and research lab visits.
Driving Simulation on Day One of the 2026 Design Thinkers Camp
Moajjem Hossain Chowdhury and Udit Kumar Das welcomed two student groups to the driving simulator on the opening morning of the July 7–8 Design Thinkers Camp, with lab participation coordinated by Dr. Yunmei Liu.
Dr. Yunmei Liu Receives NSF FINDERS FOUNDRY Planning Award as PI
The MINDxAI Lab received an NSF FINDERS FOUNDRY Planning Award to develop an AI-enabled virtual reality learning experience for high school manufacturing education.
MINDxAI Lab’s Student-Led JMIR Review Integrates Patient-Provider Communication Barriers
Led by PhD student Moajjem Hossain Chowdhury, a scoping review of 253 empirical studies integrates four types of communication barriers to inform future healthcare interventions and adaptive support.
Dr. Yunmei Liu Receives NSF REU Supplement for EDSE Project
Dr. Yunmei Liu received an NSF Research Experiences for Undergraduates supplement to support one undergraduate researcher in the MINDxAI Lab’s ongoing CMMI project on cognitive-emotional state assessment for advanced driving systems.
Dr. Yunmei Liu Receives NHTSA Grant from KYTC as PI
Dr. Yunmei Liu received a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) grant from Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) for a one-year University of Louisville teen driver safety education project, with Robert Kluger serving as Co-PI.
Udit Kumar Das Successfully Defends His Master's Thesis
Udit Kumar Das successfully defended his master's thesis in Industrial and Systems Engineering and will continue his research with the MINDxAI Lab as a Ph.D. student.
MINDxAI Lab Welcomes Two New Ph.D. Students
The MINDxAI Lab welcomes new Ph.D. students Qunli Liu and Udit Kumar Das and looks forward to their contributions in the new academic year.
Dr. Yunmei Liu Delivers Invited Seminar for the HFES Surface Transportation Technical Group
Dr. Yunmei Liu delivered an invited seminar for HFES STTG on human responses in mixed traffic, highlighting research on automation, surrounding automated-vehicle behavior, and human internal states.
Dr. Yunmei Liu Receives Student Champion Recognition
Dr. Yunmei Liu received the University of Louisville Student Champion recognition for exceptional support of student success.
Dr. Yunmei Liu Co-Authors Study on Cognitive Workload in Procedural Tasks
Dr. Yunmei Liu co-authors a Human Factors study examining how task disruptions and time pressure shape cognitive workload over time.
Multilevel Mediation Analysis Quantifies Workload and Emotion Pathways to Supervision Performance
A new MINDxAI Lab paper quantifies the direct and statistical mediation pathways from task demands through workload and emotion to supervision performance.