Two New Centers Formed at Liberty Mutual Research Institute

Two new centers have been formed at the Liberty Mutual Research Institute for Safety with two top scientists hired as their directors. Dr. Nils Fallentin is director of the new Center for Physical Ergonomics, while Dr. Marvin Dainoff is director of the Center for Behavioral Sciences, the company announced Aug. 13.

"To position the Research Institute to address emerging needs in occupational injury prevention, we have reorganized our efforts into four research centers," said Dr. Ian Noy, director of the institute, which is located in Hopkinton, Mass. "Together with the two existing Centers for Epidemiology and Disability Research, these two new centers will enhance our research capability and impact. While our mission remains the same, Nils and Marvin will play a critical role in developing new capacity and programs that will take us into the future."

Liberty Mutual's release says Fallentin and his team will explore new approaches to understanding physiological and biomechanical mechanisms of injuries, expanding the institute's understanding of workplace exposures such as manual materials handling and slips, trips, and falls. Fallentin joined from the National Research Centre for the Working Environment in Copenhagen, Denmark; he has an M.Sc. from the Department of Exercise and Sports Sciences and a Ph.D. in Human Physiology from the August Krogh Institute, both located at the University of Copenhagen.

Dainoff's group will direct research focusing on the behavioral, cognitive, and organizational factors underlying workplace injuries and highway collisions. Dainoff had been a psychology professor at Miami University, Ohio, where he was also founding director of the Center for Ergonomic Research and professor emeritus. He has a Ph.D. in psychology from the University of Rochester. Dainoff is a past president of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society and is a director on the Board of Certification in Professional Ergonomics.

"Nils has impressive credentials, both in terms of technical depth and management experience, and Marvin brings high-level perspectives in systems science, human-systems integration, cognitive engineering, and macroergonomics," said Noy. "The experience and energy they bring to the Research Institute will complement and strengthen our research. We look forward to working with them to bolster our research program."

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