# Occupational Ergonomics and Safety Training

> **NIH ALLCDC T03** · VIRGINIA POLYTECHNIC INST AND ST UNIV · 2024 · $139,623

## Abstract

Project Summary
This application is to continue the successful NIOSH TPG at Virginia Tech. Our aims are to provide a high-
quality education to trainees, to train them in conducting effective basic and/or applied research, and to provide
service to our profession, to industry, and to society. A key goal of our program is to support the NIOSH goal
of supplying qualified professionals for careers that address occupational safety and health (OSH) through
both research and practice. Our program emphasizes three aspects of OSH at the MS (thesis) and PhD
levels: safety engineering, occupational ergonomics, and occupational biomechanics. This renewal
application seeks program support for five years, and is budgeted to support two full-time, pre-doctoral
trainees. We target a mix of trainees at the MS and PhD levels.
 The need for training in these areas is justified in several ways, primarily by the continuing levels of
occupational accidents, injuries, and illnesses; substantial program interest; educational needs in
contemporary OSH positions; and the national need for trained researchers and practitioners in these areas.
Our program is characterized by a dual emphasis on breadth of trainee experience and the requirement for
specialization. TPG funds allow us to maintain this emphasis, as well as attract and retain outstanding
trainees.
 A broad, yet cohesive group of faculty and staff support the program, and who are in multiple departments
and colleges at VT. Training is achieved through a combination of formal coursework, faculty advising,
research, and more general exposure through seminars and interdisciplinary interactions. Core sets of
courses exist at both the MS and PhD levels, and each trainee conducts a formal research project. Several
mechanisms will be used to evaluate and improve the program, including an external advisory committee and
trainee feedback, and a plan for diversity enhancement, enrollment, and retention that is aligned with the
University and Department Strategic Plans for Diversity.
 Candidates for our program are MS or PhD students accepted within the Industrial and Systems
Engineering Department. Prospective trainees are also actively recruited through several means. Our
program overall has been quite successful during the prior period, based on the number of graduates, the high
proportion of graduates continuing in the OSH field, faculty and student scholarly output and awards, and the
continuing high number of applications received.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10850519
- **Project number:** 5T03OH008613-20
- **Recipient organization:** VIRGINIA POLYTECHNIC INST AND ST UNIV
- **Principal Investigator:** Maury A Nussbaum
- **Activity code:** T03 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** ALLCDC
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $139,623
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2021-07-01 → 2026-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10850519

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10850519, Occupational Ergonomics and Safety Training (5T03OH008613-20). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-26 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10850519. Licensed CC0.

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