Hayden Radel: Exploring the Impacts of the Winter Weather on Driving Behavior and Driver State, Driving Simulator Study

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In this project, Hayden used virtual reality simulations to assess the causes of anxiety in young drivers. Here is what Hayden had to say about the experience:

What I Did:

"I worked on ongoing research projects in TRAVL, which is a lab at UB that studies transportation systems - roads and the cars driving on them - through computer simulations, data processing, and virtual reality simulations. I worked as a research assistant for the project titled "Why Are Young Drivers So Anxious Behind the Wheel? Uncovering the Hidden Causes and Impact on Driving Skills." This was my first research experience! This project has helped me see myself as a researcher. Before this project, I had completed multiple lab courses at UB and in high school, but I never saw myself as a researcher and I felt so far off from the people doing "real" research. This made the idea of making a big impact on the research field feel outlandish and almost impossible. Yet, I can now look back and see that I helped facilitate research and made a contribution to a lab."

What I Learned:

"As a studying civil engineer, learning and applying practical skills are critically important. I developed problem-solving, career development, and teamwork skills over the course of this project. I worked closely with grad students, undergrad students, and faculty. This was a very new experience for me and I through weekly lab meetings, I saw how important clear communication was to development. This has helped me grow into a better candidate for internships and future career opportunities."