Nikol Figalová

I am a neuroergonomic researcher
focusing on human-machine interaction.

Department of Human Factors
Ulm University, Germany

ABOUT ME

Hi! My name is Nikol and I come from the Czech Republic. I am a research assistant and a PhD candidate at Ulm University in southern Germany.

I have a MSc degree in Psychology. I study human-machine interaction, currently focusing the interactions between drivers and automated vehicles. I am interested in neuroergonomics, human factors, and cognitive psychology.

My research is highly interdisciplinary and utilizes psychophysiological measures such as EEG, ECG, and eye-tracking, together with behavioural and self-reported measures.

I have outstanding experience with quantitative and qualitative research methods, advanced data analysis, signal processing, project management, and leadership of small teams. I have excellent communication and presentation skills, and plenty of soft skills originating from years of hands-on experience in international interdisciplinary research. .

My goal is to understand the cognitive processes underlying the human-machine interaction, and therefore contribute to the design of safe, user-centred, and efficient technological systems.

I love to take long walks with my dog.

PUBLICATIONS

Journal papers

Conference papers

Posters

Preprints

RESUME

2023 – present

Research Assistant
Department of Human Factors, Faculty of Engineering, Computer Science and Psychology, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
My research focuses on the cognitive states and processes underlying the interaction between humans and automated vehicles.

2020 – 2023

PhD Candidate
Deptartment of Clinical and Health Psychology, Faculty of Engineering, Computer Science and Psychology, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
My position was part of the SHAPE-IT Marie Skłodowska-Curie Innovative Training Networks project funded by the Horizon 2020. My goal was to use neuroergonomic methods to deepen the understanding of the neural substrates of the driver-vehicle interaction.

2022 (June to September)

Intern
Robert Bosch GmbH, Department of Software Engineering & User Experience, Stuttgart, Germany
During my internship, I designed and conducted an EEG experiment on a test-track using a prototype automated vehicle.

2022 (January to March)

Visiting Researcher
Leibniz Research Centre for Working Environment and Human Factors (IfADo), Dortmund, Germany
As a visiting researcher, I established future collaboration with colleagues from IfADo. My stay was targeted to deepen my experimental design skills, signal processing, and quantitative data analysis.

2019 – 2020

Junior Research Assistant
Voice, Emotion & Speech Neuroscience Lab, Faculty of Psychology, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal
I worked as an assistant for several EEG studies focusing on emotional processing.

2017 – 2020

Research Assistant
Olomouc University Social Health Institute, Olomouc, Czech Republic; in collaboration with Oxford University’s Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, Oxford, United Kingdom
I was part of the project Health Talk, which aims to provide balanced and accurate information, peer experience, and psychosocial support to people diagnosed with an illness. My tasks included transcription and proofreading of interviews, qualitative data analysis (One Sheet of Paper method), and copywriting texts for the website.

2016 – 2019

Master’s Degree in General Psychology
Deptartment of Psychology, Palacký University, Olomouc, Czech Republic
Master thesis: Translation and psychometric properties of the Czech version of the Perceived Stress Scale

2017 – 2018

Erasmus + Study Abroad
Faculty of Psychology, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal

2013 – 2016

Bachelor’s Degree in General Psychology
Deptartment of Psychology, Palacký University, Olomouc, Czech Republic
Bachelor thesis: Stress and health in demanding occupation

CONTACT

If you wish to contact me, please send me an email.
I will get back to you as soon as possible.