Dr. Nikol Figalová
I am an interdisciplinary researcher
focusing on experimental psychology
and mixed-methods approaches.
ABOUT ME
Hi! My name is Nikol and I come from the Czech Republic. I am a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Würzburg (Psychology III) and I hold a PhD degree (Dr. phil.) in neuroergonomics from Ulm University. My academic path is interdisciplinary, spanning experimental psychology, cognitive science, neuroergonomics, and human–computer interaction.
In my PhD, I focused on human–machine interaction in automated driving, investigating how automation affects mental workload and fatigue in driver–vehicle interaction. From 2020, I worked as an MSCA ITN Early Stage Researcher in SHAPE-IT (Supporting the interaction of Humans and Automated vehicles: Preparing for the Environment of Tomorrow), an EU-funded Innovative Training Network under Horizon 2020.
Today, my research is centred more broadly on experimental psychology, with a strong interest in social cognition and the semantics of gaze in social interaction. Methodologically, I combine behavioural and self-report measures with psychophysiology, particularly eye-tracking and EEG (including event-related potentials, ERPs)—and I enjoy translating complex signals into clear, interpretable insights about human cognition and behaviour.
I have extensive experience with quantitative and mixed-methods approaches, experimental design, psychometrics, advanced data analysis, and signal processing, as well as project management and leading small teams in international, interdisciplinary settings.
My goal is to understand the cognitive mechanisms underlying interaction—between people, and between people and technology—and to contribute to safe, human-centred, and effective systems.
I love to take long walks with my dog.
PUBLICATIONS
Journal papers
- Figalová, N. (2024). From driver to supervisor: Cognitive implications of increasing vehicle automation (Doctoral dissertation, Ulm University). https://doi.org/10.18725/OPARU-53154
- Figalová, N., Bieg, H.-J., Reiser, J. E., Liu, Y.-C., Baumann, M., Chuang, L. L., & Pollatos, O. (2024). From driver to supervisor: Comparing cognitive load and EEG-based attentional resource allocation across automation levels. International Journal of Human-Computer Studies, 182, 103169. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhcs.2023.103169
Open pdf - Figalová, N., Chuang, L. L., Pichen, J., Baumann, M., & Pollatos, O. (2022). Ambient light conveying reliability improves drivers’ takeover performance without increasing mental workload. Multimodal Technologies and Interaction, 6(9), Article 73. https://doi.org/10.3390/mti6090073
Open pdf - Liu, Y.-C., Figalová, N., & Bengler, K. (2022). Transparency assessment on level 2 automated vehicle HMIs. Information, 13(10), Article 489. https://doi.org/10.3390/info13100489
Open pdf - Figalová, N., & Charvát, M. (2021). The perceived stress scale: Reliability and validity study in the Czech Republic. Československá Psychologie, 65(1), 46–59. https://doi.org/10.51561/cspsych.65.1.46
Open pdf
Conference papers
- Figalová, N., Pichen, J., Chandrayan, V., Pollatos, O., Chuang, L. L., & Baumann, M. (2023). Manipulating drivers’ mental workload: Neuroergonomic evaluation of the speed regulation n-back task using NASA-TLX and auditory P3a. In Adjunct Proceedings of the 15th International Conference on Automotive User Interfaces and Interactive Vehicular Applications (pp. 145–149). Association for Computing Machinery. https://doi.org/10.1145/3581961.3609887
Open pdf - Figalová, N., Bieg, H.-J., Schulz, M., Pichen, J., Baumann, M., Chuang, L. L., & Pollatos, O. (2023). Fatigue and mental underload further pronounced in L3 conditionally automated driving: Results from an EEG experiment on a test track. In Companion proceedings of the 28th International conference on intelligent user interfaces (pp. 64–67). Association for Computing Machinery. https://doi.org/10.1145/3581754.3584133
Open pdf - Liu, Y.-C., Figalová, N., Baumann, M., & Bengler, K. (2023). Human-machine interface evaluation using EEG in driving simulator. In 2023 IEEE Intelligent Vehicles Symposium (IV) (pp. 1–6). IEEE. https://doi.org/10.1109/IV55152.2023.10186567
Open pdf - Pichen, J., Figalová, N., & Baumann, M. (2023). Safe decision or collision? Using natural habituated interfaces to increase traffic safety. In 2023 IEEE Intelligent Vehicles Symposium (IV) (pp. 1–8). IEEE. https://doi.org/10.1109/IV55152.2023.10186568
Open pdf - Pichen, J., Figalová, N., & Baumann, M. (2023). Can’t take my eyes off you: Increasing task involvement in cooperative driving with natural habituated interfaces. In 2023 IEEE 26th International Conference on Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITSC) (pp. 1765-1772). IEEE. https://doi.org/10.1109/ITSC57777.2023.10422661
- Liu, Y.-C., Figalová, N., Pichen, J., Hock, P., Baumann, M., & Bengler, K. (2023). Workload assessment of human-machine interface: A simulator study with psychophysiological measures. Human Systems Engineering and Design (IHSED 2023): Future Trends and Applications, 112, 546–555. https://doi.org/10.54941/ahfe1004172
Pdf available soon - Figalová, N., Pichen, J., Chuang, L. L., Baumann, M., & Pollatos, O. (2022). System immersion of a driving simulator affects the oscillatory brain activity. In Neuroergonomics and cognitive engineering (Vol. 42, pp. 113–121). AHFE Open Access. https://doi.org/10.54941/ahfe1001825
Open pdf - Pichen, J., Figalová, N., & Baumann, M. (2022). Should I stay or should I go? Using a cooperative sneak peek interface in highly automated vehicles. Human Factors and Systems Interaction. https://doi.org/10.54941/ahfe1002164
Open pdf - Figalová, N., Delp, A. L., Nick, A., Chuang, L. L., Baumann, M., & Pollatos, O. (2021). Alpha and theta power in repeated take-over requests. 3rd Neuroergonomics conference. Munich, Germany. Available from https://neuroergonomicsconference.um.ifi.lmu.de/wp-content/uploads/submissions/197.pdf
Open pdf
Posters
- Figalová, N. & Bieg, H. J. (2022). How drivers allocate their attentional resources when operating an automated and manual vehicle: An EEG experiment. Project RUMBA Mid term meeting. Renningen, Germany.
Open poster - Pichen, J., Figalová, N., Pollatos, O., & Baumann, M. (2022). Increasing situation awareness through cooperative driving (poster). 7th International conference on traffic and transport psychology. Gothenburg, Sweeden.
Preprints
- Figalová, N., Silva, J., & Charvat, M. (2021). Psychometric Properties of the Perceived Stress Scale in an Adult Psychiatric Inpatient Sample. https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.26733.51685
Open pdf
RESUME
since 2026
Postdoctoral Researcher
Institute of Psychology, JMU Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
My research is part of the DFG Priority Programme UGaze (Understanding Gaze). The goal is to understand the semantics of gaze in social interaction by designing and conducting naturalistic experiments that capture gaze behaviour in ecologically valid social contexts.
2023 – 2024
Research Assistant
Department of Human Factors, Faculty of Engineering, Computer Science and Psychology, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
My research focused 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.