People in high-risk industries depend on clear thinking, sound judgment, and reliable systems. Those working in these environments like health care and emergency services face heavy workloads, complex decisions, and new technologies that are changing how work gets done. As tools like artificial intelligence become more common in professional settings, researchers are working to better understand how people interact with these systems and how factors such as stress, fatigue, and trust influence outcomes.
Dr. Avishek Choudhury, Assistant Professor and lead of the online Occupational Safety and Health, Ph.D. program at the Department of Industrial and Management Systems Engineering in the Benjamin M. Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources, has a reputation for collaboration and supporting his students’ occupational safety and health research.
Working closely with his doctoral students, Choudhury’s research explores questions of trust, fatigue, and safety across fields including health care, emergency medical services, and law enforcement. The following recent publications highlight that work and the collaborative research being produced within his lab.
AI in the Clinic: Integrating AI Responsibly in Occupational Health Care
Co-authored with doctoral student Zaira Chaudhry, MD, the U.S. Occupational Medicine Clinicians’ Perceptions and Practices with Respect to Artificial Intelligence Large Language Models: A Mixed-Methods Investigation study looks at how U.S. occupational medicine clinicians are approaching large language models in practice.The research explores adoption patterns, perceived risks and benefits, and how clinicians are thinking about responsible use. As AI tools become more common in health care settings, the findings help clarify what thoughtful integration should look like in occupational medicine.
Trusting AI In a High-Stakes Environment
In collaboration with doctoral student Hamid Shamszare and Zaira Chaudhry, MD, the publication Conceptualizing Clinicians’ Trust in Artificial Intelligence as a Function of Their Expertise, Workload, Patient Outcome, Diagnosis Difficulty, and AI Accuracy: A Systems Thinking Approach examines how clinicians’ trust in AI shifts under different levels and complexity of workloads.
Using simulation modeling, the research shows that trust drops when tasks become more complex and workload increases, particularly among less experienced clinicians. The findings suggest that AI implementation strategies must account for expertise, task difficulty, and the realities of clinical pressure rather than assuming uniform adoption.
Impacts of Exhaustion in Emergency Medical Care
Co-authored with doctoral student Christopher McGlynn, this qualitative study, Safety and Mental Health Challenges in Emergency Medical Services: A Qualitative Investigation of Rural Paramedic Experiences , focuses on stress, fatigue, and safety in rural EMS systems. Interviews with paramedics reveal how extended shifts and chronic strain contribute to near misses, injuries, and decision errors. The research frames mental health and fatigue not as personal issues, but as operational safety risks that require systemic so lutions.
Understanding Why Officers are Choosing to Not Wear a Seatbelt
Working with doctoral student Melanie Fowler, Understanding Seatbelt Noncompliance in Law Enforcement: A Systematic Review and Interview Findings , examines why seatbelt noncompliance persists among law enforcement officers despite clear evidence of risk. Through a systematic review and qualitative interviews, the study identifies cultural norms, tactical considerations, fatigue, and occupational practicality as key drivers. The findings point to the limits of policy alone and highlight the need for culture-informed safety interventions.
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The research done by Dr. Choudhury and his students directly informs how emerging technologies, human factors, and system design are taught to working professionals across the country.
Explore the online Occupational Safety and Health Ph.D. program or connect with Dr. Pramiti Sarker with any questions about the program experience and application process.