Defense & Aerospace

UTA researchers to study soldier ingenuity with SJTs

A new study at The University of Texas at Arlington will look at how situational judgement tests (SJTs) can enhance soldier ingenuity in high-stakes environments. Dr. Martín-Raugh, along with fellow UTA psychology Professor Logan Watts, is leading the two-year project, which is being funded by the Army Research Institute. In year one, the team will develop various situations and responses by speaking with subject matter experts. In year two, the researchers will conduct a study examining SJT training effectiveness with soldiers at various military bases.

NASA invests in UTA materials research for safer flight

As NASA pushes toward a future in which air taxis and advanced aerial vehicles become part of everyday transportation, one challenge stands out above the rest: safety. Before these aircraft can fill urban skies, researchers must ensure they can withstand frequent takeoffs, landings and unexpected impacts without endangering passengers. To help meet that challenge, The University of Texas at Arlington has received a three-year, $750,000 grant from NASA’s MUREP program to develop a new class of impact-resistant materials designed to protect next-generation aircraft during extreme landing or collision events. The project is led by Xin (Jeffrey) Liu, assistant professor in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, who also holds a joint appointment in the Institute of Predictive Performance Methodologies at the UTA Research Institute (UTARI) in Fort Worth.