Visiting research period at CARNET Mobility Research Hub in Barcelona

Thanks to the AAPS Travel Scheme I had the opportunity to undertake a 3 month visiting research period at CARNET Mobility Research Hub in Barcelona. This experience allowed me to expand my research beyond academia, working alongside multidisciplinary teams developing innovative mobility solutions with direct societal and industrial impact. 

My PhD focuses on understanding how individual differences influence interactions with fully automated vehicle (FAV) user interfaces. By investigating factors such as trust, perceived control, cognitive styles, accessibility, and information preferences, my research aims to inform the design of adaptive interfaces that can better support diverse users. During my time at CARNET, I had the chance to apply this human-centred perspective to European collaborative research projects addressing emerging challenges in connected and automated mobility. 

One of the projects I contributed to was CulturalRoad, a European initiative exploring the expectations, needs, and acceptance of Cooperative, Connected and Automated Mobility (CCAM) among underrepresented user groups. My role involved supporting the design of focus groups, contributing to qualitative data collection, and leading the analysis of participant responses. I also prepared research reports summarising the findings and translating users' perspectives into recommendations for future mobility systems. This experience strengthened my qualitative research skills while reinforcing the importance of involving diverse communities in the development of future transport technologies. 

I also contributed to CERTAIN, where I worked on a case study investigating interactions between pedestrians and automated delivery robots. My contribution focused on integrating human factors principles into the design of the robots' human–machine interface (HMI). I collaborated on developing communication concepts that help pedestrians understand the robot's behaviour and intentions, and designed interaction studies to evaluate user experience, acceptance, situation awareness, and other human factors during real-world interactions. Working closely with engineers and designers highlighted the value of translating behavioural research into practical design solutions. 

Beyond the individual projects, my time at CARNET provided valuable insight into how European research projects are structured and delivered. I gained experience collaborating within multidisciplinary and international teams, contributing to project deliverables, and balancing scientific rigour with the practical requirements of innovation projects involving academic, industrial, and public stakeholders. 

Living and working in Barcelona also offered a stimulating international environment where I was able to exchange ideas with researchers from diverse backgrounds and disciplines. The experience expanded my perspective on applied human factors research and confirmed my interest in pursuing a career at the intersection of psychology, user experience, and new technologies.