Awatef Ergai

Dr. Awatef Ergai earned her Ph.D. in Industrial Engineering from Clemson University, specializing in human factors engineering and statistics. Her research integrates systems engineering, human factors, and data analytics to optimize the role of humans in healthcare systems. She focuses on designing human-centered processes and developing tools that improve patient safety, enhance healthcare quality, and reduce costs.

During her postdoctoral appointment at the Healthcare Systems Engineering Institute (HSyE), under the AHRQ-funded Patient Safety Learning Laboratory, Dr. Ergai collaborated with researchers at Brigham and Women’s Hospital to develop healthcare information technology (HIT) applications aimed at improving patient safety. In partnership with WellStar Health System, she co-led the KSU team on several projects, including Wellness and Resiliency of Healthcare Workers during COVID-19 and Decontamination and Reuse of N95 Respirators with UVGI. She also received KSU’s prestigious interdisciplinary I³ award for her project Investigating Postpartum Stress Levels and Cognitive Load During Discharge.

Currently, Dr. Ergai leads multiple research initiatives with WellStar Health System, such as using eye-tracking and voice analysis technologies to study the Hybrid Virtual Nursing Care Model, examining Virtual Sitters intervention to Reduce Falls, and addressing Education Challenges in Heart Failure to inform AI-based support tools.

Beyond her healthcare research, Dr. Ergai is dedicated to advancing engineering education. She explores strategies to strengthen engineering students’ teamwork skills and investigates evidence-based approaches for integrating generative AI to enhance learning and problem-solving in engineering curricula.