2024–25 Brage Golding Distinguished Professor of Research

Valerie Shalin, professor of psychology.

The impact of Valerie Shalin’s research can be found in unexpected and extraordinary places: in aviation, space exploration, land navigation, medicine and emergency response centers.

For her long-standing record of research excellence and innovation, Shalin, Ph.D., has been named Wright State University’s 2024–25 Brage Golding Distinguished Professor of Research.

A professor of psychology and leader in the Human Factors Area of the Human Factors and Industrial/Organizational Psychology Ph.D. program, Shalin has built a research portfolio that spans nearly three decades. Her work focuses on how humans interact with technology and their physical environment, applying rigorous scientific methods to solve complex, real-world challenges.

“This award recognizes the impressive research portfolio she has built during her nearly 30-year career at Wright State,” said Ayşe Şahin, Ph.D., dean of the College of Science and Mathematics. “At every step in her career, she has embodied the university’s mission to serve the region’s, and in particular Wright-Patterson Air Force Base’s, research needs.”

Building on her early research on the use of artificial intelligence in military aviation, Shalin turned her research focus to the role of technology in distributed work, particularly communication among NASA engineers, developing tools to improve collaboration on projects involving the space shuttle, the International Space Station and Mars exploration. She later analyzed how first responders and emergency operations centers coordinate communications. More recently, she has investigated how doctors and medics use computers to support urgent, unfamiliar surgeries conducted in the field.

As a provost fellow for AI, Shalin is helping lead Wright State’s efforts to prepare students for an evolving workforce. She is working closely with the college deans to create a plan to ensure students learn the AI skills they need to succeed in their future careers.

In 2023, Shalin organized a university workshop on AI and the Future of Work, drawing participation from regional industry leaders and Wright State stakeholders. The event reflected her growing leadership in Wright State’s AI educational effort.

“For the last two years, she has taken increasingly broader leadership roles in supporting the university’s goal of developing an AI brand and strategy,” Şahin said. “Her research and foundational understanding of the issues involved, especially around tasks, training and learning, enrich her vision and her contributions to the university’s efforts in this direction.”

Beyond her own research, Shalin is known for her collaborative spirit and mentorship, regularly working on projects spanning a wide array of domains. She has also trained a generation of exceptional researchers who are now establishing their own excellent reputations.