Human Factors Scientist (Ph.D.)

Exponent•New York, NY

21h•$105,000 - $120,000•Onsite

About The Position

Exponent is seeking a Human Factors Scientist for their Human Factors Practice in New York, NY, with a Summer 2026 start date. This role involves analyzing human performance in scenarios related to consumer products, FDA/EPA-regulated products, and occupational work. Responsibilities include supporting litigation, usability testing, sensory study design, survey development, and evaluating user interaction with products. This may involve assessing perceptual, cognitive, olfactory, and motor capabilities and their implications for safety and risk. The role also includes analyzing human factors contributors to incidents, evaluating warnings and safety information, assessing product instructions and labeling, and working on multidisciplinary teams for case management and project support. The scientist will communicate complex analyses to non-technical audiences, manage multiple projects including budgets and deadlines, and contribute to business development by building client relationships.

Requirements

Ph.D. in Sensory Science, Food Science, or a related psychology discipline
Currently based in or willing to relocate to the New York City area
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, as well as strong interpersonal skills
Experience with U.S. food‑regulatory frameworks, including FDA and USDA compliance requirements and familiarity with CFR Title 21 as it relates to food and cosmetic products, labeling, safety, and sensory evaluation standards
Strong record demonstrating your ability to design behavioral studies using a variety of human subjects and database research methods (e.g., survey, experimental, quasi-experimental, case study)
Experience leading multiple scientific studies from start (i.e., design) to finish (i.e., communicating your results)
Proficiency in qualitative research methods and analyses, including study design, participant interviewing or observation, coding, and thematic analysis
Willingness to travel for research sessions, client meetings, conferences, or on-site evaluations
Assertive, self-starter, and able to work with accuracy and attention to detail under pressure and/or deadlines
Proficiency in analytical, statistical, and computer programming (specifically Excel, SPSS, MATLAB, Python, or R)
Presently legally authorized to work in the United States; no immigration sponsorship or processing required

Responsibilities

Supporting a broad range of human factors and UX consulting activities, including litigation support, usability testing, sensory study design, survey development, and evaluation of how users interact with consumer products.
Assessing human perceptual, cognitive, olfactory, and motor capabilities and their implications for safety and use-related risk.
Supporting safety-focused litigation and investigations by analyzing human factors contributors to incidents, evaluating the design and effectiveness of warnings and safety information, and assessing product instructions, labeling, and patterns of use and misuse.
Working on multidisciplinary teams to provide case management, data processing, structured analysis, and cross-functional project support across engineering, UX, regulatory, and scientific domains.
Communicating complex analyses clearly and succinctly to non-technical audiences, including clients, attorneys, and other stakeholders.
Providing project management for multiple projects at a given time, including managing budgets and deadlines; managing project teams; and performing support tasks for team members.
Participating in the design and evaluation of warnings and safety information.
Contributing to business development by building and maintaining client relationships.