Katrina Carlson

Katrina Carlson is a Research Associate and Project Manager with ShadowBox LLC, working in the areas of applied cognitive science, human factors, and naturalistic decision-making across government, defense, education, and industry domains. Her research interests include expertise development, decision making under uncertainty, spatial cognition, engineering education, and human performance assessment. Katrina holds degrees in education, including an M.A. in Educational Administration from Northern Michigan University and an M.S. in Applied Cognitive Science and Human Factors from Michigan Technological University. She is currently completing her Ph.D. in Applied Cognitive Science and Human Factors, with research focused on the development and assessment of productive spatial skills in engineering education. She has conducted research in technology adoption, engineering education, human factors, decision-making, and cognitive performance. In addition to her research experience, Katrina has over twenty years of leadership experience in education, organizational development, and workforce training. Her hobbies include building homes, operating heavy equipment, mountain biking, running, hiking, and exploring the outdoors in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.