OUR MISSION:
The University of Alabama’s Translational Research for Injury Prevention Laboratory (UA TRIP Lab) strives to help the nation achieve a significant reduction in the rate of transportation-related deaths, injuries, and resulting disabilities, particularly in the southeastern United States.
OUR RESEARCH:
We are committed to gaining a better understanding of the psychological aspects of transportation-related injury through multi-disciplinary research and translating those findings to the practice of injury prevention and control.
WHO WE ARE:
The TRIP Lab was established in 2009 by Dr. Despina Stavrinos as an official outlet for her research and as a means to recruit other scholars – students and professionals – drawn to the intersection of the transportation, behavioral, and cognitive research fields.
The TRIP Lab is a dynamic research laboratory that welcomes diverse students at various levels of training. Under Dr. Stavrinos’ mentorship, students attain/hone basic research skills through experiential learning and produce independent research projects applying those skills. This approach fosters independence and responsibility and allows students the opportunity to publish and present their research findings – often as a first author – to the scientific and lay communities. Students also are afforded the opportunity to meaningfully contribute to the larger, grant-funded studies undertaken by Dr. Stavrinos and her collaborators.
The success of Dr. Stavrinos’ mentorship is evidenced by the approximately 75% of students trained in the TRIP lab who go on to science-based graduate/professional programs. The success of the research undertaken in the TRIP Lab is evidenced by the number of publications and presentations (many award-winning) based on original research, and by the continuous grant funding the Lab has received.
THE DRIVING SIMULATOR:
The driving simulator has its own section on the website, so this description will be brief. The TRIP Lab houses a fully immersive, state-of-the-art driving simulator designed by Realtime Technologies, Inc. The faculty and staff of the TRIP Lab have extensive experience in multi-disciplinary transportation-related injury prevention research and are happy to share their knowledge, experience, and resources to assist you in your research needs.
DIVERSITY:
The TRIP Lab is part of the UA Institute for Social Science Research. We fully support The University of Alabama’s strategic goal concerning inclusion.
Enrich our learning and work environment by attracting, welcoming, and supporting all faculty, staff, and students through inclusive excellence.