Personal profile
Research interests
Human Factors
Biography
1999 - BSc (Hons) in Psychology from the University of Southampton
2002 - PhD in Human Factors from Brunel University.
2003 – Human Factors Consultant, Nickleby HFE Ltd.
2005- Research Fellow, Brunel University, London.
2007 – Awarded Ergonomics Society President’s Medal.
2008 - Senior Research Fellow, University of Southampton.
2009 - Lecturer, Heriot-Watt University.
2013 - Associate Professor, Heriot-Watt University.
2014 - Royal Society of Edinburgh Young Academy of Scotland.
2018 - Professor, Heriot-Watt University.
2018 - 2020 - Director of Online Learning.
2019 - 2023 - Leader of Pioneering Education.
2023 - 2024 - Associate Executive Dean: Education and Student Life.
2025 - Current - Work Package Lead (TransiT).
Profile Summary
I am a leading academic in the Human Factors and Sociotechnical Systems discipline with a comprehensive track record in teaching, research, and consulting. I have worked in nuclear, aviation, rail, road, military, construction, energy and numerous other domains. I am currently a work package lead on the £46m TransiT Hub funded by industry and EPSRC, blending Human Factors with digital twinning to help rapidly decarbonise UK transport. Other recent projects include the Palace of Westminster Restoration and Renewal Programme, where I innovated Sociotechnical Construction, and the Centre for Sustainable Road Freight with the University of Cambridge. I am the author/co-author of over 140 peer-reviewed journal papers and 20 books, including my discipline's leading methods text book. My published work has been cited over 7000 times and my Scopus h-index is 46 (ranked 13th across Heriot-Watt). I am in the 2024 Stanford List of the World's Top 2% of Scientists, and my research has appeared on the Discovery Channel, Channel 4, BBC, and in a wide variety of other national and international media. I have been awarded the Graduates Prize for the student experience, a Teaching Excellence Award for Global Team, the President's Medal from the Chartered Institute for Ergonomics and Human Factors, and the Principal's Research Impact and Engagement (PRIME) Award twice for knowledge exchange and innovative teaching. I am a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Ergonomics and Human Factors (FIEHF), a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA) and on the Editorial Board of the international journal Ergonomics. I am also author of a paper that appeared in National Geographic explaining how to blow up the Death Star!
Research Group Contact Details
www.transit.ac.uk
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
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SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being
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SDG 7 Affordable and Clean Energy
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SDG 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities
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SDG 13 Climate Action
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SDG 15 Life on Land
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SDG 17 Partnerships for the Goals
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Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
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Abstraction Hierarchy Tool: A Software for Developing Abstraction Hierarchies as Network Graphs
Duvnjak, J., Blaha, L., Lim, T., Walker, G. H., Greening, P. & Flynn, D., 27 Apr 2026.Research output: Contribution to conference › Paper › peer-review
Open AccessFile5 Downloads (Pure) -
A Hybrid Framework Integrating Large Language Models and Active Learning for Synthetic Population Persona Labelling
Sun, S., Li, J., Walker, G., Easton, J. M., Flynn, D. & Greening, P., 2 Jun 2026, In: Procedia Computer Science. 280, p. 259-268 10 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Conference article › peer-review
Open AccessFile3 Downloads (Pure) -
Burning out or fading away: response to de Winter and Eisma
Walker, G. & Greening, P., 4 Mar 2026, In: Ergonomics. 69, 3, p. 437-439 3 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Comment/debate › peer-review
Open AccessFile1 Link opens in a new tab Citation (SciVal)35 Downloads (Pure) -
Networked Exploration of Complex Systems (NEXUS): Integrating Agent‐Based Modeling and Network Analysis for Systems‐Based Human Reliability Assessment
Holman, M., Walker, G. & Lansdown, T., May 2026, In: Human Factors and Ergonomics in Manufacturing and Service Industries. 36, 3, 25 p., e70045.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile1 Downloads (Pure) -
Abstraction Hierarchy Tool
Duvnjak, J. (Developer) & Walker, G. (Other), 5 Sept 2025Research output: Non-textual form › Software
Open Access
Prizes
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Best Paper for Research Excellence LRN 2025
Utomo, D. S. (Recipient), Fariya, S. (Recipient), Logan, A. (Recipient), Walker, G. H. (Recipient), Greening, P. (Recipient), Gripton, A. (Recipient) & O'Connor, Z. (Recipient), Sept 2025
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
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Global Teaching Team Award
MacLaren, A. J. W. (Recipient), Walker, G. H. (Recipient) & Thomson, L. (Recipient), 14 Jun 2021
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
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Grant Innes Student Voice Award
Walker, G. H. (Recipient), 17 May 2022
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
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Freight movements modelling in Scotland.
Logan, A. (Speaker) & Walker, G. (Speaker)
Apr 2026Activity: Talk or presentation › Invited talk
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ACED Members' Webinar
MacLaren, A. J. W. (Speaker), Walker, G. H. (Speaker) & Macdonald, R. (Speaker)
5 Nov 2020Activity: Talk or presentation › Invited talk
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NextGen Accident Prevention: New Theories and Methodologies for Safer Systems
Walker, G. H. (Recipient)
1 Jan 2018 → 31 Dec 2020Activity: Other
Press/Media
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National Geographic Magazine: The Real Science Inspired By Star Wars
9/12/15
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Teaching