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John G. Casali

John Grado Endowed Professor Emeritus
  • Director, Auditory Systems Laboratory
  • Certified Professional Ergonomist #222
  • CPE
John Casali
519G Whittemore Hall
(MC 0118)
1185 Perry Street
Blacksburg, VA 24061
jcasali@vt.edu
(540) 231-5073
Curriculum Vitae
ResearchGate
google scholar

Research Areas

CORE AREAS:  Human Factors Engineering, ergonomics, acoustics, human hearing, product safety (Responsible for procuring more than $15M in total funding support at Virginia Tech and over $3.5M at Hearing, Ergonomics & Acoustics Resources (HEAR), LLC.)

SPECIALTY AREAS:  auditory situation awareness, auditory displays, auditory warnings, signal detection, hearing protection design and testing (NRR ratings, spectral attenuation, perceptual effects), speech communications in noise, noise annoyance and measurement, vehicle simulation, driving safety, product design, military ergonomics, intellectual property law, products liability,  forensics and expert witness litigation support.

 

  • Ph.D. in Industrial Engineering and Operations Research (Human Factors Engineering Concentration), Virginia Tech, 1982
  • M.S. in Industrial Engineering and Operations Research (Human Factors Engineering Concentration), Virginia Tech, 1979
  • B.S. in Psychology (Outstanding Senior Awardee), Virginia Tech, 1977  

 

UNIVERSITY APPOINTMENTS:   

  • Grado Chaired Professor Emeritus of Industrial and Systems Engineering (ISE), Virginia Tech, May, 2024 - Present
  • Grado Chaired Professor of Industrial and Systems Engineering (ISE), Virginia Tech, 2002 – May, 2024.
  • Department Head and Grado Chaired Professor of ISE, Virginia Tech, 1996 - 2002
  • Interim Department Head and Professor of ISE, Virginia Tech, 7/1995 - 5/1996
  • Professor of ISE, Virginia Tech, 5/1991 - 7/1995
  • Associate Professor of Industrial Engineering and Operations Research, Virginia Tech, 5/1986 - 5/1991
  • Assistant Professor of Industrial Engineering and Operations Research, Virginia Tech, 9/1982 - 5/1986

**NOTE:  Founder and Director of Auditory Systems Laboratory during all of above appointments.**

INDUSTRY APPOINTMENTS:

  • Consulting Company Participation:  CTO of HEAR (Hearing, Ergonomics, and Acoustics Resources) LLC.
  • 1983 -  present: Consultant to over 80 U.S. and foreign companies and organizations on over 150 projects concerning acoustics and hearing protection, ergonomics, warning signal design, and operator displays, and as an expert witness or consultant on over 60 cases involving product design, industrial accidents, noise, and intellectual property-patent litigation.
  • 1973 - 1976: Preparation Plant Associate, Hawley Coal Mining Corp., Southern WV

University Semester Courses:

  • ISE 5605:  Human Factors Engineering in Systems Design
  • ISE 5644:  Human Hearing, Noise, and Auditory Display Design
  • ISE 6624:  Forensics and Litigation for Engineers

Continuing/Professional Education Shortcourses:

  • What You Don't Hear Can Kill You - The Conundrum of Balancing Hearing Protection and Auditory Situation Awareness
  • Acoustics and Audiology in Forensics and Legal Practice
  • Human Factors Principles in Auditory Displays and Warning Signal Design
  • Introduction to Forensics and Expert Witnessing
  • U.S. Patent 9,763,003:  "Automotive Constant Signal-to-Noise Ratio System for Enhanced Situation Awareness," (Utility Patent), Date of Issue:  September 12, 2017, J. Usher,  J. G. Casali, and S. W. Goldstein.
  • European Patent EP2663470A0:  "Automotive Constant Signal-to-Noise Ratio System for Enhanced Situation Awareness," (Utility Patent), Date of Issue:  November 20, 2013, J. Usher,  J. G. Casali, and S. W. Goldstein.
  • U.S. Patent 8,550,206 B2:  "Method and Structure for Achieving Spectrum-Tunable and Uniform Attenuation," (Utility Patent), Date of Issue:  October 8, 2013, J. P. Keady,  J. G. Casali, and K. Lee.
  • U.S. Patent 7,822,219:  "Cartilage Displacing Bead, Ridge, or Key Projection," (Utility Patent), Date of Issue: October 26, 2010, L. K. Baker and J. G. Casali.
  • U.S. Patent 5,651,422:  "Universal-Fit, Quick-Connect Wheelchair Power Drive/Steer Attachment for Wheelchair,” (Utility Patent), Date of Issue:  July 29, 1997, J. G. Casali.
  • U.S. Patent 5,333,622:  "Earplug and Hearing Devices Formed In-Situ," Serial Number 916,220, (Utility Patent), Date of Issue:  August 2, 1994, J. G. Casali and D. W. Mauney.  
  • U.S. Patent 5,131,411, "Custom-Fitting Earplug Formed In-Situ Using Foaming Action," Serial Number 569,812, (Utility Patent), Date of Issue:  July 21, 1992, J. G. Casali and D. W. Mauney.

PROFESSIONAL SOCIETIES:

  • Fellow, Human Factors and Ergonomics Society
  • Fellow, IISE (Institute of Industrial Systems Engineers)
  • National Hearing Conservation Association (National President, 2006-07)
  • Foundation of the National Hearing Conservation Association, Board of Directors
  • Sigma Xi (Scientific Research Honorary)
  • Alpha Pi Mu (Industrial Engineering Honorary Fraternity)
  • Psi Chi (Psychology Honorary Fraternity)
  • Phi Kappa Phi (Academic Honorary Fraternity)
  • 2023:  Hansen Outreach Award, recognizing significant activities that broaden awareness of human factors/ergonomics and its benefits to humankind, Human Factors and Ergonomics Society. https://www.hfes.org/About-HFES/HFES-Awards-Program/HFES-Award-Recipients
  • 2022:  Virginia Tech Alumni Award for Excellence in Outreach, Virginia Tech. https://vtx.vt.edu/awards/facstaff2022/bio-pages.html
  • 2020:  College of Engineering Dean’s Award for Excellence in Outreach, Virginia Tech. https://eng.vt.edu/about/faculty-awards-and-distinctions/deans-awards/2020-deans-award-recipients.html
  • 2019:  Golden Lobe Award, from the National Hearing Conservation Association, for outstanding contributions as Special Issue Editor for the International Journal of Audiology.
  • 2017: A. R. Lauer Safety Award, Human Factors and Ergonomics Society.
  • 2016:  Safe-in-Sound Award for Innovation in Hearing Conservation, from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), awarded in recognition of the Auditory Systems Laboratory's research on Auditory Situation Awareness.  See: http://www.safeinsound.us/winners.html
  • 2014:  Joseph L. Haley Writing-Best Publication Award, (with Lt Colonel Kristin Casto, former PhD advisee, first author), from the Army Aviation Medical Association, for the best helicopter-related aerospace medicine publication in any media for year 2013.
  • 2013 & 1998:  College of Engineering Dean’s Award for Excellence in Research, Virginia Tech.
  • 2011:  College of Engineering Dean’s Award for Excellence in Teaching, Virginia Tech.
  • 2009: Outstanding Hearing Conservationist Award, from the National Hearing Conservation Association (Not more than 1 award given annually on an international level.)
  • 2009 & 1991:  Outstanding Lecture Award, from the National Hearing Conservation Association, based on audience ratings for the best conference paper.
  • 2008:  Alexander Williams Design Award (co-recipient with Virginia Tech research team) from the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society.
  • 2007:  Elected to the Outreach Academy of Excellence, Virginia Tech.
  • 2006:  College of Engineering Dean’s Award for Outreach Excellence, Virginia Tech.
  • 2006: Invited Inyong Ham Distinguished Lecture speaker at Pennsylvania State University, State College, PA.
  • 2005: Alexander G. Holtzman Distinguished Educator Award, from the Institute of Industrial Engineers.
  • 2002: University Alumni Award for Research Excellence, Virginia Tech.  (Virginia Tech’s highest research award; awarded annually.)
  • 1999: David Baker Research Award, from the Institute of Industrial Engineers.
  • 1998: Plenary Speaker at the Ibero-American Congress of Acoustics, Florianopolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil.
  • 1997: Paul M. Fitts Award, for outstanding contributions to the education and training of human factors specialists, from the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society.
  • 1994: Media Award, from the National Hearing Conservation Association for newspaper (Associated Press) and television interviews on noise-induced hearing loss.
  • 1991: Jack A. Kraft Award, for efforts to extend the application of human factors to new areas of endeavor, from the Human Factors Society.
  • 1990: Invited Panel Member, National Institutes of Health: NIH Consensus Development Panel on Noise and Hearing Loss, Bethesda, Maryland.
  • 1983: Recipient, American Psychological Association George E. Briggs Award for the Outstanding Dissertation in Engineering Psychology for year of 1982.

UPS fellowship supports human factors and safety graduate research (February 2018)

UPS doctoral fellowship funded for 21 consecutive years in Industrial & Systems Engineering Human Factors and Safety (November 2017)

Dr. John G. Casali receives 2017 A. R. Lauer Safety Award from Human Factors and Ergonomics Society (October 2017)

ISE faculty and graduate students invited to display military research in President’s Suite at Virginia Tech football game (October 2017)

John Casali has been named Scholar of the Week by the Office of the Vice President for Research and Innovation (February 2017)

UPS Doctoral Fellowship in Human Factors and Safety funded for the 20th consecutive year in ISE (December 2016)

Virginia Tech laboratory to receive Safe-in-Sound Innovation Award (June 2016)

Dr. John G. Casali wins the 2016 Safe-in-Sound Innovation Award from NIOSH and NHCA (March 2016)

Engineering Faculty Receive Dean’s Awards for Excellence (April 2013)

UPS continues support of engineering program for 17th year (March 2013)

UPS grant marks 16th year of support for Virginia Tech's industrial and systems engineering (March 2012)

Engineering Faculty receive Dean’s Awards for Excellence (May 2011)

UPS supports engineering program for 15th year with $40,000 donation (March 2011)

UPS continues support of engineering program with new $40,000 donation (December 2009)

Professor wins Outstanding Hearing Conservationist Award from national association (March 2009)

UPS grant marks 13th year of support for engineering program, for a total $611,000 (February 2009)

UPS fellowships support creative engineering research (January 2007)

Engineering professor honored nationally as educator and researcher (June 2006)

Conference to address protecting emergency and disaster first responders (September 2005)

Safer visual and auditory cues for elderly drivers is the goal of Toyota-funded (February 2004)