Steven Fischer, University of Waterloo

Research

physical ergonomics digital human modeling posture prediction computer vision multi-task assessment muscle fatigue cumulative loading fatigue failure

Latest papers

Maximum Acceptable Box Width and Box Mass for One-Handed Box Transfers from Three Shelf Heights: A Psychophysical Approach.
IISE transactions on occupational ergonomics and human factors · 2026 · senior author
Exploring the need for and application of human factors and ergonomics in ambulance design: Overcoming the barriers with technical standards
Applied Ergonomics · 2020
Principal components analysis to characterise fatigue-related changes in technique: Application to double under jump rope.
Journal of sports sciences · 2017 · senior author

All 3 publications

Latest funding

Characterizing Indicators of Community-based Personal Support Workers' Workload: Towards the Development of a Workload Management Approach
CIHR · 2025 · Supervisor
$35,000
Advancing tools and techniques to optimize human performance at work
NSERC · 2024 · Principal investigator
$59,000
Enhancing human system performance through digital human modeling
NSERC · 2018 · Principal investigator
$216,000

All 5 grants and awards

3 publications.

01

Maximum Acceptable Box Width and Box Mass for One-Handed Box Transfers from Three Shelf Heights: A Psychophysical Approach.

Li JX, Larson D, Moore C, Fischer S

IISE transactions on occupational ergonomics and human factors2026Senior author

DOI: 10.1080/24725838.2026.2665230 PMID: 42127784

02

Exploring the need for and application of human factors and ergonomics in ambulance design: Overcoming the barriers with technical standards

Du B, Boileau M, Wierts K, Karch SB, Yung M, Fischer S, Yazdani A

Applied Ergonomics202010 citations

DOI: 10.1016/j.apergo.2020.103144

03

Principal components analysis to characterise fatigue-related changes in technique: Application to double under jump rope.

Bruce O, Moull K, Fischer S

Journal of sports sciences2017Senior author

DOI: 10.1080/02640414.2016.1221523 PMID: 27556961

Characterizing Indicators of Community-based Personal Support Workers' Workload: Towards the Development of a Workload Management Approach

SupervisorCIHR2025Health System Impact Fellowships - Doctoral Central Canada 1-year

Principal investigators: Posluszny, Kate M

Keywords: Heartrate; Kinematics; Kinetics; Musculoskeletal Disorders; Perceptions; Physical Demands; Psychological Demands; Stress

$35,000

Advancing tools and techniques to optimize human performance at work

Principal investigatorNSERC2024Discovery Grants Program - Individual

Principal investigators: Fischer, Steven

Keywords: physical ergonomics; digital human modeling; posture prediction; computer vision; multi-task assessment; muscle fatigue; cumulative loading; fatigue failure

$59,000

Enhancing human system performance through digital human modeling

Principal investigatorNSERC2018Discovery Grants Program - Individual

Principal investigators: Fischer, Steven

$216,000

Improved protection and performance through advanced helmet design

Principal investigatorNSERC2016Department of National Defence / NSERC Research Partnership

Principal investigators: Fischer, Steven

$348,000

Advancing the practice of proactive ergonomics by innovating tools and applications using digital human modeling

Principal investigatorNSERC2013Discovery Grants Program - Individual

Principal investigators: Fischer, Steven

$119,999

From CIHR, NSERC and SSHRC funding decisions: CIHR since 2008, NSERC since 1991 and SSHRC since 1998, including their latest published competition results.

Frequent collaborators

Amin Yazdani

Earth, Environment & Society

1 shared papers, latest 2020

Write to this professor

A short, specific email works best. This draft uses one of their recent papers; replace the parts in brackets with your own details before sending.

Applying for

Paper to mentionMention their NSERC grant from 2024

Subject: Prospective PhD student: physical ergonomics Dear Professor Fischer, My name is [your name], and I am a [your current degree or role] at [your institution]. I am applying for a PhD position starting in [term and year]. I read your paper "Maximum Acceptable Box Width and Box Mass for One-Handed Box Transfers from Three Shelf Heights: A Psychophysical Approach." (2026), and it connects closely to my own work on [your research topic]. [One or two sentences on what you did and what you learned.] I also saw your NSERC-funded project "Advancing tools and techniques to optimize human performance at work" (2024), and I would be glad to contribute to work in that direction. Are you accepting new PhD students for [term and year]? I have attached my CV and transcripts, and I would be glad to talk at a time that suits you. Thank you for your time. Kind regards, [your name]