The IUP Safety Sciences department serves as a research hub for students at the graduate and undergraduate levels. 

Our PhD students are conducting cutting-edge research on topics spanning many aspects of the safety discipline domestically and abroad. Likewise, students pursuing a master's degree have the option to complete a thesis, which requires conducting research. Graduate students also have the option to research a topic and deliver an OSHA consultation webinar, under the mentorship of a PA OSHA consultant. 

Undergraduate students participate in research through student organizations such as the ASSP student section or through Rho Sigma Kappa, the Safety Sciences Honor Society. Student research often leads to poster presentations at the IUP scholars forum, national conferences, international conferences, and publications in journals.

Wilbanks, D.W., Abulhassan, Y. & Wachter, J.K. (2023).  Reconciling occupational safety and health (OSH) Master’s of Science curricula with employer demands.  Safety Science, May 161, 12 pages.
Mullins-Jaime, C. & Wachter, J.K. (2023). Safety professionals: Change agents for climate action.  Professional Safety, February 2023. 
Mullins-Jaime, C. & Wachter, J.K. (2023). Motivating personal climate change through a safety and health risk management framework.  International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 20(7), 20 pages.
Rodriguez-Franco, O., Zreiqat, M., Wachter, J.K., & Janicak, C. (2022). Examination of the contributing factors to fatalities in electrical trades due to contact with electricity. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, June 64(11):942-956.
Pugh, C., Cekada, T., Wachter, J. and Marin, L.S. (2022).  An exploratory study on occupational exposure to airborne engineered nanomaterials during the recycling operations of electronic devices.  Journal of Nanoparticle Research, 2022: 24-36. 
Newton, A. (2022) Examination of usefulness, acceptance and workload perceptions of a passive exoskeleton while performing an overhead maintenance task.
Guillory, S. (2022) Comparison of Changes on Medical Surveillance Evaluations Across Firefighter Groups from 2011 to 2018. 
Demchak, J., Nicholls, T., & Minnick, W. (2022). Disaster Resiliency: Increasing the Score. Professional Safety, 67(03), 24-30.
Minnick, W., Cekada, T., Marin, L., Zreiqat, M., Seal, B., & Mulroy, J. (2022). The Impact of Active Learning Strategies on Retention and Outcomes in Safety Training. Creative Education, 13(2), 526-536.
Marín, L. S., Barreto, M., Montano, M., Sugerman-Brozan, J., Goldstein-Gelb, M., & Punnett, L. (2021). Workplace Sexual Harassment and Vulnerabilities among Low-Wage Hispanic Women. Occupational Health Science, 5(3), 391-414. doi:10.1007/s41542-021-00093-6
Minnick, W. D., and Jablunovsky, G. (2021) Examination of workplace and personal variables that influence the perception of readiness and response to Covid-19 across differing industries in PA. 
Pugh, C., Cekada, T., Wachter, J., & Marin, L. S. (2021). An exploratory study on occupational exposure to airborne engineered nanomaterials during the recycling operations of electronic devices. Journal of Nanoparticle Research, 24(2), 1-16.
Diehl, F.*, Marín, L., Zreiqat, M. (2020). An evaluation of AT&T social marketing delivery modes aimed at teen smartphone use while driving. Journal of Cultural Marketing Strategy.  Volume 5, Issue 1.
Marín, L., Lipscomb H., Cifuentes, M., Punnett. L. (2019). Perceptions of Safety Climate across Construction Personnel: Associations with Injury Rates. Safety Science. Vol 118 (10); 487-496. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssci.2019.05.056
Álvarez-Chávez, C., Marín, L., et al. (2019). Assessing College Students’ Risk Perceptions of Hazards in Chemistry Laboratories. Journal of Chemical Education. Vol 96 (10), 2120–2131. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jchemed.8b00891
Barrero, L., …, Marín, L., et al. (2019). Whole-Body Vibration and Back Pain-Related Work Absence among Heavy Equipment Vehicle Mining Operators. Occupational and Environmental Medicine. 2019; 76:554–559. doi: 10.1136/oemed-2019-105914
Marín, L., Munoz-Osuna, F., Arvayo, K., Álvarez-Chávez, C. (2019). Chemistry Laboratory Safety Climate Survey (CLASS): A Tool for Measuring Students’ Perceptions of Safety. Journal of Chemical Health and Safety. Vol 26 (6), 3–11. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jchas.2019.01.001
Maciel, R., Chiavegato, L., Marín, L., et al. (2019) Development of an E-health Education Program at the Workplace Using Formative Research – Technologies for Improving Quality of Life. Evaluation and Program Planning. Vol. 73, April 2019, 129-137. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.evalprogplan.2018.12.009
Minnick, W. D., Helmrich-Rhodes, L., Mulroy, J., & McKnight, D. (2019). OSHA Consultation: How to Get Started. Professional Safety, 64(06), 46-50.
Minnick, W. & Wachter, J. K. (2019). The role of leading, lagging and other indicators in evaluating the performance of safety professionals. Professional Safety, January 64(1).
Marín, L. and Roelofs, C. (2018). Engaging Small Residential Construction Contractors in Community-Based Participatory Research to Promote Safety. Annals of Work Exposure and Health. Vol. 62, No. S1, S72–S80. https://doi.org/10.1093/annweh/wxy040
Kim, J, Marin, L., Dennerlein, J. (2018). Evaluation of commercially available seat suspensions to reduce whole body vibration exposures in mining heavy equipment vehicle operators. Applied Ergonomics. Vol 71, 78–86. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apergo.2018.04.003
Cekada, T.  (2018).  Salesmanship for Change: Utilizing WIIFM and Understanding Needs to Get What You Want.  Professional Safety Journal.  March  pp 44-47.
Marín, L. and Roelofs, C. (2017). Promoting Construction Supervisors’ Safety-Efficacy to Improve Safety Climate: Training Intervention Trial. Journal of Construction Engineering and Management. Vol. 143 (8). http://ascelibrary.org/doi/10.1061/%28ASCE%29CO.1943-7862.0001330
Marin, L., Dennerlein, J., Barrero, L., Rodriguez, A., Rey, E., Johnson, P. (2017). Assessment of Whole Body Vibration Exposure in Heavy Equipment Mining Vehicles. Annals of Work Exposure and Health.  Volume 61 (6), 2017. Pages 669–680. https://doi.org/10.1093/annweh/wxx043
Marín, L., Lipscomb H., Cifuentes, M., Punnett. L. (2017). Associations between Safety Climate and Safety Management Practices in the Construction Industry. American Journal of Industrial Medicine.  Volume 60 (6). Pages 513–598. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ajim.22723
Marín, L. Cifuentes, M., and Roelofs, C. (2015). Results of a Community-based Survey of Construction Safety Climate for Hispanic Workers. International Journal of Occupational Environment. 21(3):1-10. DOI: 10.1179/2049396714Y.0000000086
Amusa, S. (2021). An Examination of Influential Workplace and Personal Characteristics on Safety Knowledge, Motivation and Behavior in Canadian Factory Workers (Doctoral dissertation, Indiana University of Pennsylvania).
Mullins-Jaime, C. (2021). Assessing the Effects of a Communication Intervention on Climate Change Action Motivation Using a Health and Safety Risk Management Framework (Doctoral dissertation, Indiana University of Pennsylvania)
Schoolcraft, S. G. (2021). Factors Influencing the Perceived Social Theories Associated with Motivating Safety Performance in a Global Organization (Doctoral dissertation, Indiana University of Pennsylvania).
Rowlett, J. M. (2021). The Perceptions of the Quantitative and Qualitative Fit Testing Protocols and Relevance of the Clean-Shaven Guidance for the Current Field of Reusable Elastomeric Half-Mask Respirators (Doctoral dissertation, Indiana University of Pennsylvania).
Reed, P. A. (2021). Evaluating the Effectiveness of Chemical Exposure Training in Improving Employee Risk Perception with a Case Study in a Bleach Processing Plant Filling Department (Doctoral dissertation, Indiana University of Pennsylvania).
Hoover, K. (2020). Examining Reaction Time and Compensatory Behaviors and Their Effects on Elderly Drivers: A Systematic Review. (MS Thesis, Indiana University of Pennsylvania).
Mulroy, J. M. (2020). An Investigation of Occupational Safety and Health Management System’s Attributes, Including Management Leadership, on High-Hazard Small Enterprise Safety Outcomes for Use in Modifying OSHA Consultation’s Safety and Health Assessment Worksheet (Revised Form 33) (Doctoral dissertation, Indiana University of Pennsylvania).
Armstrong, G. (2020). Assessing Manufacturing Employee Perceptions of Supervisor Occupational Health and Safety Competencies and Potential for Occupational Health and Safety Training Facilitation (Doctoral dissertation, Indiana University of Pennsylvania).
Hunter, P. A. (2020). An Evaluation of the Efficacy of Workplace Violence Prevention Programs in Reducing Workplace Violence Injuries to Registered Nurses in Connecticut (Doctoral dissertation, Indiana University of Pennsylvania).
Diehl, F. S. (2020). An Evaluation of Social Marketing Delivery Modes Aimed at Teen Smartphone Use while Driving Behavior: An Application of the Theory of Planned Behavior (Doctoral dissertation, Indiana University of Pennsylvania).
Ashworth, D. L. (2019). Factors Influencing the Commonwealth of Virginia's Fire Chiefs' Knowledge of Carbon Monoxide and Hydrogen Cyanide Evolution during Fires and the Safeguards to be Implemented. Indiana University of Pennsylvania.tion during Fires and the Safeguards to be Implemented, Indiana University of Pennsylvania, 178 pages. 
Van Derlyke, P. (2019). A Study in the Selection and Effectiveness of Leading Indicators in the Dairy Product Manufacturing Sector (Naics 3115) (Doctoral dissertation, Indiana University of Pennsylvania). 
Kuhar, E. (2018). An Examination of Preferred Equipment, Assessment Tools and Content Topics for EHS Baccalaureate Curricula.(MS Thesis, Indiana University of Pennsylvania).
Pritchett, G. W. (2018). Determining the Feasibility of Characterizing U-235 Holdup in an Unfavorable Geometry Container Using Field Measurements and Nondestructive Assay Material Control and Accountability Methods, Indiana University of Pennsylvania.
Nnadede, K. S. (2018). Human Performance Improvement: Towards a Framework for Linking Workplace Spirituality, Mindfulness, Workers' Engagement, and Safety Outcomes. Indiana University of Pennsylvania.
Brown, C.J. (2018). Associations between whole body vibration and fatigue in residential solid waste disposal drivers.
Whitlock, J. (2018). A Photometric and Psychonomic Analysis of Exit Signs and Current Way-Finding Technology (Doctoral dissertation, Indiana University of Pennsylvania). 
Ayers, D. M. (2017). Comparing the NIOSH method 5040 to a diesel particulate matter meter for elemental carbon. Indiana University of Pennsylvania.
Krupa, J. A. (2017). An Evaluation of the Effects of Motorcycle LED Brake Lamp Flash Frequency Sequences on Conspicuity During Texting in a Static Vehicle. Indiana University of Pennsylvania.
Thygerson, J. S. (2017). The Effectiveness of Workers' Compensation Loss Control Services in Reducing Workers' Compensation Claims. Indiana University of Pennsylvania.
Wilbanks, D. W. (2017). Safety prequalification factors for the selection of contractors within the steel industry. Indiana University of Pennsylvania.
Straub, F. D. (2017). The perceived importance and degree of implementation of ergonomics-related leading safety performance indicators in the American workplace. Indiana University of Pennsylvania.
Estep, R. E. (2017). An Examination of Organizational Factors, Employer Perceived Barriers and Indirect Costs of Non-Compliance With the OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens Standard. Indiana University of Pennsylvania.
Calvert, J. A. (2017). An Examination of Local Emergency Managers' Perception of the Adequacy of the Firefighter I Curricula and Its Coverage of Prevention Strategies for Heart Attacks in the Volunteer Fire Service of the Commonwealth of Virginia (Doctoral dissertation, Indiana University of Pennsylvania). 
Schaal, N. C. (2016). Effects of heavy metal exposure on hearing loss among shipyard personnel (Doctoral dissertation, Indiana University of Pennsylvania).
Wachter, J.K. (2022).  “Professional safety and health ethics – In the age of reason?” Sponsored by NSC Networks (formally ORCHSE).  December 1, 2022. 
Wachter, J.K. (2022). “The role of context and reason in ethical decision-making for the industrial hygienist”. Sponsored by American Industrial Hygiene Association University e-learning. September 15, 2022. 
Wachter, J.K. (2022).  “ASSP Podcast on Employee Management and Safety Management.” Sponsored by ASSP.  March 17, 2022.
Minnick, W., Zreiqat, M., Cekada, T., Rhodes, L., Seal, B. Marin, L., Janicak, C. (2022).  Assessing the Effectiveness of Teaching Online Laboratories in the Safety Sciences, $500. IUP Center for Teaching Excellence.
Minnick, W., Marin, L., Zreiqat, M. & Gaye, C. (2021). Slips, Trips, and Falls, Grant Award, $30,000. Maine Employers Mutual Insurance Company.
Minnick, W. and Marin, L. (2021). Examination of workplace and personal variables that influence the perception of readiness and response to Covid-19 across differing industries in PA. Grant Award, $825. IUP School of Graduate Studies and Research.
Minnick, W. (2021). Professional development grant. Grant Award, $1500. ASSP Greater Boston Chapter.
Wachter, J.K. (2021). “Ethics Training - Connecticut River Valley Section.” Sponsored by AIHA Connecticut River Valley Section. September 23, 2021. 
Cekada, T.L., Marin, L., Mulroy, J. P., Seal, B.  (May 27, 2021). Provided testimonial at hearing of the Pennsylvania House Committee on Labor and Industry, Subcommittee on Workers’ Compensation and Worker Protection. Harrisburg, PA.  May 27, 2021.
 Wachter, J.K. (2021). “Ethics: Context and Approaches.” Sponsored by AIHA Southern California Section. May 20, 2021.
Wachter, J.K. (2021). “Ethics in Education.” Sponsored by ASSP. April 15, 2021.
Wachter, J.K. (2021). “Ethics: AIHA Deep South Section.” Sponsored by AIHA Deep South Section. February 11, 2021. 
2020 NIOSH ERC Pilot Project Research Training Awards. John Hopkins -Department of Environmental Health and Engineering. “Evaluation of occupational exposures to nanomaterials in electronic recycling (E-Cycle) facilities”. Grant to support doctoral student’s dissertation. Grant awarded $8,000. 
Dalto, J., Minnick, W., Ruiz, A., Johnson, S. (September 8, 2020), Covid 19 – Effective Online Learning – Virtual Classrooms and Blends. ASSP webinar.
Minnick, W.D., Hill, A., Rhodes, L.R., Marin, L. (2020, August 4). The role of diversity and inclusion in the field of safety sciences. Indiana University of PA Diversity Research Presentation Series [panel]. Indiana, PA.
Minnick, W.D., Marin, L. & Zreiqat, M. (2020). Wearable technology in the ergonomics lab, Grant Award, $2500. Academic Computing Policy Advisory Committee.
Marin, L., Zreiqat, M., & Minnick, W.D., (2020). Characterization of Nurse-Patient Handling Tasks, Grant Award, $1951. University Senate Research Committee Award.
Minnick, W.D. (May 15, 2019), Keynote Speaker. The Safety Profession: Topics that can help maximize our potential, American Society of Safety Professionals CNY Chapter Women in Safety and Health Conference, Syracuse, NY.
2018 CPWR Center for Construction Training and Research. “Pilot-testing the Safety Climate Assessment Tool (S-CAT-SC) for Small Hispanic Construction Firms.” Grant awarded $36,600. Role: PrincipaI Investigator.  Co-investigator: Dr. Ahmed Al-Bayati
Minnick, W.D., Cekada, T., Mulroy, J., Seal, B., Zreiqat, M. (2018). An Evaluation of Traditional Lecture and Active Learning on Training Retention, Grant Award, $1,329. University Senate Research Committee Award.
IUP Infrastructure Enhancement and Growth Grant: $25,000 for buying XSENS Motion Analysis System, Zreiqat, M., Marin, L., Minnick, W. January 2018.
Wachter, J., Cekada, T., and Paschold, H. (June 3, 2018).  From acceptance to dissertation defense: Knowledge gained and lessons learned in IUP’s new safety sciences hybrid program.  American Society of Safety Professionals Professional Development Conference.  San Antonio, TX.  
Marin, L., Zreiqat, M., & Minnick, W.D., (2017). Ergonomics evaluation of the use of cleaning spray bottles for hotel housekeepers, Grant Award, $1449.48. University Senate Research Committee Award.
Cekada, T., Marin, L., & Minnick, W. D. (April 21, 2017). Advanced Degrees, Should I?, Time for Women in Safety Conference, IUP Ladies of Safety and PPG Industries, Indiana, PA.
Cekada, T. and Minnick, W. D. (March 19, 2017), The Safety Profession: A look at role expansion, reporting structures and performance and measurement, North Eastern PA American Society of Safety Engineers Regional Conference, Scranton, PA.
Minnick, W., Cunkelmen, J., Wachter, J. (November 15, 2017), The Safety Profession: Consideration of reporting structure, performance measurement and role expansion, American Society of Safety Engineers Regional Conference, Indiana, PA.
Cekada, T., Paschold, H., Ferguson, L., and Wachter, J.  (June 19, 2017). Activity Based Learning in the Safety Sciences- Panel Presentation.  American Society of Safety Engineers Professional Development Conference.  Denver, CO.