Dr. Muhammad’s work includes the analysis of the cognitive, developmental, perceptual, and physical human factors issues relating to accidents and injuries. She has analyzed human factors issues in accidents associated with motor vehicles, consumer products usage, slips/trips and falls, and medical product usage. Her work includes the evaluation of warnings and safety information and analysis of its effectiveness.
In the area of medical products, Dr. Muhammad has investigated and identified factors that influence compliance with warnings related to medical products and has applied this knowledge to the analysis “failure to warn” claims associated with prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications, and medical devices. She has also studied and analyzed the knowledge of clinicians regarding medical product hazards and the sources of information they rely on to inform their decisions about patient management practices.
Dr. Muhammad uses a range of large-scale databases and analytical techniques to investigate injury and accident patterns associated with various consumer products and activities including adverse events involving medical products. She has conducted product usability studies to examine the physical and cognitive abilities of children and adults as they interact with particular products.
Prior to joining Exponent, Dr. Muhammad completed a Ph.D. in neuroscience at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Her research focused on the brain mechanisms underlying visual perception as well as learning and behavioral performance. In her research, she used a variety of experimental methods including behavioral, electrophysiological, and molecular to investigate the neural mechanisms that support learning and memory.
Muhammad R, Rodowicz K, Heller M, Sala J, Mkandawire C. Biomechanical, perceptual, and cognitive factors involved in balance recovery following unexpected perturbations: A literature review. ASME International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition, IMECE2010-39285, November 12 18, 2010.
Rodowicz K, Muhammad R, Heller M, Sala J, Mkandawire C. Biomechanical, perceptual, and cognitive factors involved in maintaining postural control while standing or walking on non-moving and moving surfaces: A literature review. ASME International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition, IMECE2010-39276, November 12 18, 2010.
Sala JB, Nichols EA, Muhammad R, Lakhiani SD, Rauschenberger R, Wood CT. Government, warnings, safety information: A comparison of inter-agency regulations and guidance. In: Advances in Human Factors, Ergonomics, and Safety in Manufacturing and Service Industries. Karwowski W, Salvendy G (eds), pp. 1047–1056, CRC Press, 2010.
Blais B, Frenkel M, Kuindersma S, Muhammad R, Shouval HZ, Cooper LN, Bear MF 2008. Recovery from monocular deprivation using binocular deprivation: Experimental observations and theoretical analysis. J Neurophysiology 2008; 100(4):2217–2224.
Muhammad R, Wallis JD, Miller E. A comparison of abstract rules in the prefrontal cortex, premotor cortex, inferior temporal cortex, and striatum. J Cognitive Neurosci 2006; 18:974–989.
Assessed the adequacy of product related safety information in “failure to warn” claims. Considered alternative or additional information and its potential to produce behavioral change and or result in accident avoidance.
Performed quantitative analysis of injury patterns across a wide variety of consumer, recreational, and occupational products.