Academic Credentials
  • Ph.D., Psychology, Penn State University, 2013
  • M.S., Psychology, Penn State University, 2011
  • B.A., Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), 2007
Licenses & Certifications
  • 40-Hour Hazardous Waste Operation and Emergency Response Certification (HAZWOPER)
  • Certified Ergonomics Assessment Specialist (CEAS)
  • Certified Fire Investigator (CFI)
  • Certified Fire Investigator (CFI) (TX)
  • Certified Safety Professional (CSP)
  • Helicopter Underwater Egress Training (HUET)
  • PADI Certified Open Water Scuba Diver
Additional Education & Training
  • OSHA 500, Trainer Course in OSHA Standards for Construction
  • OSHA 501, Trainer Course in OSHA Standards for General Industry
  • OSHA 510, OSHA Standards for the Construction Industry
  • OSHA 511, OSHA Standards for General Industry
  • MSHA Part 48 New Miner Training (Compliance Training)
  • ISO 45001, Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems (BSI)
  • ISO 19011, Auditing Management Systems (BSI)
  • Safety Practice Certificate, Mary K. O'Conner Process Safety Center, Texas A&M University
  • Vehicle Rescuer / Extrication Technician, Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service (TEEX)
  • Firefighter II (vol.), State Fire Fighters' and Fire Marshals' Association (SFFMA)
  • Technical and Confined Space Rescue Technician (SFFMA)
  • OSHA Process Safety Management (PSM) Compliance and Auditing (ABS)
  • EPA Risk Management Program (RMP) Compliance and Auditing (ABS)
  • Root Cause Analysis (RCA) and Incident Investigation (ABS)
  • Process Hazard Analysis (PHA) Leader (ABS)
  • Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Introduction to Incident Command System (ICS) 100
  • FEMA ICS for Single Resources and Initial Action Incident (ICS 200)
  • FEMA National Incident Management System (NIMS), An Introduction (IS-00700.a)
  • FEMA National Response Framework, An Introduction (IS-00800.b)
  • Cranes and Rigging in Construction (360 Training)
  • Overhead Crane – Operator Safety Course (360 Training)
  • Pedestal Mounted Crane – Operator Safety Course (360 Training)
  • Lattice Boom/Crawler Crane – Operator Safety Course (360 Training)
  • Boom Truck/Stiff Boom Crane – Operator Safety Course (360 Training)
  • Arc Mapping Basics (CFI Trainer)
  • Electrical Safety (CFI Trainer)
  • Fire Protection Systems (CFI Trainer)
  • Wildland Fires Investigation (CFI Trainer)
  • Physical Evidence at the Fire Scene (CFI Trainer)
  • Shodan (1st degree black belt), Tomiki Ryu Aikido
Academic Appointments
  • Lecturer (Psychology, Research Methods, Statistics), Psychology Department, Pennsylvania State University, 2011-2013
Professional Honors
  • Member, Board of Directors, Evergreen Safety Council
  • National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program: Honorable Mention (2011)
  • Nominated Collegiate Scholar, International Scholar Laureate Program of the Golden Key International Honor Society (2007)
  • UCLA Departmental Highest Honors in Psychology (2007)
  • UCLA University Merit Grant (2005)
  • California Governor's Scholar Award (2001)
Professional Affiliations
  • Board of Certified Safety Professionals (BCSP)
  • Human Factors & Ergonomics Society (HFES)
  • National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians (NAEMT)
  • National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)
  • State Fire Fighters' and Fire Marshals' Association (SFFMA)
  • Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA)

Dr. Coelho is a human factors, safety, and risk management professional with experience in several industries, including aviation, aerospace, on-shore and off-shore oil and gas, chemical, marine, mining, construction, manufacturing, utilities, and rail. A cognitive neuroscientist whose research focuses on human motor control, he applies a uniquely interdisciplinary expertise in cognitive and physical behavior to issues such as warnings and labels, human error and reliability, decision making, safety in design, human-machine interfacing, and ergonomics.   

Dr. Coelho addresses human performance in operations, maintenance, emergency, and consumer contexts. He also provides expert analysis and testimony in cases involving premises liability, personal injury, and product liability, among others.

Dr. Coelho conducts risk analyses aimed at reducing human error through incorporating human factors principles in design, policies, procedures, hardware, software, work environments, and team resource management. He also specializes in root cause analyses and incident investigations involving human performance gaps that lead to adverse events such as explosions, fires, chemical releases, and major equipment failures. As a former licensed motorcycle safety instructor and current certificated pilot, Dr. Coelho can also provide expert analysis and testimony in cases involving motorcycle and aircraft incidents.

Dr. Coelho is a published subject matter expert on a variety of topics, including action selection, manual object manipulation, handedness, hand choice, lateralized performance asymmetries of the arms, coordination of walking, standing, and reaching behaviors, decision making, learning, visual object recognition, human fatigue risk management, and risk perception.

Dr. Coelho holds a Certified Safety Professional designation from the Board of Certified Safety Professionals, a Certified Fire Investigator designation from the Texas Commission on Fire Protection, and a Safety Practice Certificate from Texas A&M University for advanced training in a variety of safety topics. Dr. Coelho is authorized to teach the 10- and 30-hour Outreach Courses in both OSHA General Industry and Construction Safety and Health Standards. He also has experience as a volunteer firefighter, technical and confined space rescuer, vehicle extrication technician, and emergency medical technician.

Dr. Coelho is practiced at evaluating compliance with regulatory requirements, including those set forth by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and others. He is also experienced at assessing conformance with industry consensus standards, including those published by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), International Organization for Standardization (ISO), National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), and others.

Prior to joining Exponent, Dr. Coelho did his doctoral research at Pennsylvania State University after completing an internship at the University of Chicago and an undergraduate program in learning, memory, and cognition at UCLA. He started his applied professional career as a human factors design engineer supporting the International Space Station Program at NASA Johnson Space Center.