Aura C. Matias (born 11 September 1960) is a Filipino industrial engineer. Her academic research concerns ergonomics and human–computer interaction; she has also applied her expertise in industrial engineering to issues in the society of the Philippines including the quality of

water services The water industry provides drinking water and wastewater services (including sewage treatment) to residential, commercial, and industrial sectors of the economy. Typically public utilities operate water supply networks. The water industry doe ...

, and

corruption Corruption is a form of dishonesty or a criminal offense which is undertaken by a person or an organization which is entrusted in a position of authority, in order to acquire illicit benefits or abuse power for one's personal gain. Corruption m ...

in government agencies. She is a professor of industrial engineering and operations research at the University of the Philippines Diliman, where she is the former dean of engineering and former executive director of the National Engineering Center.

Education and career

Matias was a student at the University of the Philippines Diliman, where she earned a bachelor's degree in industrial engineering in 1982 and a master's degree in 1989. She went to Purdue University in the US for doctoral study in industrial engineering, completing her Ph.D. there in 1996. Her research there, conducted with

Gavriel Salvendy Gavriel Salvendy (born September 30, 1938) is a pioneer in the field of human factors and ergonomics. In 1990, he was elected a member of the National Academy of Engineering (NAE) for fundamental contributions to and professional leadership in huma ...

, involved the development of a model for predicting carpal tunnel syndrome based on data collected from 100 women who used computer keyboards. In 1998, she became one of the founders of the Philippine Institute of Industrial Engineers. In 2003 she helped found the Philippine Ergonomics Society. As a faculty member at the University of the Philippines Diliman, she chaired the department of industrial engineering and operations research from 2004 to 2010. After two terms as dean of engineering, she stepped down as dean in 2016, returning to a regular faculty position.

Recognition

Matias was an awardee of

The Outstanding Women in the Nation's Service The Outstanding Women in Nation’s Service (TOWNS) award is presented by the TOWNS Foundation to outstanding Filipino women ages 21 to 45 years old who have contributed positively to strengthening national capability and shaping the nation’s fu ...

for 2004. She is a member of the National Academy of Science and Technology, elected in 2011.

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Matias, Aura 1960 births Living people 21st-century Filipino engineers Industrial engineers Women engineers University of the Philippines Diliman alumni Academic staff of the University of the Philippines Diliman Filipino women engineers 21st-century women engineers