Robert Mauro is a Senior Scientist at ORI’s Decision Research Center and an Associate Professor of Psychology at the University of Oregon where he is also a member of the Institute of Cognitive & Decision Sciences. Dr. Mauro conducts basic and applied research in decision-making, risk assessment, and human emotion. Dr. Mauro’s applied work has focused on topics in aviation and psychology and law. His work in aviation includes laboratory and field work on training, flight deck procedures, and pilot decision-making. He has also worked on the development of practical risk assessment tools and training for space flight decision-making.

His psychology and law work includes studies of legal decisions in capital sentencing, group profiles, eyewitness identification, and expert testimony. His work in human emotions includes studies of the cognitive models of emotion, opponent-process theory, and the relations between cognition and emotion in decision-making.

Dr. Mauro’s work has been supported by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the National Science Foundation (NSF), and other agencies.  In addition, he has worked with regulators and major airlines in the United States and Europe on aviation and risk assessment issues.  He has also worked with the NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund, the Oregon Law Commission, and a variety of law enforcement agencies on psychology and law issues.