Kimberly Sabrina Perkins, PhD
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Research Scientist & Airline Pilot

On the Ground

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 At the center of aviation’s complex systems are people—and understanding how they think, lead, and adapt is what drives this research.  I’m fascinated by the people in the system. I focus on how interpersonal and cognitive factors—such as communication, trust, leadership, and psychological resilience—shape safety outcomes.  I investigate the dynamic interactions between individuals, teams, and technology, analyzing how human performance contributes to operational resilience and safety outcomes within sociotechnical systems.  

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By integrating human factors research, behavioral science, and emotionally intelligent AI, I aim to design adaptive systems that support safety-critical decision-making and enhance both technical performance and human well-being. This work contributes to the development of more intelligent, ethically grounded, and human-centered safety systems in aviation and aerospace.

In the Sky

Currently, I'm flying the Boeing 787, but my journey has taken a bit of a global-trotting streak.  From Captain in a Gulfstream 650 to the long-haul rhythm of widebody operations, I’ve piloted jet aircraft across six continents and called three of them home.
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One chapter took me to Lagos, Nigeria, where I flew in the dynamic skies of West Africa. Another brought me to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, where I operated a Lear 60 and soaked up the vibrant Southeast Asian aviation scene. From business aviation to commercial airlines, each stop has added a new dimension to how I see flying—not just as a technical craft, but as a deeply human one.

Whether it’s navigating international airspace or collaborating in cross-cultural crew rooms, I love working at the intersection of precision and people. Flying has given me a front-row seat to the world—not just from 36,000 feet, but from within its safety systems and its human stories. It’s this dual view, technical and deeply personal, that fuels my passion for human-centered research.

InVolo, Inc

After completing my doctoral research on how flight deck teams interact—and how social and behavioral science shape the effectiveness of safety systems (which, spoiler alert, don’t always work as seamlessly as we expect)—I knew I didn’t want the findings to sit on a shelf. I wanted to build something practical, something useful. A tool that could help any team strengthen their interpersonal skills and, in doing so, boost human performance.
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That drive led to a new collaboration and the launch of InVolo, a human-centered technology company based in the U.S. and Australia. Our team is building AI systems designed to enhance team dynamics and strengthen the resilience of safety-critical systems, with a focus on aviation. Read more about our current focus - CRMSON—a cutting-edge, AI-powered platform that combines real-time guidance, human factors research, and evidence-based insights to optimize communication, decision-making, and resilience in aviation teams.
InVolo


  • ​Research Scientist, University of Washington
  • Fellow, Royal Aeronautical Society
  • ​Honorary Fellow, University of Melbourne
  • Member, CAE Human Performance Excellence (hpX) Council ​

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  • Home
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  • UW: Aviation Lab
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