DES PLAINES, IL (November 16, 2004) - The American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) Foundation today named two new members to its research committee: Yueng-Hsiang (Emily) Huang, Ph.D., research scientist at the Liberty Mutual Research Institute for Safety in Hopkinton, MA; and ASSE member James D. Ramsay, Ph.D., associate professor and coordinator of the Safety and Health Protection Program at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point (UWSP).

As part of the six-member ASSE Foundation research committee, Dr. Huang and Dr. Ramsay will help evaluate occupational safety research proposals under the Foundation's research grant program. Since 1998, the program has awarded nearly $80,000 for studies on such topics as eye protection, preventing terrorism and violence at schools, corporate culture and its relation to construction safety, and understanding stress factors for female workers in the transportation industry. The research committee is also involved with the ASSE Foundation/Liberty Mutual Research Fellowship Program, which annually provides funding for two individuals to conduct workplace safety research at the Liberty Mutual Research Institute for Safety in Hopkinton, MA. Past fellows have completed safety research in determining ergonomic exposure guidelines, preventing occupational hand injuries, and analyzing the effects of driver distractions.

Dr. Ramsay received an M.A. in Health Administration and a Ph.D. in Industrial Engineering/Preventive Medicine at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He has developed courses and conducted research on healthcare quality measurement, occupational safety and health principles, environmental health, and the economic evaluation of worksite safety and health programs. A charter member of ASSE's Academics Practice Specialty, Dr. Ramsay is a past recipient of this Practice Specialty's Safety Professional of the Year award, as well as a member of the Educational Standards Committee. Dr. Ramsay is a member of both the National Safety Council and the Society for Public Health Education, and he is also past chair of the UWSP Environmental Health and Safety Committee.

Dr. Huang replaces ASSE member Theodore K. Courtney, M.S., CSP, Quantitative Analysis Unit director at the Liberty Mutual Research Institute for Safety, who served on the research committee for four years. Dr. Huang received a B.S. in Psychology from National Chengchi University in Taiwan; an M.S. in Industrial/Organizational Psychology from San Francisco State University, San Francisco, CA; and a Ph.D. in Systems Science -Industrial/Organizational Psychology from Portland State University, Portland, OR. Before joining the Institute in 2001, Dr. Huang served as senior research associate at the Foundation for Accountability (FACCT), Portland, OR; and as senior supervisor and consultant at the Survey Research Lab of Portland State University. She is a member of the Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology and the American Psychological Association.

Recognized throughout the world, the Liberty Mutual Research Institute for Safety conducts original investigations into job-related accidents, injuries, and disability and publishes the results in peer-reviewed, scientific journals. The Institute is the only occupational safety research facility owned and operated by an insurance company.

Boston-based Liberty Mutual Group (www.libertymutual.com) is a leading global multi-line group of insurance companies whose largest line of business is personal auto, based on 2003 net written premium. LMG offers a wide range of insurance products and services, including personal automobile, homeowners, workers compensation, commercial multiple peril, London Market, commercial automobile, general liability, global specialty, group disability, assumed reinsurance, fire and surety.

Chartered in 1990, the ASSE Foundation is committed to ensuring the future of the occupational safety and health profession by providing financial resources to individuals and organizations. Funding for the Foundation comes from corporations and voluntary donations from ASSE members - individual and through chapters countrywide for applied safety research, scholarships, fellowships, internships and professional development. The Foundation is currently accepting applications for the ASSE Foundation/Liberty Mutual Research Fellowships. The applications deadline is March 1, 2005. For an application and guidelines visit The ASSE Foundation Homepage .