With a background in psychology and extensive experience as a researcher, lecturer, and applied practitioner, Ricardo Gregorio Lugo specializes in the behavioral aspects of cyber defense operations at both individual and team levels. His research integrates human factors and cognitive engineering, focusing on cyber defense exercises and decision-making under time pressure, risk, and ambiguity.
Dr. Lugo holds a PhD in Psychology from Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz and collaborates with research institutions across Europe and the US. His expertise spans self-efficacy, metacognition, and macrocognition in high-stakes environments, bridging insights from cybersecurity, elite sports, and human performance research.
Currently a Senior Researcher at TalTech Estonian Maritime Academy, Dr. Lugo is actively engaged in international academic collaborations and applied research, contributing to advancements in cybersecurity and human performance.
How do you see your role in the Horizon 2020 ERA Chair project?
I see myself as developing the Human factors group of the ERA chair project by developing research, collecting and processing data, and disseminating results to research, professional and public outlets.
Why is Estonia/TalTech the best place for the ERA Chair project in maritime security?
With its history and close collaboration with the centre for digital forensics and cybersecurity and national and international (NATO) centres, it is an ideal place to develop the ERA chair project further.
What are the main challenges in the project?
From my perspective, it is securing funding and personnel.
How do you see the future of the Center?
See it as expanding and leading research in the area of human factors, as this will have more of a central focus in the future.
What would be the key experience you take with you from the past to the project?
Working multidisciplinary is the key. While previously it was specialized to maritime, other approaches have helped expand the understanding of maritime security.
What connects you to the sea and maritime sector?
People. As a “people” researcher, this has been the main connection. Human and organisational behaviour alongside understanding social influences of behaviour in maritime is very interesting.
