About me

I’m Dr. Cristiane (Cris) Kauer Brazil, an Industrial Engineer passionate about the intersection of technology, sustainability, and human-centered design.

My work sits at a unique crossroads: I combine data science, virtual reality, environmental management, and systems thinking to solve complex real-world problems — whether that means helping industries reduce environmental impact or designing immersive tools to assess cognitive health.

Academic Foundation

I earned my Ph.D. in Industrial Engineering from Kansas State University (4.0 GPA), where my dissertation focused on:

Exploring the implementation of virtual reality technology for the assessment of daily living activities.

My research investigated how immersive VR simulations can replicate real-world tasks and potentially replace in-person performance-based cognitive assessments — with applications in early detection of cognitive decline.

Alongside my Ph.D., I completed a Graduate Certificate in Applied Statistics, strengthening my background in quantitative analysis, modeling, and data-driven decision-making.

My academic journey began in Brazil, where I earned a B.S. in Industrial Engineering from the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul.

Sustainability & Industry Leadership

From 2022 to 2025, I served as Pollution Prevention Program Lead at K-State’s Pollution Prevention Institute, where I:

Led and managed three U.S. EPA grants totaling over $1M
Secured over $500K in new grant funds for FY 26-28
Provided consulting to industrial facilities on environmental management and operational efficiency
Developed and mentored a competitive internship program connecting students to sustainability-focused projects
Helped industries reduce waste, conserve energy and water, and improve compliance through source reduction strategies

My approach blends engineering rigor, environmental strategy, and systems optimization — ensuring sustainability initiatives are both impactful and economically viable.

Research & Human Factors

As a Graduate Research and Teaching Assistant in Industrial Engineering, I worked on projects exploring:

VR simulation validity and usability
Cognitive aging and event segmentation
fMRI analysis related to aging and semantic knowledge
NIH-sponsored studies with older adult participants

I’ve taught courses in:

Engineering Economics
Work Environments
Human Factors & Ergonomics
Manufacturing Information Systems
Big Data Analytics

I believe education should empower students to connect theory to practice — and to think critically about technology’s role in society.

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