Academic Credentials
  • Ph.D., Kinesiology, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, 2019
  • M.A., Psychology, Adler University, 2014
  • B.S., Psychology, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, 2012
Licenses & Certifications
  • Certified Forklift Operator (CFO)
  • OSHA #511 Occupational Safety and Health Standards for General Industry
Academic Appointments
  • Graduate Instructor of Record, Social Science of Human Movement, UIUC, 2017
Professional Honors
  • UIUC Laura J. Huelster Graduate Student Award, 2019
  • UIUC Research Apprenticeship Program Mentor, 2018-2019
  • UIUC Teacher Ranked as Excellent by their Students, 2014-2017
Professional Affiliations
  • Human Factors and Ergonomics Society, 2019- Present
  • American College of Sports Medicine, 2016 – Present
  • Society of Behavioral Medicine, 2014 – Present

Dr. Palac currently applies his expertise to the investigation of human factors associated with vehicle accidents, industrial incidents and workplace hazards, consumer products, warnings and safety information, and other areas of human performance. He has experience in the design and evaluation of warnings and instructions for consumer products and industrial equipment and has presented his findings to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).

Dr. Palac's experience extends from assessing regulatory compliance standards including those set forth by the CPSC, the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA), the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and other regulatory bodies.

Prior to joining Exponent, Dr. Palac studied Kinesiology at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where his area of focus was cognition and physical activity behavior. At UIUC, he examined the efficacy of an aerobic exercise and cognitive training program on postconcussion symptomology. He specializes in the study and application of human performance psychology, perception, and cognition.

Dr. Palac was a researcher at UIUC's Exercise, Technology, and Cognition Laboratory, where he was involved in the design and implementation of federally-funded randomized controlled trials, analysis of quantitative data and statistical modeling, and the assessment of neuropsychological function among healthy and clinical populations. His work concentrated on the evaluation of cognition, performance, and behavior in individuals with concussion. Dr. Palac has also studied the role of various technologies aimed to enhance spatial navigation and reduce the risk of injury associated with physical activity.