"Dr Swantje Zschernack studied Mechanical Engineering at the Technical University of Berlin and obtained a degree as a Diplom-Ingenieurin (equivalent to a MSc degree) in 2000. From 2000 to 2005 she worked as a Lecturer at the Department of Product Ergonomics and Human Factors Engineering at the Technical University of Berlin. She arrived in the HKE department at Rhodes University in January 2006, and is currently a Senior Lecturer in the department. She has conducted various research activities with a focus on work design and workplace design at both micro and macro ergonomic levels, with a focus on the impact of environmental conditions on the human operator. Additionally she has engaged in the conceptualizing of work system models and especially in the transfer of ergonomic theory and scientific methods into the application of practical work design. She obtained her PhD in January 2007 with the thesis entitled: A systematic approach for improving ocupational safety and health exemplified at the work system operating room."

Work design and workplace design at both micro and macro ergonomic levels, with a focus on the impact of environmental conditions on the human operator.