Protecting Under the Hard Hat

Dr. Roni Barak Ventura is an Assistant Professor in the School of Applied Engineering and Technology at the New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT). Her research focuses on designing human-centered technologies that promote health, well-being, and social good. By combining engineering, artificial intelligence, and human-computer interaction, she develops technologies that are not only effective but also relatable, trustworthy, and responsive to people's needs.

Her work spans digital health, rehabilitation engineering, and assistive technologies, including the development of telerehabilitation systems and other innovative tools to improve access to care. Through Protecting Under the Hard Hat, she works with construction industry partners to apply these engineering approaches to support construction workers and their families, creating evidence-based technologies that connect people with mental health, substance use, and wellness resources.

Dr. Barak Ventura's work is informed by both scientific research and her personal experience with depression and recovery, strengthening her commitment to reducing stigma and making it easier for people to seek help. Her broader research also uses data science and causal inference to better understand complex public health challenges and evaluate interventions and policies that improve health and well-being.

Chris Lalevee is a Business Agent and Member Assistance Program (MAP) Coordinator for the International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE) Local 825, representing thousands of heavy equipment operators throughout New Jersey and New York's Hudson Valley. A second-generation Operating Engineer and former crane operator, Chris transitioned from the field into union leadership, where he champions the health, safety, and well-being of construction workers.

Drawing on his own lived experience, Chris developed Local 825's confidential Member Assistance Program to connect members and their families with resources for mental health, substance use, and other personal challenges. He is also a founding member of the Alliance for Naloxone Safety in the Workplace, working with labor organizations, contractors, and industry leaders to promote overdose prevention, workplace naloxone programs, and supportive workplace policies.

A nationally recognized speaker and advocate, Chris collaborates with industry partners to integrate mental health, addiction recovery, overdose prevention, and suicide prevention into everyday construction safety, helping create workplaces where workers feel supported and empowered to seek help.

Andrew Couto is a third-year civil engineering major at the New Jersey Institute of Technology, with minors in applied mathematics and business. On Protecting Under the Hard Hat, he designed the project's promotional materials, helped develop the worker survey, and contributes to the writing of the team's research publications. Outside the project, Andrew serves as president of NJIT's student chapter of the American Society of Civil Engineers and is a volunteer firefighter in his hometown.

Krish Amitkumar Patel is an undergraduate student at the Albert Dorman Honors College (ADHC) of the New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT). He studies Computer Science and Applied Physics with minors in Design of the User Experience and Computational Mathematics. His career aspirations include full-stack engineering, AI engineering, and software development. He hopes to approach his education and career with an interdisciplinary mindset, combining a holistic set of skills to inform his endeavors. He is the backend engineer for this website.