Welcome Markus Langer, Visiting Scholar in Landers' Lab

Markus Langer, PhD, research assistant professor at the University of Saarbrücken in Germany will be working with Richard Landers, PhD, industrial and organizational (I/O) psychologist and director of the Testing New Technologies in Learning, Assessment, and Behavior (TNTLAB). Langer will be part of the lab until March 2020.

The researchers met at a conference of the Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology in Orlando, Florida in April 2016. Langer became interested in Landers' work about the intersection between data science, computer science, and psychology in the workplace. In his own research, Langer has looked into the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the job interview process, especially the level of an interviewee's trust in and acceptance of AI, as well as the moral and ethical aspects of using AI in interviews.

In the next half year, Langer wants to further explore the use of AI in job interviews. He is planning to collect “interview data” via social media, compiling datasets for more robust research.

He is excited about the stimulating and innovative environment in the Department of Psychology.

“Before I planned my stay at the University of Minnesota, I was not aware of the number of well-known scholars in the Department of Psychology. I hope to be able to meet and network with more researchers in my field and beyond my field of interest.” 

This is Langer’s first time in Minnesota and he is eager to explore the Twin Cities and beyond. So far, he is surprised to see so much green and such cultural and culinary variety. No need to miss authentic German beer and pretzels.