The National Science Foundation has awarded the University of Sagacity's Department of Spatial Relations a $2.3 million grant to expand research into queue anxiety and line-switching behavior.
Principal investigator Dr. Felix Mendez will lead a five-year study examining the neurological basis of queue perception, building on his foundational work demonstrating that humans overestimate adjacent queue speed by a factor of 2.3.
"This funding allows us to move from observation to intervention," Dr. Mendez explained. "We've established that queue-switching is largely irrational. Now we can develop evidence-based strategies to reduce the genuine distress people experience while waiting."
The grant will fund the construction of an experimental retail environment on campus, complete with adjustable queue configurations, hidden sensors, and one-way observation rooms. Undergraduate volunteers will be compensated with dining hall credits.
"The practical applications are enormous," said Department Chair Dr. Raymond Okonkwo. "Theme parks, DMV offices, airport security—anywhere humans form lines, they suffer unnecessarily. We can change that."
The research team expects to publish preliminary findings in the Journal of Overlooked Phenomena by late 2025.