Debbie Carstens

Debbie Carstens is a Professor at the Florida Institute of Technology, holding joint appointments in the College of Aeronautics and the College of Engineering & Sciences. She serves as the Graduate Program Chair for the College of Aeronautics and directs the HF-ASSIST Lab (Human Factors: Aeronautics, Safety, Sociability, Interfaces, Sustainability, & Training). As Site Director for the FAA's PEGASAS Center of Excellence, she leads initiatives in aviation safety research. Her research focuses on human-centered design in aerospace systems, general aviation accessibility, and sociotechnical interfaces.

Professionally, she has held leadership roles including Phi Kappa Phi Past President, Member of the University Committee on Faculty Promotion and Tenure, and Assessment Coordinator for COA Graduate Programs. She previously served as Managing Editor of the International Journal of Aviation Sciences and led the College of Aeronautics Tenure and Promotion Committee.

Her work bridges academic and applied domains, emphasizing interdisciplinary collaboration in aviation safety, human factors engineering, and policy-driven research. The HF-ASSIST Lab focuses on improving aviation system safety through human-centric approaches.