Deborah E. Dickerson

Deborah E. Dickerson is an Associate Professor in Industrial and Systems Engineering at Virginia Tech’s College of Engineering, cross-appointed in Civil and Environmental Engineering. She directs the Product and System Safety Laboratory focusing on hazard prevention through design, with emphasis on construction safety, occupational health, and risk-based management. Her research has been funded by NIOSH, NIH, and NSF, addressing topics like chemical hazard warnings, design FMEA, and psychosocial factors in safety adoption. Dickerson holds certifications as a Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH) and Certified Safety Professional (CSP).

Education:

• Ph.D., Industrial and Systems Engineering, Virginia Tech, 2007
• M.S., Industrial and Systems Engineering, Virginia Tech, 2006
• M.S., Ecology, North Carolina State University, 1999
• B.S., Biology, Virginia Tech, 1996

Research Interests: Her work spans systems safety design, construction hazard mitigation, and user-centered training systems. Key areas include:

• Product warnings and instruction effectiveness
• Risk-based infrastructure management
• Safety innovation adoption
• Prevention through Design (PtD) frameworks
• Psychosocial factors influencing safety behaviors

Awards:

• 2012 IEEE Transactions Best Paper Award for CO monitoring research
• NIOSH-funded Doctoral Fellowship at Johns Hopkins
• CIH and CSP certifications

Grants & Advising: Active in securing federal grants and collaborating with industry partners. Advises students in safety engineering and systems design, though no named advisees listed here.

Labs/Teams: Leads the Product and System Safety Lab, specializing in preventive engineering solutions for construction and industrial systems.