Practice Fields

Anneke Hamann
Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt, Institut für Flugführung, Promotion zum Thema „Physiologische Messung kognitiver Leistungsfähigkeit bei Piloten“

When I started at DLR, I had to explain - as I often do - exactly what "HPSTS" stood for. But HPSTS is exactly the reason why I ventured into flight control. In the master's program, I learned to transfer basic knowledge to a wide variety of application fields. Either learning how street design influences our behavior or using eye movement to explore how perception changes in virtual reality. And this constant transfer of knowledge pays off. Of course, my studies didn't specifically prepare me for working with air traffic controllers or pilots. But every day I discover anew how much knowledge I can apply here.

Carolina Barzantny
Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt, Abteilung Luft- und Raumfahrtpsychologie. Promotion und Fluglotsenauswahl

With the HPSTS master’s program I associate my entry into my current work and research field, human-machine-interaction. As a psychologist working at the German Center for Aviation, I deal with the selection of staff members (e.g., air traffic controllers) as well as with the shaping of socio-technical systems to increase safety in the airspace. In the context of my doctorate - focusing on the training of aviation operators - I use eye tracking, which I first came into contact with during my Research & Intervention seminar in HPSTS.

What the study program did for me: Paying attention in multivariate statistics classes was sensible! And in traffic and transportation psychology! Statistics and traffic psychology are the two subjects from the Master’s program that I need the most for my job now. For one study, for example, I computed structural equation models using AMOS. In traffic psychology I was most interested in psychological diagnostics in a traffic context and in how people choose their means of transport – I work and do research in both fields now. My advice to students is to look around as to which electives and minors are available, and to think outside the box. Then, when choosing a job, let yourselves be guided by the things that fascinated you the most during your studies!

The HPSTS master’s program gave me a broad subject-specific and methodical base on which I am now building in my practical work. The program also makes it possible to study certain topics in more depth, thus enabling a kind of specialization even before entering into employment. The mixture of depth in terms of content and breadth in terms of applicability is a difficult but necessary balancing act, in my view. What I like is that you never know when you will need which snippet of your expertise, but that’s what it’s all about: being well-prepared instead of reiterating preconcieved solutions.

Through the HPSTS master’s program I got to acquire important skills and knowledge regarding psychological workplace analysis, which I need for my current job in occupational health management. In addition, what I learned about structured interviews is very useful for my work as a recruiter. More generally, the program taught me to carefully read and analyze scientific studies. That is helpful, not only in professional environments.