Lauren Burmester

Title
Assistant Professor
Email
Department
Aeronautical Science Department
College
College of Aviation

Areas of Expertise

  • Workforce Development- Aviation 
  • Pilot Shortage
  • Gender Gap in Aviation Education and Careers
  • Women in Aviation
  • Partnerships and Pathway Programs
  • Mentoring
  • Pilot and Aviation Career Development

Dr. Lauren Burmester was born and raised in a small town in Pennsylvania called West Wyomissing.  She learned to fly the summer before her senior year of high school at Reading Air School of Flight located at the Reading Regional Airport.  She does not come from an aviation family.  In fact, most of her family does not like to fly.  Her love of anything and everything aviation and space related started at a very early age attending air shows and watching space shuttle launches on TV.

Dr. Burmester is an Assistant Professor in the Aeronautical Science Department.  She received both her Bachelor of Science and Master of Science Degree in Aeronautics from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University- Daytona Beach Campus.  She completed a Doctorate of Education in Educational Leadership from Capella University.  Her current research includes examining the gender gap in the aviation industry and collegiate aviation programs, effects of mentorship on the mentor, and effectiveness of pilot pathway programs on university enrollment, retention and graduation rates.  She has experience flying Cessna 152s, 172s, T-6 Texans, as well as rotor and fixed-wing UAS.   Dr. Burmester is a certified High Altitude-Hypoxia Awareness Training Instructor. She manages all of the airline/corporate/cargo pilot and UAS partnership programs at ERAU.  She serves as a Board Member on the University Disciplinary Committee Honor Board as well the faculty advisor for the Dancing Eagles Club.  She is also the Vice Chairmen of the Board for iHart Flying Foundation. 

  • Ed.D. - Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership, Capella University
  • M.S. - Master of Science in Aeronautics: Aviation Aerospace Safety, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
  • B.S. - Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Studies: Space Studies, Aviation Safety and Business Administration, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
  • Ground Instructor - Federal Aviation Administration
  • The Recreational UAS Safety Test (TRUST) - Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
  • High Altitude Hypoxia Awareness Training - Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
  • Building Safe Organizations - Unmanned Safety Institute
  • Unmanned Aircraft Systems - Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
  • AS 380: Plt Career Plng Intrvw Tchnqs
  • AS 120: Principles of Aeronautical Sci

AS 220 Introduction to Uncrewed Aircraft Systems

ASC 101 Aeronautical Science Success

High Altitude- Hypoxia Awareness Training Lab

Burmester, L., Metscher, D., & Smith, M.(2014) Contributing Factors to High Attrition Rates in Online Educational Programs, International Journal of Professional Aviation Training & Testing Research, Vol 6, Issue 1, 1-17 

Vice Chairman of the Board, iHart Flying Foundation

Central Florida Business Aviation Association (CFBAA)

National Business Aviation Association (NBAA)

Women in Aviation International (WAI)

Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International (AUSVI)

2024 Laura Bassi Editorial Scholarship Recipient