Dr. Andrea Webb's work as a Psychophysiologist stands at the crossroads of two sciences, psychology and biology. Psychophysiologists have only recently been named the official examiners of the relationship between mind and body. Read more to find out what Dr. Webb had to share about her innovative field in this exclusive KidsAhead interview.

What is your job?

I am a Psychophysiologist. My job is to look at the body's responses to psychological manipulations such as looking at pictures and listening to sounds. While Psychologists are interested in why we may fear snakes, a Psychophysiologist will attempt to understand our body's response to that fear.

Why did you choose this career?

It was definitely an accidental career that turned out to be the best mistake ever! Even though I discovered I really liked physiology in high school, I declared art as my major when I started college if you can believe it. After the first year I realized art was more of a hobby and not what I wanted to pursue as my career. So, I switched majors and graduated from Boise State University with a Psychology degree. My undergraduate mentor introduced me to a colleague who is world renowned in the psychophysiological detection of deception. I was so intrigued with his work around detecting deception that I decided to continue my education at the University of Utah where he became my mentor and the rest is history!

Explain what an average day at work is like for you.

There isn't one! My job includes a lot of different responsibilities which makes every day unique and exciting. My days are filled with designing research studies using psychology, coming up with ideas for future projects and analyzing and interpreting data. I also spend a lot of time writing up results from projects and turning that analysis into papers. Sometimes my papers are published and then I get to present my work at conferences - an incredibly rewarding experience. I think one of the aspects of my job that I enjoy most is mentoring my junior colleagues. I had a really wonderful mentor when I was starting out, so it is important to me to help new scientists navigate the workplace too. Being a Psycophysiologist is definitely not boring or monotonous!

What do you like best about your job?

I feel really fortunate because I genuinely like every aspect of my job. I work with different people on new and interesting projects all the time. I also analyze data from the projects and share my finding with others. What I love about this process is that all data can be manipulated to tell a story, so it's important to complete a critical analysis to help maintain the integrity of the research.

When you were a kid, did you like science, engineering and/or math? If so, what subject did you enjoy most and why? If not, what changed your mind?

I have had an interest in science and math for as long as I can remember. My favorite class in high school was an elective that covered Anatomy and Physiology. This was really my first taste of how the human body works and how all of the systems within our bodies are interconnected.

Was there a moment when you knew that you wanted to go into science? Tell us about it.

Freshman year at college I realized that I wanted to do something more than art. I started focusing on art therapy using psychology, but after that first year I ultimately decided to change directions and concentrate exclusively on psychology.

What was the biggest challenge you faced in your journey to becoming a scientist?

There are challenges for everyone who pursues engineering whether it's hard classes or a theory to understand, but with a good mentor and support system you can definitely overcome those challenges. Having a network of people that I could talk to and bounce ideas off of also helped to make me well-rounded and expand the projects I was working on, which ultimately made them better.

What inspired or convinced you to get involved in your field?

Absolutely! I met my mentor through my undergraduate advisor and I wanted to be just like him when I grew up. Even after graduate school, he has continued to mentor and work with me. There are so many great mentors out there who will be with you throughout your career. Mine has made a big difference in the career path I pursued, and I am grateful for everything he has and continues to teach me.

Do you have any suggestions for how kids in elementary school can get an introduction your field?

Talk to parents or teachers and surf over to some science websites. Also, Girls Scouts and Boy Scouts offer a lot of opportunities to gain experience in science, as well as spend some time in nature.

Are there exciting things happening in your field that could involve children who will enter the field in 10-15 years?

Science and technology are advancing so quickly it's hard to tell where we'll be in 10 or 15 years, but I think Human computer interaction will definitely increase. Also, we will see a lot of advances in devices and sensors that assist with disabilities and disorders.

 

Fun Facts:

• Andrea is part of team of researchers using technology to measure physiological responses linked to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) symptoms. PTSD is prevalent among military veterans and the goal of this research is to develop a test for PTSD that any clinician can use.

• Psychophysiology can be found in many industries. For example, NASA uses Psychophysiologists to help determine why some people adapt better to space than others.

• Art is still a part of Dr. Webb's life. She makes crafts and jewelry in her free time. Who knows, maybe we will see her work on Etsy.com one day!

Lab Lingo:

Physiology: The science of living organisms and their parts.
Psychology: The science of behavior.
Biology: The science of life in all its forms and phenomena.

(adapted from dictionary.com)