David Weissman, Post-Doc

What is one project you’re excited about that you are working on in the lab right now?

I'm leading the FACEs study along with Stephanie and Steven. I'm looking at how childhood trauma might impact adolescents' emotion functioning, particularly their emotional awareness and related neural mechanisms.

What is something that you enjoy doing outside of work?

Running, playing board games, and playing with my kids

What is something that you are personally working on improving (about yourself, about the world, about your community etc)?

I'm trying to be more interpersonally proactive, in initiating conversations, getting to know people, and making them feel welcomed and comfortable.

What is something you have accomplished and are proud of outside of work?

I've run 9 marathons.

Give us a snapshot of a moment of joy in your life.

Almost every evening, after dinner, we turn off all the lights, turn on the star projector and have a dance party to my son Gabe's favorite techno artist (Marshmello)

Do you have any hidden talents? If so, what?

I'm pretty good at trivia. I dream of being on Jeopardy and take the online test every year.

What has made you the proudest in your time in the lab?

Individually, the product I'm most proud of is a paper demonstrating that low emotional awareness is associated with transdiagnostic psychopathology in 2 different samples (Feelz and MT) and that it mediates the association between trauma and psychopathology in the MT sample. Collaboratively, I'm really proud of the research and professional development of Eli, Gyuri, and Amy, who I've had the opportunity to work with closely. And as a lab, I'm really proud of the way we have come together amidst the societal reckoning with systemic racism to create a more inclusive community within our lab and to think critically about increasing the societal impact of our research.

What do you want to be when you “grow up”?

A professor of psychology or human development

What brought you to work here?

I want to do research that, through a better understanding of mechanisms linking childhood trauma and psychopathology, can improve the lives of adolescents. I also want to land a tenure track faculty job in California, where my wife Kiki and I met and lived prior to this, and where her family all live. I think that working in the SD Lab and learning from Kate is the best imaginable opportunity for me to be able to achieve both those things.

If you could be anything (outside from your current field) what would it be?

A writer/designer of K-12 science curriculum

What’s important to know about you?

I love teaching, and I'm always happy to help.