UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Lisa Gatzke-Kopp, professor of human development and family studies, recently was named president-elect of the Society for Psychophysiological Research. The presidential role spans three years, over which she will serve as president-elect, president and past-president, each for a one-year period.
The Society for Psychophysiological Research (SPR) is an international scientific society that fosters research on the relationships between the brain, the body and behavior, and the mechanisms that drive these relationships.
The society publishes scientific literature, including the journal Psychophysiology, and holds annual meetings for its over 800 members worldwide. The society is affiliated with the Association for Psychological Science, the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and the Health and Behavior Alliance.
“It is a tremendous honor to be elected president for SPR,” said Gatzke-Kopp, who also is a co-funded faculty member with the Social Science Research Institute. “The society is a vibrant international community of scholars dedicated to advancing scientific knowledge and supporting the next generation of scientists through training, mentoring, and collaboration. I love having the chance to contribute to this mission and give back to the scientific community that fostered my own professional development.”
Gatzke-Kopp has been involved with SPR since she began graduate school, across many aspects of the society. She has served as an associate editor for the journal since 2013, chaired the Diversity and Outreach Committee for five years, and served on the board of directors.
In her research program, Gatzke-Kopp collaborates closely with prevention researchers in school and family contexts. She employs a wide range of techniques to examine neurobiological function, including autonomic (ECG, IMP, EDA); central (EEG, ERP, fMRI); and peripheral (genetic, endocrine) measures. By focusing on the basic mechanisms of behavior problems, her work aims to inform and evaluate universal and targeted prevention programs. She is also interested in how diversity and representation function in these contexts.