Featured Graduate Student, December 2008
Joseph Carmona

Interview:

How would you describe your area of study to your grandmother?
Hey Grandma! Remember that time you became dizzy, fell down, and hurt yourself? Well I’m going to make sure that never happens again!

What is your primary motivation for persevering through graduate school?
I am immensely grateful for the privilege to attend graduate school. Despite the minor irritations that are a part of the rites of passage for any graduate student, I have a great passion for my work in neuropsychology and for the field in general. I operate under the conviction that the research we do in our laboratory is meaningful and beneficial to society. Moreover, my devotion to the welfare of my patients drives me to continue to pursue research aimed toward obtaining a better understanding their conditions and developing more effective interventions.

How do you think earning an advanced degree will change your role in society?
I realize full well the responsibilities that my degree will entail. There is currently a great need for people in the behavioral sciences, especially in the area of neuropsychology. My degree will allow me to practice in a variety of healthcare settings where I can improve the quality of life for patients with brain disorders. One of the many rewarding aspects of the field is the provision of education to the patient who does not understand how brain dysfunction impacts their behaviors. Through the research in our laboratory I hope to eventually be able to explain how emotions may influence the prognosis of dizziness, disorientation, and fall risk in the elderly population. I predict psychology’s role on medical rehabilitation teams will be enlarged in the near future given the burgeoning elderly population in the United States.

Did your past experiences in life or education help prepare you for graduate school or did you have to develop different strategies to succeed?
One of the most significant things I learned while in graduate school is to develop a respect for the academic forefathers in the field. Appreciating what others have accomplished before provides a balanced perspective of where my research fits in the field and where there is potential for innovation. This awareness in turn cultivates a sense of humility about my own work.

What is your favorite stress-reduction technique?
For as long as I can remember I have always enjoyed long-distance running, preferably through the local nature trails. I get my best insights on these runs. The challenge is remembering the idea when I return to the office!

What is the last book you read strictly for pleasure and how long ago was it?
Sergio Leone: Once Upon a Time in Italy by Sir Christopher Frayling. It reminded me of my childhood, as he is a director of spaghetti westerns that I had grown up watching. I read it last year. Currently, my extra-curricular reading has been about the candidates in the current presidential election.

Please describe your most meaningful academic relationship.
My most meaningful academic relationship has been with my advisor, Dr. David W. Harrison. When I was in college I used to be a member of the track team. Some coaches import their runners to make impressive teams. But I have always admired those coaches who had the rare ability to cultivate great athletes from homegrown talent. In the same vein, Dr. David W. Harrison exemplifies all the best attributes of a mentor who can nurture his students to the highest attainment of their potential. I do not believe that there can be a better spokesman for the field.

What are your aspirations upon graduation?
My long-term career interests are in line with either employment at a major academic medical center or within the VA Healthcare system. I intend to work with inpatients and outpatients (primarily adult and geriatric), conducting neuropsychological assessments and treatments, as well as completing general clinical work. Furthermore, I intend on continuing my research in a clinical population at risk for dizziness and falls. I hope to be afforded the opportunity to teach as well. I have enjoyed teaching here at Virginia Tech and at Radford University.

How do you find balance between work, play, and your other non-academic responsibilities?
I always put academics first, as I want to take maximal advantage of the opportunities within my graduate school career. However, my family and friends are also very important to me, and so I make sure that I set aside time for them no matter how busy I am.

If travel to Mars happens in your lifetime, would you want to be one of the scientists on board? If yes, what would you contribute to the mission?
Yes. I would study how the reduced gravity of the Mars environment might interact in conjunction with the frontal lobes’ regulatory capacity over the vestibular system and cognition.

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