Blog post by Natalie Schwatka
Blog edited by Rebecca Brossoit
June 2023
Q: How did you learn about the field of Occupational Health Psychology?
A: In undergrad, I attended a seminar where I/O psychologists came to speak about careers applying psychology to business. I was hooked! I knew that I wanted to apply my psychology degree to help people while they work. But I didn’t hear about OHP specifically until I started speaking with faculty in I/O psychology programs about potential career paths.
Q: Please describe your educational background. Where did you earn your degree(s)? Did you receive OHP-specific training during graduate school?
A: I have a BA in psychology from the University of Portland and a MS and PhD in occupational ergonomics and safety from Colorado State University. After undergrad, I was looking into I/O psychology graduate programs but through various connections (thank you Dr. Peter Chen for answering my ‘cold’ email!) I was connected to a PhD program in occupational ergonomics and safety that was heavily focused on OHP training and research collaborations. I took an OHP course in graduate school, and I also participated in OHP-related research projects in collaboration with OHP faculty and graduate students. I was fortunate to collaborate with OHP professionals at NIOSH on research projects as well. Through my dissertation work, I built expertise in leadership related to safety and health at work.
Q: Where do you currently work and what is your job title?
A: I am an Assistant Professor of Environmental and Occupational Health at the Colorado School of Public Health, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus.
Q: What was the application process like for this job?
A: The application process involves submitting a CV as well as a cover letter that details experience with research, teaching, and mentoring as well as references. The recruitment committee reviews these documents and determines whether they want to invite you to campus. The campus visit includes a lot of meetings with the department chair, faculty, and students to learn more about how your skills and interests align with the department. The applicant is also expected to give a one-hour presentation on their research and teaching to give everyone a sense for their experience and fit with the department.
Q: Please describe how you use OHP in your work. How does your role contribute to improving employees’ health, safety, and/or well-being?
A: I use OHP in my research and teaching. The core of my research and practice focuses on leadership to advance workforce health, safety, and well-being. This research has been translated into business-facing trainings, such as the Foundations for Safety Leadership and the Total Worker Health Leadership Programs I teach and occupational health psychology course for Certificate in Total Worker Health, Master of Public Health, and Doctor in Public Health students. Finally, I develop continuing education programs that include leadership and workforce engagement and well-being components, such as the Total Worker Health Professional Program.
Q: What does a “typical day” in your job look like?
A: As a professor I spend my time on three main things: research, teaching, and service. I write grant and contract proposals to fund my research and educational activities. I collect data for research, including survey and focus group/interview data, and link it to other objective sources of data such as workers’ compensation claims. I conduct analyses using computer software and write up results for publication. Typically, I am collaborating with others with various backgrounds (e.g., statisticians, doctors, public health professionals, businesses, etc.) to carry out this work. I spend time translating my research into usable products for businesses. I also direct our Certificate in Total Worker Health program and teach two online courses as part of this program – one of which is an OHP course! Finally, I participate in university committees, mentor graduate students, and engage in professional society service.
Q: What is your favorite part of your job?
A: The variety, freedom, and flexibility. It offers you the chance to work on cutting edge research that can shape how businesses protect and promote workforce health, safety, and well-being. If you have an idea and can get it funded, you can really do whatever you want! Another bonus is traveling to different states and countries for conferences, meetings, and research activities as well as local travel to observe and engage with business leaders and workers to learn how work happens in different sectors. Lastly, I would say that academia offers a very flexible work schedule, which is great for people with families!
Q: Which skills are the most important to succeeding in your current role (e.g., communicating with clients, data analytics, etc.) and why?
A: Technical knowledge and skill is important in my job, but that’s only the foundation. I would say that the most successful academics understand how to communicate – both written and verbally. For example, you need to be able to communicate to funders why your work matters, to your peer reviewers about your study findings when you submit a manuscript to a journal, to students about what they need to know to practice in this field, and to business leaders and workers about how to create and maintain a healthy work environment.
Q: What advice do you have for graduate students interested in OHP careers?
A: You can enter the field of OHP through an official OHP graduate program, but you can also enter the field tangentially like I did. If you’re not in an official OHP graduate program, I would suggest considering how your field intersects with OHP. For me, I leveraged leadership practices to enhance construction worksite safety practices during my doctoral work. Reach out to OHP faculty and students to learn what opportunities there are for you to learn more about the field and to engage in OHP research. A great way to get started is to attend an OHP-related event! My first ever academic conference was APA’s Work, Stress & Health.
Q: Anything else you’d like to share?
A: Ask questions and get to know people! One of the best things I have done over the course of my career is to get to know people – fellow students, OHP faculty and faculty in different disciplines that “touch” OHP, OHP practitioners, etc. The more you get to know others, the more you will learn about the field, build peer connections, and set yourself up for jobs when ready.
Dr. Natalie Schwatka is an Assistant Professor of Environmental and Occupational Health at the Colorado School of Public Health, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. Herprimary research focus is on the how the working environment – business strategies, leadership practices, and organizational climate – can be used to protect and promote workers’ health, safety, and well-being, called a Total Worker Heath® (TWH) approach. She is primarily interested in intervention, dissemination, and implementation research on this topic. She applies OHP principles to her life by striving to be aware of when the demands of work and life are at odds with her physical and mental health. This knowledge is empowering as it gives her a chance to adjust.
Contact Information:
Twitter: @nvschwatka