Join the CREAR Lab

Gracias for your interest in the Community Research Exploring Adolescent Resilience Lab (CREAR Lab).

I am not accepting applications during the 2025–2026 admissions cycle.

In other words, I will NOT be accepting applications from students who wish to become Ph.D. students beginning in Fall 2026.

CREAR Lab team at Pumpkin Patch event

CREAR Lab team enjoying community outreach at the Pumpkin Patch event.

Current Undergraduate Opportunities

We currently have open volunteer and Directed Research positions in the lab for current undergraduate freshmen, sophomores, and juniors. You can check back in Spring 2025 to confirm whether we are taking individuals seeking post-baccalaureate or post-doctoral positions.

Please reach out to our lab manager, Ashley Lopez at ashley.lopez@pitt.edu with questions.

FAQs

Click a question to expand. (These are styled for accessibility and readability.)

Can I list your name as my graduate mentor?⌄
When applying to Psychology Ph.D. programs at Pitt, prospective students apply to work with a specific faculty member(s) in their research lab as their advisor/research mentor. There is a spot on the application where you can list one or more mentors of interest. That’s where you should list my name if you are interested in working in my lab and would like for me to review your application.
Is funding available for admitted Ph.D. students?⌄
The Psychology Department provides financial support to admitted students through tuition coverage and a stipend. Funding for students in my lab comes from a range of sources, including research assistant slots from my Pitt start-up funds and possibly in the future from grant funding, fellowships (e.g., from Pitt and the National Science Foundation), and teaching assistantships (TA) and independent teaching (Teaching Fellow or TF).
What are you looking for in a prospective student?⌄

Strong applicants to CREAR Lab are passionate about one or more research areas in our lab, have a strong academic record, typically have completed prior coursework in Psychology (or Social Work), and have usually gained at least one year of research experience in psychology or a related field, ideally including post-baccalaureate experience and/or independent research experience (for example, through a senior thesis, poster presentations, publication experience).

In reviewing applications, I will look for evidence of applicants’ interest in and commitment to diverse populations, including, but not limited to, violence exposure, mental health disparities, acculturation, resilience framework, and drawing from culturally-humble and strengths-based perspectives.

Because a lot of our work is international (in Mexico, Honduras, Puerto Rico, etc.) and with Spanish-speaking Latino/as in the U.S., it will be an additional benefit if an applicant is bilingual in Spanish (so please mention if you are bilingual!). However, this is not a requirement, nor would it make or break a students’ application if the applicant is otherwise qualified and aligned with the work being conducted in the lab.

As part of my holistic review process, I will pay close attention to structural barriers applicants may have experienced in their academic and career journeys. In light of concerns about equity related to the GRE, I will NOT consider GRE scores in admissions cycles.

My holistic review process includes reviewing personal statements, letters of recommendation, CVs, transcripts, and other submitted materials. I pay special attention to structural barriers and unique circumstances applicants may have experienced on their academic and career journeys (e.g., first-generation status, structural and interpersonal circumstances, minority identities and related structural disparities), which you may decide to discuss in your personal statement and/or ask your letter-writers to discuss on your behalf.

Although I am the primary person reviewing the applications that list me as a potential mentor, the ultimate decision about whom to invite for official interview visits (and final admissions decisions) is made collectively by faculty in our program.

Should I email you before applying?⌄
It is not necessary to email me before applying. Sometimes applicants feel they need to email faculty to express their interest in advance. For me, this definitely is not necessary. Whether or not you email me will have no bearing on your ultimate chances of admission. I will carefully review all applications that list me as a potential mentor on official apps submitted through Pitt, and my holistic review process will not involve checking to see if students emailed me or reviewing content sent via email.

You are of course welcome to email me (andrea.medrano@pitt.edu) if you have a specific question not answered on my website or Pitt’s website.
Can we meet by Zoom before I apply?⌄
Unfortunately, no. To ensure fairness, Dr. Medrano does not schedule pre-application meetings. Selected applicants will be contacted for interviews after a holistic review.

Undergraduate Interest Form

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