Department of Psychology
Undergraduate Advising Office

The Psychology Advising Office will work fully remote from July 10 - August 7. Staff will be available by email, phone, and Pathways and by virtual drop-in during designed times.

If you are enrolled in summer courses at Pitt remember that the dates for things like add/drop and withdrawal are condensed. Please refer to the Registrar's website to confirm those dates.

The PNI Research Laboratory (https://web.pitt.edu/pniresearchlab/) in the Department of Psychology is seeking rising sophomore undergraduate research assistants to join our team in Fall 2026. 

About the Lab

The goal of the PNI Research Lab is to understand the connections among biopsychosocial factors, biological aging, and health across the adult lifespan. We use a range of methods, including biological measures; longitudinal observational designs, daily assessments, and laboratory experiments.

PNI Lab website: https://web.pitt.edu/pniresearchlab/

The Role

Research assistants will primarily support the lab's ongoing project, the AHAB AgeWell Study, which examines accelerated epigenetic aging as a mechanism explaining lifespan socioeconomic effects on change in cognition across a 10–16-year follow-up. Responsibilities include:

• Reviewing participant surveys in REDCap
• Preparing and mailing data collection materials
• Assisting with in-person study visits
• Inventorying frozen participant blood samples in our wet lab
• Attend weekly lab meetings and one-on-one meetings with research team members

This is a hands-on opportunity to gain experience with data collection activities for an active, longitudinal study.

Requirements

• Overall GPA of 3.0 or higher
• 12 Psychology credits (including Fall 2026 term)
• STAT 0200/1000/1100 (Statistics)
• PSY 0036 (Research Methods Lecture)
• PSY 0037 (Research Methods Lab)
• PSY 1215 (Health Psychology) preferred
• Strong interpersonal skills
• Proficiency with computer applications
• Responsible and dependable
• Two-semester commitment (minimum 2 credits per semester)

How to Apply

Interested students should visit the “Applicants” page on the PNI Lab website to complete an application. Spots are limited.

We are inviting you to participate in Dyadic Study!

This study involves a very brief screening survey to determine whether you are eligible, and then a 1-hour long session where you will come into the lab and answer questions about your thoughts, feelings, and emotions, and complete a writing task.

While there is no compensation for filling out the brief screening survey, eligible participants
can earn $20 for participating in the study! To sign up for this study, you can take a brief screening survey by following this link: https://pitt.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_bBDAnldf26WvauO

These studies have been reviewed by the University of Pittsburgh’s IRB. If you have any questions, please contact the lab manager at IIRLAB@pitt.edu.

Announcements will run bi-weekly throughout the summer.