Prospective Applicants

The FEND Lab is committed to recruiting and providing ongoing support, training, and mentorship to underrepresented students at the undergraduate, post-baccalaureate, graduate, and post-doctoral levels.

Undergraduate Students

FEND Lab students on campus

Undergraduate students at the University of Pittsburgh can get involved with the FEND lab through the Department of Psychology’s Directed Research program.  Directed research students earn course credit in exchange for their assistance in the lab. Our application for undergraduate students opens March 1 and closes April 15th each Spring. 

 See the Pitt Department of Psychology website for more information:

The FEND lab also offers federal work study positions to undergraduate students who qualify. If you would like to be involved in the FEND lab as a directed research student or work study, please contact Lab Manager Juliana Agnolet at JMA138@pitt.edu

women reading book
Research Assistants

The FEND lab will be hiring a Project Coordinator in the Fall of 2026 (ideally Sept or Oct) for an NIMH study focused on digital media use (social media, texting, video chat) and social anxiety in adolescents ages 13 to 17. It will also examine individual difference factors that make more youth susceptible to the positive and negative effects of digital media on social anxiety, such as neural factors assessed via fMRI and in-person peer relationships. A link to the job application will be posted when available. In the meantime, feel free to send a CV to Dr. Silk at jss4@pitt.edu if you are interested in hearing more about the position. 

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Postdoctoral Fellows and Clinical Psych Interns

Please email Dr. Silk at jss4@pitt.edu to discuss potential opportunities. 

Students in dorm
Prospective Graduate Students

I AM NOT TAKING A STUDENT FOR THE 2027-2028 CYCLE. In other words, I am not considering applications from students who wish to enter as a Ph.D. student beginning in Fall 2027. There is no need to email me to confirm. I will update this website when I am taking a graduate student again, which I anticipate will be for the 2028-2028 academic year. 

Contact Information

The FEND Lab is located on the fourth floor of Sennott Square at 210 South Bouquet Street in Oakland.

If you have any additional questions about the FEND Lab, please contact us.

Affiliated Laboratories

University of Pittsburgh

University of Pittsburgh Department of Psychology

University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC)

University of Pittsburgh Psychiatry Department

Western Psychiatric Institute & Clinic

Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh

The IMPACT Program

CANDlab

Teen and Young Adult Lab

FEND Lab students

Future Student Introduction

Thank you for your interest in applying to be a graduate student in the Families, Emotions, Neuroscience and Development (FEND) Lab. I receive too many emails from potential applicants to respond to each one personally, therefore I put together this material to help you learn about the program and decide if you want to apply. If you have a specific question after reviewing this material, feel free to email me. It is not necessary or encouraged to send an email to inform me that you will be applying—this does not provide any advantages in the application process.

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Application Q&A

Strong applicants to the FEND Lab are passionate about the topics described above and typically have a strong academic record, with prior coursework in psychology and at least one year of research experience. Independent research experience, such as completing a senior thesis, poster presentation, or publication is also valued. Most admitted students will have 1 or 2 years of post-baccalaureate research experience, although this is not a requirement. I look for students who show evidence of initiative, independence and leadership, productivity, and creativity. I value diversity, equity, and inclusion and strive to fill the lab with people who have diverse backgrounds and life experiences, as well as evidence of perseverance and resilience. The FEND lab is a close-knit and collaborative community and we are looking for new students who are friendly and enjoy working as part of the team and collaborating with other students and post-docs/faculty who have complementary interests. I also look for students who are strong writers and communicators. Please feel free to submit an independent writing sample to demonstrate your writing abilities. Please note that GRE scores are currently optional for the Clinical/Developmental Program at Pitt. Please feel free to submit your GREs if you feel they are a good reflection of your ability but if you do not submit GRE scores it will not hurt your chances of admission in any way.

Given the typical number of applicants to my lab, I will not be able to meet individually with interested applicants prior to the review process. Although I enjoy speaking with prospective students, it wouldn't be possible for me to meet with all applicants to the lab or to review all applicants' materials in advance, and therefore this process maximizes equity and transparency, while also allowing me to focus on mentoring my current students. I will begin reviewing applications in mid-December. I will be asked to review applications for students who listed me as a potential mentor. Please list my name first if you wish to work with me, to ensure that your application comes to my attention. I use a holistic review process that includes reviewing personal statements, letters of recommendation, CVs, transcripts, and other submitted materials. Personal statements are especially valuable, so please make sure to give me a good sense of who you are and what you are interested in focusing on in graduate school. This is also an opportunity to showcase your creativity and writing skills. I also pay attention to any structural barriers or unique circumstances that applicants may choose to discuss in the personal statement. After conducting a holistic review of all applications, I will select a "long list" of candidates (usually the top 20 applicants) for first-round "unofficial" Zoom interviews with myself or a member of my lab, usually during the Winter Break. In early January, a smaller number of applicants will be invited for the official University of Pittsburgh interview day, where they will have the opportunity to meet with faculty and students from across the Department, which will be conducted virtually this year on January 26th and 27th. Students who receive offers will be invited to visit the University of Pittsburgh in person on February 23rd and 24th. 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 the specific graduate programs.