People

Sarah L Pedersen, PhD

Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Psychology

Sarah Pedersen, PhD, is an Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Psychology at the University of Pittsburgh. Dr. Pedersen is a licensed clinical psychologist with a long-standing interest in treating and researching heavy substance use and substance use disorders. Her research is centered on integrating environmental and individual factors to identify proximal points of intervention that drive substance use inequities in marginalized populations. Her current research is examining racial discrimination experiences and chronic stress exposure in relation to the acute effects of alcohol and alcohol problems. Dr. Pedersen utilizes both naturalistic and lab-based methods to capture experiences as they unfold prior to, during, and after alcohol or substance use. Dr. Pedersen is deeply invested in mentorship and training and is committed in increasing representation in science. To this end, she is Chair of the Diversity, Inclusivity, Cultural Humility, and Equity committee for Western Psychiatric Hospital’s clinical psychology internship. Additionally, Dr. Pedersen is a faculty facilitator for the department of Psychiatry’s Career and Research Development seminar, is a steering committee member and faculty preceptor of the Developmental Alcohol Research Training program (NIAAA T32), is currently the primary mentor for two amazing post-doctoral scholars, and welcomes 3-5 undergraduate and medical students into her lab each semester to complete individualized research projects under her mentorship.

Lab website: https://yfrp.pitt.edu