Hi! My name is Sofia Caceres and I am part of the sustainability team for Pitt’s ACRI team this semester. I am a senior majoring in psychology with a minor in LCJS (law, criminal justice and society) and a certificate in sustainability. Outside of school, I’m usually traveling or planning my next trip. I love exploring new places and learning about different cultures. Two summers ago, I lived in Lisbon, Portugal, where I worked as a psychology intern at an international school. It was one of the most rewarding experiences I’ve had, allowing me to immerse myself in a new culture while gaining experience in the psychology field. 

Our project works under the Applachian Regional Commission (ARC), an economic development partnership entity between the federal government and thirteen state governments across the Applachia region. We are focusing on their Applachian Collegiate Research Initiative (ACRI), a research training program for university students to support sustainable development in Applachian communities. The University of Pittsburgh’s ACRI cohort is partnered with the Fayette Busisness Education Parnership (FBEP), a coalition with the Fayette Chamber of Commerce that connects schools, business, and community leaders to align education with local workforce needs. Our ACRI group aims to support FBEP’s goal of expanding local robotic welding programs by researching the field, similar programs that have been implemented at other schools, and suitable grants.

Fayette County has experienced a variety of challenges, including brain-drain, decreased homeownership, and a decline in social factors. This project is important because expanding technical skills training has the potential to help reverse these trends and support sustainable economic growth. Integrating robotic welding into local education also has the potential to align student training with industry needs. By providing young people with access to advanced technical skills an connetions to high-demand jobs, the region can better retain local talent and build a more consistent workforce. The ultimate goal of this project is to benefit Fayette County. To achieve this, our team has been exploring various options, with a specific focus on robotic welding. Our research has examined existing programs and contacting institutions that have successfully implemented robotic welding to ensure our suggestions are appropriately tailored to Fayette County. In addition, our team has been looking into grants that could provide not only financial support but also guidance in developing a sustainable technical skills program. 

After graduation, I plan to work in the behavioral health field for a year to gain expertise in supporting children in clinical settings. Following this experience, my goal is to attend graduate school to complete a doctorate in child development, as my ultimate career aspiration is to become a child psychologist.The ACRI project may prepare me for certain aspects of my future career by giving me a unique opportunity to engage in applied research and collect data that addresses the needs of a specific community. This will serve well in the future as child psychology requires not only clinical knowledge but also the ability to understand and respond to the needs of a particular group, as well as being able to develop effective solutions.  

I decided to join the ACRI project because it offered many opportunities for human interaction and working with different people, which is something I not only enjoy but will also be doing in my future career. Furthermore, I was interested in learning about the process of adjusting and implementing new content into the k-12 curriculum. In regard to transferable skills, this project has given opportunities to grow in areas that will be valuable for both my academic and professional career. While I already have experience coding data in my research lab, I have not had as much experience with collecting data directly. This project has allowed me to practice this process in a more applied setting rather than a purely theoretical context. Since a majority of my previous experience has involved furthering research rather than producing recommendations that could be implemented, this project has allowed me to contribute to work that leads to real-world outcomes. Another area of growth has been project management. With relatively lax supervision, our team has been responsible for dividing tasks and ensuring we meet deadlines. This independence has helped me strengthen my ability to organize and collaborate effectively with others. Additionally, the flexible nature of this project has enabled me to further my creativity and innovation through exploring different ways to approach our initiative and design effective solutions. These transferable skills are ones I hope to continue developing throughout the course of the project and into my future career.