Dr. Angela Scarpa's
P.A.N.D.A. Lab
ABOUT THE PANDA LAB
RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES
Our Mission
The Psychosocial Adjustment, NeuroDevelopment, and Autism (PANDA) Lab was established by Dr. Angela Scarpa and is associated with the VT Autism Clinic & Center for Autism Research (VTAC/CAR). Our lab focuses on psychosocial and physiological factors related to socioemotional functioning in autistic individuals across the lifespan. More specifically, we have ongoing projects evaluating stress and coping in families and individuals touched by ASD, as well as the efficacy of psychosocial interventions, including pivotal response treatment, parent education, and Dr. Scarpa's Stress and Anger Management Program (STAMP). We are very interested in improving access to evidence-based practices for underserved populations through research on innovative delivery models, such as our mobile clinic and telehealth.
The PANDA Lab offers a number of opportunities for families and autistic individuals to participate in research. We also welcome undergraduate participation in our lab through Field Study and Volunteer Research Assistant positions. If you are interested in learning about our current projects and opportunities to get involved, click below!
The PANDA Lab stands in solidarity with Black/African American and Asian/Asian-American individuals, families, and community members. We strongly affirm the Virginia Tech Principles of Community and condemn hate and oppression in any form. We recognize that the experience of racial discrimination affects many members of our community. We recognize that psychological distress may arise including vicarious trauma, racial trauma, concerns about community violence and discrimination on the basis of race, feelings of isolation, and disempowerment, among other distressing psychological concerns. For those affected by these experiences, we encourage seeking support and services, which may be accessed by contacting the Psychological Services Center at 540-231-6914.
The PANDA Lab also strongly supports neurodiversity and acknowledges varying preferences regarding language among self-advocates within the autism and broader community. Please let us know your preference for identity-first (i.e., "autistic individual") or person-first language (i.e., "individual with autism/ASD") when we meet.
CHECK OUT THE VT MOBILE AUTISM CLINIC!
