• BSc (Hons) Psychology, University of Edinburgh, 1997
• PhD, University of Edinburgh, 2001

I took a degree in Psychology at the University of Edinburgh, then a PhD on the Son-Rise Program intervention for autism, focusing in particular on prerequisites for evaluation and family experiences. After completing my PhD I worked for 3 years as a research fellow on an MRC-funded project studying socio-cognitive development in typically developing children and in children with developmental disabilities such as Down's syndrome and fragile X syndrome. This project focused on two areas in particular - children's developing understanding of emotional expressions and the use of collaborative learning for children with developmental disabilities. In 2004 I began a Leverhulme Early Career Fellowship, researching the experiences and adjustment of siblings of children with autism in families using Applied Behavior Analysis home-based interventions. Since 2005 I have been a lecturer in Developmental Psychology in the School of Education, lecturing in child development on undergraduate and postgraduate courses. With colleagues from other Scottish Universities I also co-organise the Scottish Autism Research Group - an interdisciplinary group of academic researchers, postgraduate students and practitioners involved in research into autism spectrum disorders.

• Development of social cognition in children with developmental disabilities (Down's syndrome, fragile X syndrome and autism)
• Development of emotion recognition ability in children with developmental disabilities
• Adjustment and experiences of siblings of children with autism
• Home-based interventions for autism

I am keen to supervise research in the areas listed above. I also currently supervise doctoral students in the following areas:

• Kaori Kimura: Attachment and amae: A comparative study of mother-child close relationships in Japan and Britain
• Ai Keow Lim: A longitudinal cross-cultural investigation on the role of make-believe play in children's socio-cognitive development - crossing boundaries

Current and recent research

• Experiences of Disabled Students in Initial Teacher Education. With Dr G Macleod (University of Edinburgh)
  2006-2007 (DTRF)
• Interventions for Autism: Effects on Siblings
  2004-2006 (Leverhulme Early Career Fellowship)
• Collaborative Learning for Children with Learning Disabilities. With Prof J G Wishart (University of Edinburgh) & Ms D S Willis (Napier University)
  2005 -ongoing (Down's Syndrome Scotland)
• An Integrated View of Research on Autism: From Theory to Practice. Scottish Autism Research Group seminar series. With Dr E McGregor (University of Edinburgh), Dr M Núñez (Glasgow Caledonian University) & Dr J Gómez (University of St Andrews)
  2005-2007 (ESRC Seminar Grant)
• An Integrated View of Research on Autism: Bringing Together Neurocognitive, Clinical/Diagnostic and Educational Processes. Scottish Autism Research Group seminar series. With Dr E McGregor (University of Edinburgh), Dr M Núñez (Glasgow Caledonian University) & Dr J Gómez (University of St Andrews)
  2002-2004 (Scottish Hospital Endowments Research Trust; University of Edinburgh Development Trust; British Psychological Society)